Birds associate species-specific acoustic and visual cues: recognition of heterospecific rivals by male blackcaps

Because sexual selection typically acts on males, evolution of conspicuous ornamentation in females has been understudied. Genetic correlation between sexes and sexual or social selection on females have been proposed to explain female ornamentation, but they cannot fully explain observed patterns in nature such as female ornamentation in non-territorial, promiscuous species. The species recognition hypothesis, which postulates that ornamentation is adaptive because it prevents maladaptive hybridization, might plausibly explain female ornamentation. We examined the possibility of this hypothesis in two sympatric, non-territorial, promiscuous fish species. Both sexes of Tribolodon hakonensis and T. sachalinensis display species-specific conspicuous coloration in the breeding season. We conducted visual-based mate choice experiments using T. hakonensis males and compared their association times between conspecific and heterospecific females. Males spent more time near conspecifics, indicating that T. hakonensis males used visual cues to recognize conspecifics. Because the females presented to the males did not differ in body size, shape and behavior between the two species, the male preference for conspecifics was probably based on the females' nuptial coloration. These results suggest that female ornamentation may evolve or be maintained by not only sexual or social selection within a species but also interspecies interactions (e.g. hybridization).

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Female choice for large body size in the cave molly, Poecilia mexicana (Poeciliidae, Teleostei): influence of species- and sex-specific cues

Behaviour ◽

10.1163/156853907781890931 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 144 (10) ◽

pp. 1147-1160 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jakob Parzefall ◽

Rüdiger Riesch ◽

Ingo Schlupp ◽

Martin Plath

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Visual Cues ◽

Chemical Cues ◽

Large Body ◽

Large Body Size ◽

Specific Chemical ◽

Stimulus Fish ◽

Poecilia Mexicana ◽

Species Specific ◽

Cave Molly

AbstractPrevious studies revealed that females of a cave form of the livebearing fish Poecilia mexicana (cave molly) have maintained the ancestral visual preference for large males, but — as an adaptation to life in darkness — they have evolved the novel capability to assess male size non-visually. Here we examined the mechanisms by which non-visual mate choice for large body size occurs. Are sex- and species-specific chemical cues involved in this preference for large conspecifics? We gave focal females an opportunity to associate with a large and a small stimulus fish in simultaneous choice tests, whereby the females could perceive either multiple cues (visual plus non-visual) from the stimulus fish, solely non-visual cues in darkness, or solely visual cues. Stimulus fish were two conspecific males, conspecific females, or heterospecific females (Xiphophorus hellerii). Cave molly females showed a significant preference for large conspecific males and for large conspecific females in all treatments. When a large and a small swordtail female were presented, cave molly females showed a preference for the larger fish only when exclusively visual cues from the stimulus fish were available. The non-visual preference for large body size appears to be mediated by species- but not by sex-specific cues, suggesting that species-specific chemical cues play an important role during mate choice.

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Learning in advance? Interspecific recognition ability in male Eurasian blackcaps

Journal of Ornithology ◽

10.1007/s10336-021-01901-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Piotr Matyjasiak

Keyword(s):

Early Spring ◽

Garden Warbler ◽

Learned Behavior ◽

Recognition Ability ◽

Interspecific Recognition ◽

Second Year ◽

Species Specific ◽

Associate Species ◽

Song Playback

AbstractInterspecific aggression is common in bird communities. It is thought to be a consequence of learned behavior or misdirected intraspecific aggression. In the former case birds acquire the ability to identify individuals of other species by social learning of species-specific traits during interactions with heterospecifics in a shared habitat. I conducted a two-choice song playback experiment to investigate the role of associating signals from two sensory modalities, auditory and visual, in shaping the agonistic response of male Eurasian Blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla) to simulated male Garden Warbler (S. borin) intruders. I measured focal males’ response to playbacks to the song of a Blackcap or a Garden Warbler while giving them a choice between stuffed male models of both species presented in their territories. The experiments were carried out in early spring, before the arrival of Garden Warblers from Africa. I found that male Blackcaps were able to associate species-specific songs with species-specific plumage types. The ability to associate signals characterized not only experienced after-second-year old males, but also second-year old males that had not had the opportunity to defend breeding territories against heterospecifics. This suggests that second-year old male Blackcaps acquire the ability to associate Garden Warbler song with plumage before they use this skill when defending territory during their first breeding episode. Male Blackcaps do not mistake male Garden Warblers for males of their species, but rather learn these associations during the first months of life. However, the possibility that these associations are innate cannot be excluded.

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MELATONIN IS CRUCIAL FOR THE MIGRATORY ORIENTATION OF PIED FLYCATCHERS (FICEDULA HYPOLEUCA PALLAS)

Journal of Experimental Biology ◽

10.1242/jeb.194.1.255 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 194 (1) ◽

pp. 255-262 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

T Schneider ◽

HP Thalau ◽

P Semm ◽

W Wiltschko

Keyword(s):

Geomagnetic Field ◽

Visual Cues ◽

Ficedula Hypoleuca ◽

Autumn Migration ◽

Migratory Direction ◽

Migratory Orientation ◽

Directional Preference ◽

Species Specific

After pinealectomy, young pied flycatchers tested in the geomagnetic field have been found to be disoriented. In order to examine the possible role of the pineal hormone melatonin, handraised flycatchers were pinealectomized (PX) at the age of 8 weeks. From the day of operation onward, the PXMEL group received 100 µg of melatonin every evening 1 h before darkness, the PXSOL group was injected with the solvent only, and the PX group was untreated. Unoperated birds served as controls. During the following autumn migration, the birds were tested for directional preference in the local geomagnetic field, in the absence of visual cues. The controls were oriented in the species-specific southwesterly direction; pinealectomized birds without additional melatonin (PXSOL, PX) did not show directional preferences. The PXMEL birds that had received daily injections of melatonin also showed significant southwesterly tendencies; their orientation did not differ from that of the controls. This indicates that melatonin is involved in migratory orientation, either in the processes of expressing the genetically encoded information on the migratory course as a direction with respect to the geomagnetic field or in the time programme controlling the specific migratory direction at a given time.

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Behavioral responses of drosophila suzukii (diptera: drosophilidae) to olfactory and visual cues

10.32469/10355/72218 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

◽

L. Grant Bolton

Keyword(s):

Visual Cues ◽

Isoamyl Acetate ◽

Drosophila Suzukii ◽

High Concentration ◽

University Of Missouri ◽

Ethyl Hexanoate ◽

Leaf Volatiles ◽

Olfactory Stimuli ◽

Methyl Butyrate ◽

Species Specific

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Selected fruit and leaf volatiles were assessed to determine their attractiveness to Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Two- and four-choice assays were conducted in laboratory cages to observe responses of D. suzukii to several doses of compounds individually and in combination. The addition of [beta]-cyclocitral to ethyl hexanoate resulted in a synergistic response from D. suzukii. Additionally, a simple, high concentration blend of isoamyl acetate + [beta]-cyclocitral + methyl butyrate (in equal proportions) is attractive to both sexes of D. suzukii, not attractive to the non-target species Drosophila melanogaster, and is more attractive to females than blueberry fruit. Moreover, methyl isovalerate, methyl butyrate, and ethyl acetate in various combinations with isoamyl acetate + [beta]-cyclocitral were attractive to D. suzukii and not attractive to D. melanogaster. These compounds should be further investigated to determine optimal ratios and blends to develop a more species-specific lure for D. suzukii. Additional behavior assays investigated interactions between visual and olfactory stimuli. Color cues added to blueberry odors resulted in synergistic interactions for red, black, yellow, green and purple. Yeast had an interaction with red and ï¿½_-cyclocitral had an interaction with yellow. Overall, the odor source influences the behavioral response towards color.

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Electron Microscopy in the Study of Natural Phytoplankton Assemblages

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100119831 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

pp. 620-623

Author(s):

Linda Sicko-Goad

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Aquatic Environment ◽

Size Range ◽

Physical Parameters ◽

Specific Information ◽

Phytoplankton Assemblages ◽

Phytoplankton Productivity ◽

Ecosystem Effects ◽

Time Of Year ◽

Species Specific

Although the use of electron microscopy and its varied methodologies is not usually associated with ecological studies, the types of species specific information that can be generated by these techniques are often quite useful in predicting long-term ecosystem effects. The utility of these techniques is especially apparent when one considers both the size range of particles found in the aquatic environment and the complexity of the phytoplankton assemblages.The size range and character of organisms found in the aquatic environment are dependent upon a variety of physical parameters that include sampling depth, location, and time of year. In the winter months, all the Laurentian Great Lakes are uniformly mixed and homothermous in the range of 1.1 to 1.7°C. During this time phytoplankton productivity is quite low.

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Supporting the Use of Rudimentary Vocalizations

Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication ◽

10.1044/aac23.3.132 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 132-139 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lauren Zubow ◽

Richard Hurtig

Keyword(s):

Rett Syndrome ◽

Visual Cues ◽

Acoustic Analysis ◽

Eye Gaze ◽

Research Question ◽

Primary Research ◽

Multiple Modalities ◽

Face To Face ◽

Perceptual Judgments ◽

The Face

Children with Rett Syndrome (RS) are reported to use multiple modalities to communicate although their intentionality is often questioned (Bartolotta, Zipp, Simpkins, & Glazewski, 2011; Hetzroni & Rubin, 2006; Sigafoos et al., 2000; Sigafoos, Woodyatt, Tuckeer, Roberts-Pennell, & Pittendreigh, 2000). This paper will present results of a study analyzing the unconventional vocalizations of a child with RS. The primary research question addresses the ability of familiar and unfamiliar listeners to interpret unconventional vocalizations as “yes” or “no” responses. This paper will also address the acoustic analysis and perceptual judgments of these vocalizations. Pre-recorded isolated vocalizations of “yes” and “no” were presented to 5 listeners (mother, father, 1 unfamiliar, and 2 familiar clinicians) and the listeners were asked to rate the vocalizations as either “yes” or “no.” The ratings were compared to the original identification made by the child's mother during the face-to-face interaction from which the samples were drawn. Findings of this study suggest, in this case, the child's vocalizations were intentional and could be interpreted by familiar and unfamiliar listeners as either “yes” or “no” without contextual or visual cues. The results suggest that communication partners should be trained to attend to eye-gaze and vocalizations to ensure the child's intended choice is accurately understood.

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