Conspicuous calling near cryptic nests: a review of hypotheses and a field study on white-browed scrubwrens
| Autor: | Andrew G. Horn, Tonya M. Haff, Robert D. Magrath, Marty L. Leonard |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2014 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
Future studies White (horse) Ecology 05 social sciences Zoology Sericornis frontalis Biology biology.organism_classification 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Predation ALARM Nest 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences Animal Science and Zoology 050102 behavioral science & comparative psychology Predator Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Avian Biology. 46:289-302 |
| ISSN: | 0908-8857 |
| Popis: | Predation is an important source of nest mortality in many bird species and calling near the nest can increase this risk, yet adults of many species regularly vocalize near their nests. Some of these calls serve clearly adaptive functions, such as alarm or provisioning calls. However, many species also give conspicuous ‘contact’ calls near the nest, which is puzzling because the function of these calls is unclear, and they might attract predators. Most studies of parental vocalizations near nests have focused on specific vocalizations and single hypotheses, yet there is a diversity of vocalization types and potential functions. We review the literature on the diversity and possible function of parental vocalizations near the nest, and then investigate the puzzle of conspicuous contact calling near nests by white-browed scrubwrens Sericornis frontalis. In scrubwrens, ‘chip-zz’ contact calls were almost always used when adults approached nests, and when they approached one another or changed location. Call composition also changed: the proportion of ‘chip’ elements increased as callers approached the nest or other adults. Neither adult sex nor nestling age affected calling. Thus, chip-zz calls appear to be used as ongoing signals to other group members of the caller's activity and location, particularly relative to the nest. Nestlings appeared to use the calls as cues of adult arrival, and increased calling as adults approached nests. Further, adults called less after a predator was on the territory, suggesting that parents may be able to reduce the risk of chip-zz calls betraying nest location, or possibly use the absence of calling as a signal of danger. This study thus demonstrates that calling near nests could inform both adults and nestlings about the caller's behaviour, and could serve multiple functions. Future studies will need to experimentally test these functions, as well as the other hypotheses reviewed here. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|