Social Malleability in Cowbirds (Molothrus ater artemisiae): Species and Mate Recognition in the First 2 Years of Life
نویسندگان
چکیده
In a longitudinal study, the authors housed wild-caught juvenile male cowbirds (Molothrus ater artemisiae) with female cowbirds or canaries (Serinus canaria) from August until May. The males were then exposed to 3 social contexts. Males housed with canaries directed more vocalizations to canaries than to female cowbirds. Males housed with female cowbirds vocalized most to other males. The data revealed plasticity at a rudimentary level of reproductive behavior, selective responding to members of one's own species. Song potency, as assayed by playback, did not predict vocal use. To test adult malleability, the authors studied the males for a 2nd year. Half were housed with conspecific females and experienced males and half with only females. The manipUlation eradicated any signs of the males' 1st-year experiences. The data suggest malleability in species and mate recognition in cowbirds.
منابع مشابه
Social Experience Affects the Process and Outcome of Vocal Ontogeny in Two Populations of Cowbirds (Molothrus ater)
Longitudinal vocal records of 26 juvenile male cowbirds from 2 populations (Molothrus ater ater and Molothrus ater artemisiae) were analyzed to look for susceptibility to social influence from either female cowbirds or heterospecifics. Within each population, 1 group of males was individually housed with female conspecifics, and the other with pairs of canaries (Serinus canaria). Evidence was f...
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