A nocturnal rail with a simple territorial call eavesdrops on interactions between rivals

PloS One
Lucyna Ewa WojasTomasz Stanisław Osiejuk

Abstract

The behaviour of most animals has evolved in a communication network environment, in which signals produced by senders are perceived by many intended and unintended receivers. In this study, we tested whether the corncrake (Crex crex), a nocturnal rail species with innate (non-learned) calls, is able to eavesdrop on the interactions of conspecific males and how this eavesdropping affects subsequent responses by the eavesdropper to territorial intrusion. In the first step, simulated aggressive or neutral interactions between male dyads were presented to a focal male. In the second step, the calls of winning, losing or neutral males from the first step were played within the territory of the focal male. We measured behavioural and vocal responses of focal males. We found that corncrakes eavesdropped on signal exchange between rivals. Males often began responding to distant aggressive interactions during the eavesdropping phase, and they responded strongly during the intrusion phase of the experiments. The response was significantly weaker to playback of males from neutral interactions than to those involved in aggressive interactions, and we found no differences between the responses to Winners and Losers entering a focal male te...Continue Reading

Associated Datasets

References

May 26, 2001·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·T M PeakeT Dabelsteen
May 4, 2002·Science·Daniel J MennillPeter T Boag
Sep 28, 2002·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·T M PeakeT Dabelsteen
Apr 4, 2003·Nature·Malte Andersson
Dec 17, 2003·Die Naturwissenschaften·Daniel J MennillLaurene M Ratcliffe
Jan 22, 2004·Learning & Behavior·Tamo NakamuraR Frederick Westbrook
May 17, 2006·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Claudia RutteMartin W G Brinkhof
Dec 7, 2006·Biology Letters·Thomas GötzHans-Ulrich Schnitzler
Mar 21, 2007·Bulletin of Mathematical Biology·Mike Mesterton-Gibbons, Tom N Sherratt
Apr 17, 2007·Current Biology : CB·Sharon M H Gobes, Johan J Bolhuis
Jun 5, 2008·Current Biology : CB·Laura AquiloniFrancesca Gherardi
Apr 2, 2009·Behavioral Ecology : Official Journal of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology·Selvino R de KortSandra L Vehrencamp
Oct 23, 2009·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Christopher N TempletonMichael D Beecher
Oct 8, 2011·Communicative & Integrative Biology·Martin Plath, David Bierbach
Mar 15, 2013·Animal Behaviour·Claudia Stephan, Thomas Bugnyar

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

STATA
Interval2
Edirol
SPSS

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.