TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of previous intrusion pressure on territorial responses in nightingales
AU - Sprau, P.
AU - Roth, T.
AU - Amrhein, V.
AU - Naguib, M.
N1 - Reporting year: 2014
Metis note: 5490; AnE
Data archiving: no data; Marcel: geen NIOO data
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - In territorial animals, establishing and defending a territory against rivals is commonly a prerequisite for successful reproduction. Yet, often, non-territorial males that are seeking to establish their own territory may intrude into occupied territories and persistently challenge residents in order to test their resource-holding potential. Such challenges may have long-term consequences for the territorial behaviour of the residents. Here, we tested whether territorial Nightingales (Luscinia megarhynchos) use information on the intrusion pressure of rivals in territory defence. Using multi-loudspeaker playback experiments, we simulated rivals that either sang from different song perches within occupied territories (persisting intruders) or that immediately left territories after previous intrusions (retreating intruders). In a final playback 1 h later, we then simulated the same rivals singing from a different location at the territory boundary. During this final playback, residents approached the loudspeaker closer, changed their song perches more often, sang more songs in close proximity to the loudspeaker, and sang more trills when rivals were previously simulated as having stayed in their territory without retreating. Our findings show that songbirds can integrate the level of threat from rivals differing in their intrusion behaviours in subsequent territorial encounters. This study emphasises the importance of considering how territorial defence is affected by previous intrusion pressure from rivals.
AB - In territorial animals, establishing and defending a territory against rivals is commonly a prerequisite for successful reproduction. Yet, often, non-territorial males that are seeking to establish their own territory may intrude into occupied territories and persistently challenge residents in order to test their resource-holding potential. Such challenges may have long-term consequences for the territorial behaviour of the residents. Here, we tested whether territorial Nightingales (Luscinia megarhynchos) use information on the intrusion pressure of rivals in territory defence. Using multi-loudspeaker playback experiments, we simulated rivals that either sang from different song perches within occupied territories (persisting intruders) or that immediately left territories after previous intrusions (retreating intruders). In a final playback 1 h later, we then simulated the same rivals singing from a different location at the territory boundary. During this final playback, residents approached the loudspeaker closer, changed their song perches more often, sang more songs in close proximity to the loudspeaker, and sang more trills when rivals were previously simulated as having stayed in their territory without retreating. Our findings show that songbirds can integrate the level of threat from rivals differing in their intrusion behaviours in subsequent territorial encounters. This study emphasises the importance of considering how territorial defence is affected by previous intrusion pressure from rivals.
KW - international
U2 - 10.1007/s10336-013-0993-9
DO - 10.1007/s10336-013-0993-9
M3 - Article
SN - 0021-8375
VL - 155
SP - 111
EP - 119
JO - Journal of Ornithology
JF - Journal of Ornithology
IS - 1
ER -