Research into vocal communication

Question 1

Describe the routine of male sedge warblers after retuning from migration.

Answer 1

Establish territories in reed beds
Sing complex continuous song- no repeats
To attract females

Question 2

Can their be variability in behavioural traits ?

Answer 2

Yes

Male sedge warblers have variety in the complexity of their songs.

Question 3

What did research (1) into first pairing date and complexity of male sedge warbler song reveal ?

Answer 3

The more complex the song of the male the earlier the pairing date

Question 4

When female sedge warblers were exposed to playbacks of males, which individuals did they prefer ?
Research (2)

Answer 4

Males with larger repertories

Proving that the more complex the song of the male- more likely that he will mate.

Question 5

Describe the living arrangements of White bowed scrub wrens

Answer 5

Live in pairs or small groups

Question 6

What is the predator of the white bowed scrub wrens ?

Answer 6

Pied Currawong

Consumes eggs, nestlings, fledglings, adults

Question 7

Describe the calling system of the white bowed scrub wrens.

Answer 7

Use trill calls to warn of danger
Can contain extra info. (aerial, terrestrial)
Number of trill elements increases as predation threat gets closer.

Question 8

What is the benefit of the white bowed scrub wrens calling system ?

Answer 8

Can adjust response accordingly (aerial- look up)

Balancing foraging and fleeing (only flee when absolutely necessary)

Question 9

What would happen to a white bowed scrub wrens if it fled at every trill call ?

Answer 9

It would forage less, as continually fleeing

= Decreased differential reproductive sucess

Question 10

Give the name of a species which uses recruitment calls.

Answer 10

Pied Babblers.

Question 11

Where are pied babblers found ?

Answer 11

Southern Africa

Question 12

Describe the living arrangements of pied babblers.

Answer 12

Live In open habitats in habituated groups.
3-15 individuals
Lots of the time on the ground finding prey as a group.

Question 13

Why was the data collection on pied babblers so efficient ?

Answer 13

Able to train them to respond to a whistle

Incredibly detailed data collection (foraging success)
Regular measures of weight and condition
Accurate experimental manipulation

Question 14

Why do adult pied warblers give purr call ?

Answer 14

Recruitment call
Attract dependant fledglings to share foraging patch.
Will be an abundant and divisible food source
Enabling them to learn how to forage

Question 15

Why do pied babblers share their foraging patches with dependant fledglings ?

Answer 15

Young will be relatives or offspring- genes

Benefits of a larger group- diluted risk of predation, easily spot predation threat

Question 16

Give a species example which uses its song for territory defence.

Answer 16

Great tit.

deter male rivals and asses threat

Question 17

Describe the mating routine of great tits.

Answer 17

Establish woodland territory
Sing when settled to attract female
Continue to sing to deter rivals even when female attracted

Question 18

If an occupancy becomes available it will be filled rapidly.
Why is this ?

Answer 18

Many ‘Floating males’ which are continually looking for territories.
More males than territories.

Question 19

Describe the research involving great tits

Answer 19

Consisted of using playbacks of song.
Removed great tits from 3 areas and replaced them with silence, single song and a repertoire.
Silent territory was filled most rapidly.

Question 20

What is the concept of ‘Dear enemies’ ?

Answer 20

2 neighbouring territorial animals become less aggressive toward one another once territorial borders are established

Question 21

Why is a stranger Great Tit more of a threat than a neighbouring one ?

Answer 21

Stranger will want to steal female and territory

Neighbour will only want to steal paternity of female, not territory as have one of their own

Question 22

Describe the difference In great tit song in response to a neighbour and a stranger.

Answer 22

Response to a stranger will be faster and longer

Question 23

How do great tits recognise a stranger great tit ?

Answer 23

Will not recognize stranger song

Whereas will know song of neighbour.

Question 24

State a species which duets.

Answer 24

Australian magpie larks

Question 25

Why do Australian magpie larks duet ?

Answer 25

Deter rivals
Enhance mate bond
Mate guard female- If female vocalises to other males. Male will take up duet to indicate that she is taken.

Question 26

What is interesting about the Twit Twoo of owls ?

Answer 26

It is actually a male and female dueting

Question 27

What are the living arrangements of Kookaburras ?

Answer 27

Group living species

Combine in song to deter rival groups

Question 28

What happens the first time the young Kookaburras attempt to vocalise ?

Answer 28

They get it wrong.

So Adults will fly down and help them learn the correct form of the vocalisations.