Alarm call mimicry Flashcards
Background of the Drongos birds?
Spend over a quarter of their time following target species and producing true alarm calls of approaching predators
Deception by flexible alarm mimicry in an african bird
Author / date ?
Flower et al 2014
How do target species of the drongos maximise benefit of drongos true alarm signalling
- Target species evesdrop on alarm calls and flee
- They benefit from the drongo sentries by reducing their vigilance and increasing foraging returns
How to drongos trick the target species?
- Produce false alarm calls when target species find a large food item
- Allowing them to steal the food
What happens if Drongos repeat their false alarm calls?
Target species ignore calls
How do drongos adapt to target species ignoring their calls?
- Flexible alarm calls
- They change their alarm calls
What percentage of drongos biomass intake does food-theft account for?
23%
What is the mimic call repertoire of drongos ?
- 9-32 different calls per individual
- 51 different false alarm call types
- 6 drongo-specific calls
- 45 mimic alarm-calls of other species
What percentage of false alarm calls are mimicked?
42%
How do drongos choose which species to target?
If they can mimic a specific target species call they will target that species more for food theft
How did targest species react when the same drongo alarm call was played repeatedly ?
Decreased their response
How did targest species react when the drongo alarm call was changed ?
Maintainted response
Flexible alarm mimicry increased target deception
How did the drongos react to a failed food-theft attempt?
Changed their alarm type which usually ended in successful food-theft attempt
What do drongos benefit from?
Flexibly varying their alarm call type
