Male courtship displays and vocal communication in the polygynous bat Carollia perspicillata

Behaviour ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 151 (6) ◽  
pp. 781-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirjam Knörnschild ◽  
Marion Feifel ◽  
Elisabeth K.V. Kalko
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Mate Recognition ◽  
Courtship Behaviour ◽  
Male Courtship ◽  
Courtship Display ◽  
Carollia Perspicillata ◽  
Fruit Bat ◽  
Distress Calls ◽  
Individual Signature ◽  
Courtship Displays

Male courtship behaviour towards choosy females often comprises elaborate displays that address multiple sensory channels. In bats, detailed quantitative descriptions of multimodal courtship displays are still fairly scarce, despite the taxon’s speciose nature. We studied male courtship behaviour in a polygynous Neotropical bat, Seba’s short-tailed fruit bat Carollia perspicillata, by monitoring harem males in a captive colony. Courting male C. perspicillata performed stereotypic tactile, visual and acoustic displays. A courtship sequence, directed at one female at a time, lasted up to 120 s. During courtship, males approached females by brachiating or flying, hovered in front of them, pursued them on the wing, sniffed them and repeatedly poked the females with one or both folded wings; the latter behaviour was the most conspicuous male courtship display. Immediately before copulation, males wrapped their wings around the females and bit their necks. As acoustic display, courting male C. perspicillata produced highly variable, monosyllabic courtship trills. The species’ vocal repertoire consisted of ten different social vocalisation types, three for benign interactions (courtship trills, wobbles, isolation calls), four for aggressive encounters (aggressive trills, down-sweeps, warbles, distress calls) and the remaining three for unknown behavioural contexts (V-shaped calls, flat down-sweeps, hooks). Courtship trills and aggressive trills were exclusively produced by males. We measured 245 courtship trills of five males and found statistical evidence for a strong individual signature which has the potential to facilitate female choice, mate recognition or neighbour–stranger recognition among male competitors.

EFFECTS OF HYPOTHALAMIC IMPLANTS OF GONADAL STEROIDS ON COURTSHIP BEHAVIOUR IN BARBARY DOVES (STREPTOPELIA RISORIA)

1971 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. HUTCHISON
Keyword(s):  
Testosterone Propionate ◽  
Posterior Hypothalamus ◽  
Gonadal Steroids ◽  
Courtship Behaviour ◽  
Male Courtship ◽  
Courtship Display ◽  
Single Crystalline ◽  
Streptopelia Risoria ◽  
Lateral Hypothalamic ◽  
The Brain

SUMMARY To determine whether the display of male courtship behaviour depends on the action of androgen on discrete areas of the brain, single crystalline implants of testosterone propionate (TP) (mean weight 40 μg) were positioned unilaterally in the brains of castrated male Barbary doves. Implants in the preoptic, anterior hypothalamic and lateral hypothalamic areas induced the full courtship display consisting of chasing, bowing and nestsoliciting. None of these behaviour patterns was re-established at precastration levels measured in terms of duration of display. Durations of courtship displayed by implanted males were similar to those induced by daily intramuscular injections of TP (300 μg/day × 15) into castrated birds. The effectiveness of implants of TP into other regions of the brain could be related to their proximity to the preoptic and anterior hypothalamic regions. There were marked deficits in the pattern of courtship of castrated doves with implants in areas adjacent to the preoptic and anterior hypothalamic regions — the neostriatum intermediale, the area basalis, and posterior hypothalamus; implants more distantly placed in the paleostriatum primitivum and lateral forebrain bundle area did not induce courtship behaviour. Cholesterol implants (59 μg) and blank implant tubing in the preoptic and anterior hypothalamic areas did not affect behaviour. The results obtained were not specific for TP implants; chasing and nest-soliciting displays were also induced by either testosterone implants (51 μg) or oestradiol-17β monobenzoate implants (47 μg). In both cases, the courtship display lacked bowing. It is concluded that the preoptic and anterior hypothalamic areas are directly sensitive to testosterone and that these areas are associated with the control of courtship behaviour.

scholarly journals Courtship behaviour influences social partner choice in male guppies

Behaviour ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 157 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 923-947
Author(s):  
Heather L. Auld ◽  
Jean-Guy J. Godin
Keyword(s):  
Poecilia Reticulata ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Partner Choice ◽  
Courtship Behaviour ◽  
Social Partner ◽  
Male Courtship ◽  
Association Preference ◽  
Social Associations ◽  
Courtship Displays ◽  
Social Association

Abstract Although male courtship displays have evolved primarily to sexually attract females, they also generate inadvertent public information that potentially reveals the courter’s relative sexual attractiveness and the perceived quality and sexual receptivity of the female being courted to nearby eavesdropping male competitors, who in turn may use this information to bias their social partner choices. We tested this hypothesis by first presenting individual eavesdropping male guppies (Poecilia reticulata) the opportunity to simultaneously observe two demonstrator males whose courtship behaviour was manipulated experimentally to differ, following which we tested them for their preference to associate socially with either demonstrator males. Test males preferentially associated with the demonstrator male who they had previously observed courting a female over the other (non-courting) demonstrator. This social association preference was not expressed in the absence of a female to court. Our findings highlight the potential for sexual behaviour influencing male-male social associations in nature.

scholarly journals Male swordtails court with an audience in mind

2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi S Fisher ◽  
Gil G Rosenthal
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Freshwater Fish ◽  
Courtship Behaviour ◽  
Male Courtship ◽  
Courtship Display ◽  
Dorsal Fin ◽  
Intrasexual Selection ◽  
Natural Streams

Females are usually considered to be the target of male courtship behaviour. In nature, however, social interactions rarely occur without other observers; thus, it is conceivable that some male courtship behaviours are directed not towards females, but rather towards male rivals. The northern swordtail, Xiphophorus birchmanni , is a freshwater fish found in high densities in natural streams. Males court by swimming close to and in parallel with the female, raising their large sail-like dorsal fin, and quivering briefly. Here, we show that females prefer males that display small dorsal fins to those with large ones, and that males are less aggressive to other males with large dorsal fins. Male swordtails also raise their dorsal fins more frequently when courting in the presence of other males. These results suggest that, despite female avoidance of large dorsal fins, males that raise their fin during courtship benefit by intimidating potential competitors; the intended receivers of this signal are thus males, not females. Intrasexual selection can therefore offset the forces of intersexual selection, even in a courtship display.

scholarly journals Male dwarf chameleons assess risk of courting large, aggressive females

2005 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devi M Stuart-Fox ◽  
Martin J Whiting
Keyword(s):  
Relative Size ◽  
Courtship Behaviour ◽  
Female Size ◽  
Male Courtship ◽  
Female Resistance ◽  
Male Display ◽  
Forced Copulation ◽  
Display Behaviour ◽  
Courtship Displays ◽  
Male Dwarf

Conflict between the sexes has traditionally been studied in terms of costs of mating to females and female resistance. However, courting can also be costly to males, especially when females are larger and aggressively resist copulation attempts. We examined male display intensity towards females in the Cape dwarf chameleon, Bradypodion pumilum , in which females are larger than males and very aggressive. We assessed whether aggressive female rejection imposes potential costs on males and whether males vary their display behaviour with intensity of female rejection, female size or relative size differences. Males persisted in courtship after initial female rejection in 84% of trials, and were bitten in 28% of trials. Attempted mounts were positively associated with males being bitten. Males reduced courtship with increased intensity of female rejection. Male courtship behaviour also varied with female size: males were more likely to court and approach smaller females, consistent with the hypothesis that larger females can inflict more damage. These results suggest that, in addition to assessing female willingness to mate, male dwarf chameleons may use courtship displays to assess potential costs of persistence, including costs associated with aggressive female rejection, weighed against potential reproductive pay-offs associated with forced copulation.

Aggression, and the Acquisition and Function of Social Dominance in Female Anolis Carolinensis

Behaviour ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 133 (15-16) ◽  
pp. 1265-1279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cliff H. Summers ◽  
Thomas J. Andrews
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Social Dominance ◽  
Anolis Carolinensis ◽  
Resource Acquisition ◽  
Male Courtship ◽  
Body Color ◽  
Courtship Display ◽  
And Function

AbstractFemale green anoles, Anolis carolinensis, were paired in terraria to investigate behavioral components of social interaction. Resources (perching sites, prey, and males as potential mates) were limited to assess their importance to cohabiting females. During interaction, paired females exhibited aggressive social behavior which contributed to the development of dominant-subordinate relationships. Dominant status and its relationship to differential resource acquisition was defined primarily by frequency of displacement of another female. Along with displacement, dominant females also had increased frequency of assertion displays, challenge displays, attacks and biting (Figs 1 & 2). Subordinate females were displaced more often and assumed submissive postures. No differences were found between dominant and subordinate females for perch site selection, body color or in prey capturing latency or success (Figs 3 & 4). Perch site elevation was not different between dominant and subordinate females, but was significantly lower than males. The color of paired females was not different unless males were present, in which case dominant females were darker. Paired females also respond differently to courtship display (Fig. 5). Dominant females responded with displays significantly more often than subordinate females to male courtship, indicating receptivity. The role of dominant-subordinate relationships among female A. carolinensis may include courtship and reproductive success as an important component, with consequences for the outcome of aggressive and reproductive social interactions with males.

scholarly journals Selectivity in the transport of spermatozoa to oviductal reservoirs in the menstruating fruit bat, Carollia perspicillata

Reproduction ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 140 (5) ◽  
pp. 743-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J Rasweiler ◽  
Nilima K Badwaik ◽  
Kiranmayi V Mechineni
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Uterine Cavity ◽  
Elastic Fibers ◽  
Carollia Perspicillata ◽  
Fruit Bat ◽  
Fine Particulate ◽  
Uterine Mucosa ◽  
Luminal Epithelial Cells ◽  
Gain Access

To better document the timing of ovulation and fertilization, female reproductive tracts were collected every 12 h from captive-bred fruit bats (Carollia perspicillata) on days 1–3 postcoitum and examined histologically. This also permitted observations on sperm transport, storage, and disposition. As the animals had previously been sexually segregated, most had been cycling and possessed menstrual uteri at the time of collection. Menstruation is periovulatory in this species. A widespread, headfirst orientation of spermatozoa to the uterine mucosa was observed in specimens apparently collected soon after insemination. Thereafter, however, this relationship was limited in most cases to the area around the entrance of each uterotubal junction (UTJ). A small number of spermatozoa also colonized the UTJs, which functioned as temporary sperm reservoirs on days 1–2. AlthoughC. perspicillatais monovular, no consistent differences were observed between the two oviducts in the pattern of sperm storage and release. Very few sperm were ever observed in the isthmus or ampulla (the site of fertilization). Menstrual debris (including fine particulate matter) and leukocytes present in the uterine cavity in most tracts did not gain access to the UTJ with the spermatozoa. Smooth muscle and abundant elastic fibers in the wall of the intramural UTJ, as well as receptors on its luminal epithelial cells, may play roles in the selective transport of spermatozoa to the fertilization site. While some spermatozoa are phagocytosed in the uterine lumen or by epithelial cells in the UTJ, the fate of most is probably expulsion into the vagina.

scholarly journals Acoustic signalling during courtship in the painted goby, Pomatoschistus pictus

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 1017-1023 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.C.P. Amorim ◽  
A.S.M. Neves
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Courtship Behaviour ◽  
Male Size ◽  
Pulse Trains ◽  
Very Low Frequency ◽  
Somatic Condition ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
First Time ◽  
Courtship Displays

Gobies emit sounds during different stages of reproduction, including courtship, pre-spawning events (in the nest) and spawning. The breeding sounds of the painted goby Pomatoschistus pictus and associated courtship behaviour were recorded in captivity and described for the first time. Males emitted thump-like sounds mainly when displaying alone in the nest and produced drumming sounds outside the nest. Thumps have never been reported for other species of the genus Pomatoschistus. Thumps were short (~80 ms) very-low frequency (below 100 Hz) non-pulsed sounds, whereas drums were longer (hundreds of ms) and consisted of low frequency (~300 Hz) pulse trains. Thump characteristics varied significantly among males but also showed high within-male variability. The frequency of thump emissions and courtship behaviour (total number of courtship displays, lead and nest display) were positively correlated with male size but not with male somatic condition. Thump bursts emitted during nest displays were significantly longer than when emitted with other behaviours. These results suggest that larger males courted females more intensively, both with visual and acoustic displays, than smaller ones.

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