Food color, flavor, and conditioned avoidance among red-winged blackbirds

Werner, Scott J.; Kimball, Bruce A.; Provenza, Frederick D.

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.08.002

Cited by 26 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…A. Kimball, M. Cheney & F. D. Provenza, unpublished data]. Previous studies demonstrated conditioned color avoidance [20,21] and UV vision [22,23] in redwinged blackbirds. Moreover, red-winged blackbirds associate preand postingestive consequences with food color, and reliably integrate visual and gustatory experience with postingestive consequences to procure nutrients and avoid toxins [24].…”

Section: Abstract a R T I C L E I N F Omentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Ultraviolet cues alone, however, are unlikely to elicit food avoidance among wild birds [32]. Blackbirds use affective processes [i.e., flavor-feedback relationships; 33,34] to shift preference for both novel and familiar flavors, and cognitive associations (colors) to avoid food, subsequent to toxin exposure [21]. These "colors" include UV-absorbent and UV-reflective cues for blackbird feeding behavior.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) are regarded as the primary cause of agricultural depredation to newly-planted rice in spring, and ripening sunflower and rice in fall; thus, experimental investigations regarding the process of blackbird food selection are warranted. Our first hypothesis was that a UV cue and a postingestive repellent can be used to condition avoidance in red-winged blackbirds [19 [20,21] and UV vision [22,23] in redwinged blackbirds. Moreover, red-winged blackbirds associate preand postingestive consequences with food color, and reliably integrate visual and gustatory experience with postingestive consequences to procure nutrients and avoid toxins [24].…”

Section: T R a C T A R T I C L E I N F Omentioning

confidence: 99%

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The role of a generalized ultraviolet cue for blackbird food selection

Werner¹,

Tupper²,

Carlson³

et al. 2012

Physiology & Behavior

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Section: Abstract a R T I C L E I N F Omentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: T R a C T A R T I C L E I N F Omentioning

confidence: 99%

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The role of a generalized ultraviolet cue for blackbird food selection

Werner¹,

Tupper²,

Carlson³

et al. 2012

Physiology & Behavior

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“…Birds can generally distinguish colors ranging from 350 nm (ultraviolet) to 750 nm (red; Bowmaker, 1987). Wild birds associate pre-and postingestive consequences with visual cues, and reliably integrate visual and gustatory experience with postingestive consequences to procure nutrients and avoid toxins (Werner et al, 2008c;Werner and Provenza, 2011). Whereas anthraquinone is an emodin purgative (Merck, 1991) and anthraquinone absorbs near-ultraviolet light (300-400 nm; Du et al, 1998) that is visible to most birds, anthraquinone is a quintessential avoidance-conditioning agent for wild birds ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthraquinone repellent to reduce take of non-target birds from zinc phosphide rodenticide applications

Werner

Tupper

Pettit

et al. 2011

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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Carlson, James C.; and Linz, George M., "Anthraquinone repellent to reduce take of non-target birds from zinc phosphide rodenticide applications" (2011 We evaluated anthraquinone as an avian repellent to reduce take of non-target birds from zinc phosphide rodenticide applications. We observed zero mortalities and no overt signs of zinc phosphide toxicosis among 20 Canada geese (Branta canadensis), 24 horned larks (Eremophila alpestris), and 47 ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) offered baits treated with 1% or 2% anthraquinone and 2% zinc phosphide (target concentrations; wt/wt) during laboratory performance experiments. Thus, anthraquinone successfully prevented consumption of 2% zinc phosphide baits among non-target birds in captivity. We observed 10% mortality among black-tailed prairie dogs (i.e., target rodent; Cynomys ludovicianus) offered oats treated with 1% anthraquinone and 2% zinc phosphide, and 30% mortality among blacktailed prairie dogs offered oats treated with 2% anthraquinone and 2% zinc phosphide. Upon completion of our experiments, chemical analyses indicated that actual concentrations were 1.66% and 1.45% zinc phosphide among oats treated with1% anthraquinone + 2% zinc phosphide, and 2% anthraquinone + 2% zinc phosphide, respectively. We observed 24-37% repellency during a concentration-response test with black-tailed prairie dogs offered corn seeds treated with 0.5-4% anthraquinone (target concentrations; wt/wt). Thus, anthraquinone may affect consumption of repellent-treated rodenticide baits for black-tailed prairie dogs. Supplemental performance testing and field efficacy studies (e.g., 0.25-0.5% anthraquinone and 2% zinc phosphide, actual concentrations; wt/wt) are necessary for further development of an efficacious, bird-repellent rodenticide bait.Published by Elsevier B.V.

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“…We know less about how they make choices in complex field environments, where quality and quantity will vary. Animals can retain information on previous feeding experiences, such as the taste (Yarmolinsky et al 2009) and digestive feedback (Werner et al 2008;Yearsley et al 2006), and there is an increasing body of evidence that some animals can remember the locations of the food and other resources and have the skills to navigate back to them (Janmaat et al 2013;Blake and InkambaNkulu 2004). We also know that in experimental situations animals will demonstrate a preference for one fruit over others.…”

Section: Impact Of Memory On Service To Each Of Two Competing Plants mentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant ecology meets animal cognition: impacts of animal memory on seed dispersal

et al. 2016

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We propose that an understanding of animal learning and memory is critical to predicting the impacts of animals on plant populations through processes such as seed dispersal, pollination and herbivory. Focussing on endozoochory, we review the evidence that animal memory plays a role in seed dispersal, and present a model which allows us to explore the fundamental consequences of memory for this process. We demonstrate that decision-making by animals based on their previous experiences has the potential to determine which plants are visited, which fruits are selected to be eaten from the plant and where seeds are subsequently deposited, as well as being an important determinant of animal survival. Collectively, these results suggest that the impact of animal learning and memory on seed dispersal is likely to be extremely important, although to date our understanding of these processes suffers from a conspicuous lack of empirical support. This is partly because of the difficulty of conducting appropriate experiments but is also the result of limited interaction between plant ecologists and those who work on animal cognition.We believe that an improved understanding of the effects of animal memory in endozoochorous interactions will allow better prediction of the impacts of ecosystem changes such as habitat fragmentation, introductions of novel species of plants and animals and reintroductions of animal populations to areas from which they have been extirpated, and hope that the ideas we put forward here provide an impetus for further work in this area.

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Food color, flavor, and conditioned avoidance among red-winged blackbirds

Cited by 26 publications

References 27 publications

The role of a generalized ultraviolet cue for blackbird food selection

The role of a generalized ultraviolet cue for blackbird food selection

Anthraquinone repellent to reduce take of non-target birds from zinc phosphide rodenticide applications

Plant ecology meets animal cognition: impacts of animal memory on seed dispersal

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