The presence of an avian co-forager reduces vigilance in a cooperative mammal.

Biology Letters
Lynda L SharpeMichael I Cherry

Abstract

Many animals must trade-off anti-predator vigilance with other behaviours. Some species facilitate predator detection by joining mixed-species foraging parties and 'eavesdropping' on the predator warnings given by other taxa. Such use of heterospecific warnings presumably reduces the likelihood of predation, but it is unclear whether it also provides wider benefits, by allowing individuals to reduce their own vigilance. We examine whether the presence of an avian co-forager, the fork-tailed drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis), affects rates of vigilance (including sentinel behaviour) in wild dwarf mongooses (Helogale parvula). We simulate the presence of drongos-using playbacks of their non-alarm vocalizations-to show that dwarf mongooses significantly reduce their rate of vigilance when foraging with this species. This is, to our knowledge, the first study to demonstrate experimentally that a mammal reduces vigilance in the presence of an avian co-forager.

References

Feb 22, 1997·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·R Noë, R Bshary
Aug 19, 2007·Biology Letters·Amanda R RidleyMatthew B V Bell

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Citations

Mar 3, 2011·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Andrew N RadfordAmanda R Ridley
Jun 12, 2014·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Robert D MagrathAndrew N Radford
Sep 7, 2016·Environmental Pollution·Julie M Kern, Andrew N Radford
Feb 6, 2017·Environmental Pollution·Amy Morris-DrakeAndrew N Radford
Sep 30, 2020·Ecology Letters·Aaron J WirsingOswald J Schmitz
Sep 5, 2019·PloS One·Marie V LillyKeith A Tarvin
Apr 11, 2020·Current Biology : CB·Roan D Plotz, Wayne L Linklater

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