Female aggressive response and hormonal correlates - an intrusion experiment in a free-living passerine
(2008) In Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 62(10). p.1665-1677- Abstract
- The optimal mating system is rarely the same for males and females-whereas males usually benefit from attracting additional females to the territory, this could incur costs for the resident female. Females should therefore prevent prospecting females from settling on the territory. We studied the male and female behavioral and hormonal responses to simulated female territorial intrusions in free-living bluethroats during the pre-laying period. In the study population, polygyny occurs with potential fitness costs for the resident female. We recorded different aspects of aggressive behavior before and after presentation of a live female decoy and playback of female song. These behaviors were compared with a set of intrusions using a male... (More)
- The optimal mating system is rarely the same for males and females-whereas males usually benefit from attracting additional females to the territory, this could incur costs for the resident female. Females should therefore prevent prospecting females from settling on the territory. We studied the male and female behavioral and hormonal responses to simulated female territorial intrusions in free-living bluethroats during the pre-laying period. In the study population, polygyny occurs with potential fitness costs for the resident female. We recorded different aspects of aggressive behavior before and after presentation of a live female decoy and playback of female song. These behaviors were compared with a set of intrusions using a male decoy. At the end of a trial, the birds were captured, and blood samples were analyzed for androstenedione, testosterone, estradiol and corticosterone. During the pre-intrusion period, none of the females were observed. Females generally responded strongly to the female decoy by increased flight rate, vocalizations, and by conspicuous perching. Nearly half of the males displayed to the female decoy but never while the resident female was present. We suggest that resident female aggression in bluethroats prevents courtship by her mate and signals her mating status to the female intruder. Female aggression could therefore prevent additional females to settle on the territory and shape the mating system. Females that responded with song had higher levels of estradiol. These findings suggest that estradiol may support aggression in breeding female birds. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/1253965
- author
- Parn, Henrik ; Lindstrom, Karin M. ; Sandell, Maria LU and Amundsen, Trond
- organization
- publishing date
- 2008
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- estradiol, sexual conflict, monogamy, territorial intrusion, female aggression, female ornamentation, testosterone
- in
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
- volume
- 62
- issue
- 10
- pages
- 1665 - 1677
- publisher
- Springer
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000257912700014
- scopus:48349100208
- ISSN
- 1432-0762
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00265-008-0595-3
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Animal Ecology (Closed 2011) (011012001)
- id
- 3f385e71-ac9c-49bf-8e99-d9f08d7884f9 (old id 1253965)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 13:31:36
- date last changed
- 2022-02-04 07:57:41
@article{3f385e71-ac9c-49bf-8e99-d9f08d7884f9,
abstract = {{The optimal mating system is rarely the same for males and females-whereas males usually benefit from attracting additional females to the territory, this could incur costs for the resident female. Females should therefore prevent prospecting females from settling on the territory. We studied the male and female behavioral and hormonal responses to simulated female territorial intrusions in free-living bluethroats during the pre-laying period. In the study population, polygyny occurs with potential fitness costs for the resident female. We recorded different aspects of aggressive behavior before and after presentation of a live female decoy and playback of female song. These behaviors were compared with a set of intrusions using a male decoy. At the end of a trial, the birds were captured, and blood samples were analyzed for androstenedione, testosterone, estradiol and corticosterone. During the pre-intrusion period, none of the females were observed. Females generally responded strongly to the female decoy by increased flight rate, vocalizations, and by conspicuous perching. Nearly half of the males displayed to the female decoy but never while the resident female was present. We suggest that resident female aggression in bluethroats prevents courtship by her mate and signals her mating status to the female intruder. Female aggression could therefore prevent additional females to settle on the territory and shape the mating system. Females that responded with song had higher levels of estradiol. These findings suggest that estradiol may support aggression in breeding female birds.}},
author = {{Parn, Henrik and Lindstrom, Karin M. and Sandell, Maria and Amundsen, Trond}},
issn = {{1432-0762}},
keywords = {{estradiol; sexual conflict; monogamy; territorial intrusion; female aggression; female ornamentation; testosterone}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{10}},
pages = {{1665--1677}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
series = {{Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology}},
title = {{Female aggressive response and hormonal correlates - an intrusion experiment in a free-living passerine}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00265-008-0595-3}},
doi = {{10.1007/s00265-008-0595-3}},
volume = {{62}},
year = {{2008}},
}