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Stronger territorial responses to frequency modulated coos in collared doves
1Section of Ethology, Institute of Evolutionary and Ecological Sciences, Leiden University
Animal Behaviour
|October 1, 1997
Summary
Male collared doves (Streptopelia decaocto) show stronger territorial responses to coos with frequency changes. This perception is linked to assessing the sender as a potentially stronger competitor.
Area of Science:
- Animal behavior
- Bioacoustics
- Avian communication
Background:
- Collared doves (Streptopelia decaocto) use coos in territorial signaling.
- Understanding the acoustic properties influencing response intensity is crucial for communication studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how frequency variations in collared dove coos affect territorial male responses.
- To determine which specific acoustic features of modulated coos elicit stronger reactions.
Main Methods:
- Playback experiments presenting modulated and unmodulated coos to territorial male collared doves.
- Analysis of behavioral responses to different acoustic stimuli.
Main Results:
- Territorial males exhibited significantly stronger responses to modulated coos compared to unmodulated coos.
- The presence of a discrete frequency change, rather than just increased average frequency, was the key factor driving stronger responses.
- Responses were elevated whether one or all elements of the coo were modulated.
Conclusions:
- The frequency change in coos acts as a critical signal in collared dove communication.
- Stronger responses to modulated coos suggest receivers perceive senders with such vocalizations as superior competitors.