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Nöbel S, Wang X, Cristante M, Guëll M, Tariel J, Danchin E, Roussigné M. No evidence for mate copying in Danio rerio. Behav Processes 2023; 206:104837. [PMID: 36716902 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2023.104837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The zebrafish Danio rerio is an important model organism, but little is known about its mating preferences and how these are influenced by personality traits like boldness. In this study, we tested two strains of zebrafish and addressed whether females used social information to build a mating preference, a behavior called mate copying, and whether this social learning was affected by boldness. Thus, we provided positive social information for small males to test whether female zebrafish changed their mate preference after observing a pair of a small and a large male with a demonstrator female next to the small one. After that, we tested the observer female in a test maze to evaluate boldness. We found no significant evidence for mate copying as females did not change their preference for the small male after witnessing the large male alone and the small male interacting with another female and chose consistently larger males in a control without opportunity to copy. Whether the female was defined as shy or bold had no effect on mate copying. We conclude that mate copying is probably inexistent or only relatively weak in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Nöbel
- Université Toulouse 1 Capitole and Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse (IAST), Toulouse, France; Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB), UMR5174, CNRS, IRD, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier,118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France; Animal Ecology, Department of Zoology, Martin-Luther University Halle, Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB), UMR5174, CNRS, IRD, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier,118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Marion Cristante
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB), UMR5174, CNRS, IRD, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier,118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Marine Guëll
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB), UMR5174, CNRS, IRD, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier,118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Juliette Tariel
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB), UMR5174, CNRS, IRD, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier,118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Etienne Danchin
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB), UMR5174, CNRS, IRD, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier,118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Myriam Roussigné
- Centre de Biologie du Développement (CBD), UMR5547, CNRS, Université de Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, 118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
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2
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Nöbel S, Wang X, Talvard L, Tariel J, Lille M, Cucherousset J, Roussigné M, Danchin E. The importance of population heterogeneities in detecting social learning as the foundation of animal cultural transmission. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220431. [PMID: 35703048 PMCID: PMC9198774 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
High levels of within-population behavioural variation can have drastic demographic consequences, thus changing the evolutionary fate of populations. A major source of within-population heterogeneity is personality. Nonetheless, it is still relatively rarely accounted for in social learning studies that constitute the most basic process of cultural transmission. Here, we performed in female mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) a social learning experiment in the context of mate choice, a situation called mate copying (MC), and for which there is strong evidence that it can lead to the emergence of persistent traditions of preferring a given male phenotype. When accounting for the global tendency of females to prefer larger males but ignoring differences in personality, we detected no evidence for MC. However, when accounting for the bold-shy dichotomy, we found that bold females did not show any evidence for MC, while shy females showed significant amounts of MC. This illustrates how the presence of variation in personality can hamper our capacity to detect MC. We conclude that MC may be more widespread than we thought because many studies ignored the presence of within-population heterogeneities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Nöbel
- Université Toulouse 1 Capitole and Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse (IAST), Toulouse, France
- Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174), Université de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, CNRS, IRD, UPS, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174), Université de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, CNRS, IRD, UPS, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Laurine Talvard
- Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174), Université de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, CNRS, IRD, UPS, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Juliette Tariel
- Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174), Université de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, CNRS, IRD, UPS, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Maëva Lille
- Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174), Université de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, CNRS, IRD, UPS, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Julien Cucherousset
- Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174), Université de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, CNRS, IRD, UPS, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Myriam Roussigné
- Centre de Biologie Integrative (CBI), Centre de Biologie du Développement (CBD), UMR5547, CNRS, Université de Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Etienne Danchin
- Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174), Université de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, CNRS, IRD, UPS, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France
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3
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Loning H, Griffith SC, Naguib M. Zebra finch song is a very short-range signal in the wild: evidence from an integrated approach. Behav Ecol 2022; 33:37-46. [PMID: 35197805 PMCID: PMC8857932 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arab107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Birdsong is typically seen as a long-range signal functioning in mate attraction and territory defense. Among birds, the zebra finch is the prime model organism in bioacoustics, yet almost exclusively studied in the lab. In the wild, however, zebra finch song differs strikingly from songbirds commonly studied in the wild as zebra finch males sing most after mating and in the absence of territoriality. Using data from the wild, we here provide an ecological context for a wealth of laboratory studies. By integrating calibrated sound recordings, sound transmission experiments and social ecology of zebra finches in the wild with insights from hearing physiology we show that wild zebra finch song is a very short-range signal with an audible range of about nine meters and that even the louder distance calls do not carry much farther (up to about fourteen meters). These integrated findings provide an ecological context for the interpretation of laboratory studies of this species and indicate that the vocal communication distance of the main laboratory species for avian acoustics contrasts strikingly with songbirds that use their song as a long-range advertisement signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Loning
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research, De Elst 1, 6708 WD Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Simon C Griffith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Marc Naguib
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research, De Elst 1, 6708 WD Wageningen, The Netherlands
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4
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Zhuang JY, Xie J, Li P, Fan M, Bode S. Neural profiles of observing acceptance and rejection decisions in human mate choice copying. Neuroimage 2021; 233:117929. [PMID: 33675996 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.117929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mate choice copying refers to an agent copying the choice for a potential sexual/romantic partner made by a relevant model and has been observed across many species. This study investigated the neural profiles of two copying strategies in humans - acceptance and rejection copying - using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Female participants observed female models accepting, rejecting, or being undecided about (control), males as potential romantic partners before and after rating their own willingness to choose the same males. We found that observing acceptance shifted participants' own choices towards acceptance, while observing rejection shifted participants' choices towards rejection. A network of motivation-, conflict- and reinforcement learning related brain regions was activated for observing the models' decisions. The rostral anterior cingulate gyrus (rACCg) and the caudate in particular were activated more strongly when observing acceptance. Activation in the inferior parietal lobe directly scaled with the magnitude of changes in choices after observing acceptance, while activation in the ACCg also scaled with changes after observing rejection. These findings point to partly dissociable neural profiles for copying strategies that might be linked to different contributions of incentive-driven and vicarious motivation, potentially reflecting the presence or absence of internalised reward experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Ying Zhuang
- School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, China.
| | - Jiajia Xie
- School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, China; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Peng Li
- School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, China
| | - Mingxia Fan
- Department of Physics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, East China Normal University, China
| | - Stefan Bode
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Australia.
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Scherer U, Godin JGJ, Schuett W. Do female rainbow kribs choose males on the basis of their apparent aggression and boldness? A non-correlational mate choice study. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-019-2794-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Consistent between-individual differences in behaviour, known as personality differences, are heritable and have consequences for individual survival and reproductive success. Therefore, it is likely that personality differences are not just under natural but also under sexual selection. Indeed, the recently developed idea that individuals choose their mate based on its personality finds empirical support. However, most studies on mate choice based on personality traits are correlative pioneering work and there is a paucity of experimental studies that test for causality by disentangling personality measures from other, potentially correlated traits that may be important during mate choice. Here, we tested female preference for the apparent level and consistency of either male aggression (measured as mean distance of approach towards an animated opponent, manipulated by locating males at a fixed distance) or male boldness (measured as activity under a simulated predation threat, manipulated using a gradient in ambient water temperature) in a bi-parental West African cichlid, Pelvicachromis pulcher. Females could observe the apparent behaviour of paired stimulus males and were allowed to choose between the two stimulus males in a subsequent choice test. We found no direct effect of male apparent aggression/boldness on female choice, but an indirect effect such that female preference for the apparently bold male increased with increasing within-male pair contrast in their apparent level of boldness. Our results indicate females consider male boldness per se during mate choice, suggesting male boldness is sexually selected in our study species.
Significance statement
Ever since Darwin introduced the concept of sexual selection, female choice has been studied extensively. However, the hypothesis that consistent between-individual differences in behaviour (known as personality differences) affect mate choice is relatively new. Correlative studies support this idea but provide only suggestive evidence. Here, we used behavioural manipulations in order to disentangle male behaviour from other, potentially correlated male traits, allowing us to test for causality between female choice and personality differences in male aggression and boldness (both in level and consistency of behaviour) in a bi-parental cichlid. We found no overall female preference for male apparent behaviour, but female preference for the bold-appearing male increased with increasing between-male contrast in apparent boldness. Our results indicate a causal link between female choice and male boldness. In future, behavioural manipulations using a temperature gradient could provide further valuable insights.
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Jones BC, DuVal EH. Mechanisms of Social Influence: A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Social Information on Female Mate Choice Decisions. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
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7
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Pogány Á, Morvai B, Krause ET, Kitsios E, Böhm T, Ruploh T, von Engelhardt N, Székely T, Komdeur J, Miklósi Á, Krüger O. Short- and Long-Term Social Effects of Parental Sex Roles in Zebra Finches. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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8
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Martin-Wintle MS, Wintle NJP, Díez-León M, Swaisgood RR, Asa CS. Improving the sustainability of ex situ populations with mate choice. Zoo Biol 2018; 38:119-132. [PMID: 30474268 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Revised: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Many breeding programs managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' (AZA) Species Survival Plans® (SSPs) are not meeting goals for population size and genetic diversity due to failure of recommended pairs to breed successfully. According to AZA Population Management Center analyses, as many as 80% of recommended breeding pairs fail to produce young before the next breeding and transfer plan is issued. Determining reasons for failure and ensuring that a specific pairing produces offspring can be challenging. Mate incompatibility, one possible reason for failure, might be addressed by allowing mate choice. Although many SSP® coordinators and breeding managers, who implement breeding recommendations at their institutions, recognize the potential benefits of mate choice, examples and models for presenting and assessing choice are lacking. Here we review examples from birds, rodents, lagomorphs, marsupials, carnivores, fishes, and insects where mate choice has been incorporated. These examples provide strong evidence that free mate choice and mating with preferred partners increase a variety of reproductive success measurements when compared to assigned mate pairings. We suggest innovative housing and breeding arrangements for better incorporating mate choice into the management strategies for species held ex situ. Further, we discuss the fitness consequences and welfare implications of allowing choice. We advocate for a more systematic use of behavioral research in cooperative breeding programs. Behavioral management for mating can yield more successful programs, thus ensuring SSP® genetic and demographic goals are met, while simultaneously improving welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan S Martin-Wintle
- Recovery Ecology, Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, California.,PDXWildlife, Portland, Oregon
| | | | - María Díez-León
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, UK
| | - Ronald R Swaisgood
- Recovery Ecology, Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, California
| | - Cheryl S Asa
- AZA Reproductive Management Center, Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis, Missouri
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Witte K, Baumgärtner K, Röhrig C, Nöbel S. Test of the Deception Hypothesis in Atlantic Mollies Poecilia mexicana-Does the Audience Copy a Pretended Mate Choice of Others? BIOLOGY 2018; 7:E40. [PMID: 30011804 PMCID: PMC6164261 DOI: 10.3390/biology7030040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Animals often use public information for mate-choice decisions by observing conspecifics as they choose their mates and then copying this witnessed decision. When the copier, however, is detected by the choosing individual, the latter often alters its behavior and spends more time with the previously non-preferred mate. This behavioral change is called the audience effect. The deception hypothesis states that the choosing individual changes its behavior to distract the audience from the preferred mate. The deception hypothesis, however, only applies if the audience indeed copies the pretended mate choice of the observed individual. So far, this necessary prerequisite has never been tested. We investigated in Atlantic molly males and females whether, first, focal fish show an audience effect, i.e., alter their mate choices in the presence of an audience fish, and second, whether audience fish copy the mate choice of the focal fish they had just witnessed. We found evidence that male and female Atlantic mollies copy the pretended mate choice of same-sex focal fish. Therefore, a necessary requirement of the deception hypothesis is fulfilled. Our results show that public information use in the context of mate choice can be costly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaudia Witte
- Research Group of Ecology and Behavioral Biology, Department of Chemistry-Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Siegen, Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 2, 57076 Siegen, Germany.
| | - Katharina Baumgärtner
- Research Group of Ecology and Behavioral Biology, Department of Chemistry-Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Siegen, Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 2, 57076 Siegen, Germany.
| | - Corinna Röhrig
- Research Group of Ecology and Behavioral Biology, Department of Chemistry-Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Siegen, Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 2, 57076 Siegen, Germany.
| | - Sabine Nöbel
- CNRS, Université Toulouse, IRD, UMR 5174, EDB (Évolution & Diversité Biologique), 118 Route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse CEDEX 9, France.
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10
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Nöbel S, Danchin E, Isabel G. Mate-copying for a costly variant in Drosophila melanogaster females. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Nöbel
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, UPS, Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Etienne Danchin
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, UPS, Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Guillaume Isabel
- CNRS, Université de Toulouse, UMR 5169, CRCA (Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale), CBI (Centre de Biologie Intégrative), Toulouse Cedex 9, France
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11
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12
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Morinay J, Forsman JT, Kivelä SM, Gustafsson L, Doligez B. Heterospecific Nest Site Copying Behavior in a Wild Bird: Assessing the Influence of Genetics and Past Experience on a Joint Breeding Phenotype. Front Ecol Evol 2018. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2017.00167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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13
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Gierszewski S, Keil M, Witte K. Mate-choice copying in sailfin molly females: public information use from long-distance interactions. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2441-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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14
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White DJ, Watts E, Pitchforth K, Agyapong S, Miller N. ‘Sociability’ affects the intensity of mate-choice copying in female guppies, Poecilia reticulata. Behav Processes 2017; 141:251-257. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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15
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Different or alike? Female rainbow kribs choose males of similar consistency and dissimilar level of boldness. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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16
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Kniel N, Müller K, Witte K. The role of the model in mate-choice copying in female zebra finches. Ethology 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nina Kniel
- Research Group of Ecology and Behavioral Biology; Institute of Biology; Department of Chemistry and Biology; University of Siegen; Siegen Germany
| | - Katharina Müller
- Research Group of Ecology and Behavioral Biology; Institute of Biology; Department of Chemistry and Biology; University of Siegen; Siegen Germany
| | - Klaudia Witte
- Research Group of Ecology and Behavioral Biology; Institute of Biology; Department of Chemistry and Biology; University of Siegen; Siegen Germany
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17
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18
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Castellano S, Friard O, Pilastro A. The audience effect and the role of deception in the expression of male mating preferences. Anim Behav 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Kniel N, Bender S, Witte K. Sex-Specific Audience Effect in the Context of Mate Choice in Zebra Finches. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0147130. [PMID: 26839957 PMCID: PMC4739725 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals observing conspecifics during mate choice can gain additional information about potential mates. However, the presence of an observer, if detected by the observed individuals, can influence the nature of the behavior of the observed individuals, called audience effect. In zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis), domesticated males show an audience effect during mate choice. However, whether male and female descendants of the wild form show an audience effect during mate choice is unknown. Therefore, we conducted an experiment where male and female focal birds could choose between two distinctive phenotypes of the opposite sex, an artificially adorned stimulus bird with a red feather on the forehead and an unadorned stimulus bird, two times consecutively, once without an audience and once with an audience bird (same sex as test bird). Males showed an audience effect when an audience male was present and spent more time with adorned and less time with unadorned females compared to when there was no audience present. The change in time spent with the respective stimulus females was positively correlated with the time that the audience male spent in front of its cage close to the focal male. Females showed no change in mate choice when an audience female was present, but their motivation to associate with both stimulus males decreased. In a control for mate-choice consistency there was no audience in either test. Here, both focal females and focal males chose consistently without a change in choosing motivation. Our results showed that there is an audience effect on mate choice in zebra finches and that the response to a same-sex audience was sex-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Kniel
- Research Group of Ecology and Behavioral Biology, Institute of Biology, Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Stefanie Bender
- Research Group of Ecology and Behavioral Biology, Institute of Biology, Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Klaudia Witte
- Research Group of Ecology and Behavioral Biology, Institute of Biology, Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
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Kniel N, Schmitz J, Witte K. Quality of public information matters in mate-choice copying in female zebra finches. Front Zool 2015; 12:26. [PMID: 26435729 PMCID: PMC4591742 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-015-0119-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mate-choice copying is a form of social learning in which an individual gains information about potential mates by observing conspecifics. However, it is still unknown what kind of information drives the decision of an individual to copy the mate choice of others. Among zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis), only females (not males) copy the mate choice of others. We tested female zebra finches in a binary choice test where they, first, could choose between two males of different phenotypes: one unadorned male and one male artificially adorned with a red feather on the forehead. After this mate-choice test, females could observe a single unadorned male and a pair of zebra finches, i.e. a wild-type female and her adorned mate. Pair interactions were either restricted to acoustic and visual communication (clear glass screen between pair mates) or acoustic communication alone (opaque screen between pair mates). After the observation period, females could again choose between new males of the two phenotypes in a second mate-choice test. RESULTS In experiments with a clear glass screen, time spent with the respective males changed between the two mate-choice tests, and females preferred adorned over unadorned males during the second mate-choice test. In experiments with an opaque screen, time spent with the respective males did not change between the two mate-choice tests, although females lost an initial preference for unadorned males. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that the quality of the received public information (visual and acoustic interaction of the observed pair) influences mate-choice copying in female zebra finches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Kniel
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Institute of Biology, Research Group of Ecology and Behavioral Biology, Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 2, 57068 Siegen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Schmitz
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Institute of Biology, Research Group of Ecology and Behavioral Biology, Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 2, 57068 Siegen, Germany
| | - Klaudia Witte
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Institute of Biology, Research Group of Ecology and Behavioral Biology, Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 2, 57068 Siegen, Germany
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