Differential responses to male song repertoires in female songbirds implanted with oestradiol

Catchpole, Clive K.; Dittami, John; Leisler, Bernd

doi:10.1038/312563a0

Cited by 157 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…This measure is called repertoire size and is used as a standard measure of song complexity in this, and earlier published, studies. In the eld, females select males with larger repertoires (Catchpole 1980;Buchanan & Catchpole 1997); and under controlled conditions in the laboratory, females display more when repertoire size is arti cially increased (Catchpole et al 1984). This and other evidence from Acrocephalus species (reviewed in Catchpole 2000) now form a considerable body of published evidence that implicates sexual selection by female choice as the major driving force behind the evolution of complex songs in this group.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Song and the song control pathway in the brain can develop independently of exposure to song in the sedge warbler

Leitner

Nicholson

Leisler

et al. 2002

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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Previous studies have shown that female sedge warblers choose to mate with males that have more complex songs, and sexual selection has driven the evolution of both song complexity and the size of the major song control area (HVc) in the brain. In songbirds, learning from conspeci cs plays a major role in song development and this study investigates the effects of isolation and exposure to song on song structure and the underlying song control system. Sibling pairs of hand-reared nestling sedge warblers were reared to sexual maturity under two conditions. Siblings in one group were reared individually in acoustic isolation in separate soundproof chambers. In the other group, siblings were reared together in an aviary with playback of recorded songs. The following spring, analysis of songs revealed that siblings reared in acoustic isolation produced normal song structures, including larger syllable repertoires than those exposed to song. We found no signi cant differences in the volumes of HVc, nucleus robustus archistnatalis, the lateral portion of the magnocellular nucleus and the density of dendritic spines between the two groups. Males exceeded females in all these measures, and also had a larger telencephalon. Our experiments show that complex song, sexual dimorphism in brain structure, and the size of song nuclei can all develop independently of exposure to song. These ndings have important implications for how sexual selection can operate upon a complex male trait such as song and how it may also shape the more general evolution of brain structure in songbirds.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Song and the song control pathway in the brain can develop independently of exposure to song in the sedge warbler

Leitner

Nicholson

Leisler

et al. 2002

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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show abstract

“…The possibility remains, however, that all three ' cues ' are related to other real cues not measured in this study. This seems unlikely, as first, all the obvious male traits were investigated, and second, previous experimental work on sedge warblers has shown that captive females are responsive to variations in repertoire size (Catchpole et al 1984).…”

Section: Discussion (A) the Importance Of Multiple Cuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a field study (Catchpole 1980) males with larger syllable repertoires were found to attract females earlier, and in a laboratory study captive females displayed more to recordings of larger repertoires (Catchpole et al 1984). However, no other aspects of song or territory quality were investigated in parallel, and many questions still remain about other possible cues that females may be using.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Female choice in the sedge warblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusmultiple cues from song and territory quality

Buchanan

Catchpole

1997

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

163

111

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SUMMARYRecent models of animal signalling emphasize the evolution of complex displays containing ' multiple messages '. A variety of potential cues used in female choice were investigated during a three-year field study of the sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus. Twelve possible cues were investigated, and three were found to have a significant influence upon pairing date. Two were different measures of song (repertoire size and song flighting) and one a measure of territory (territory size). Repertoire and territory size had a significant influence on pairing date in all three years, and song-flighting in two. The three cues were not intercorrelated and so had independent effects upon pairing date. We suggest that females select males upon multiple cues as these reflect different aspects of male and territory quality.

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“…In various species larger repertoires are more attractive and stimulating to females (e.g. sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus: Catchpole et al 1984;Buchanan & Catchpole 1997). Evidence as to why it benefits females to respond in this way is also coming forward.…”

Section: The Functions Of Songmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fifty years of bird song research: a case study in animal behaviour

Slater

2003

Animal Behaviour

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Differential responses to male song repertoires in female songbirds implanted with oestradiol

Cited by 157 publications

References 10 publications

Song and the song control pathway in the brain can develop independently of exposure to song in the sedge warbler

Song and the song control pathway in the brain can develop independently of exposure to song in the sedge warbler

Female choice in the sedge warblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusmultiple cues from song and territory quality

Fifty years of bird song research: a case study in animal behaviour

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