Increased risk of predation increases mobbing intensity in tropical birds of French Guiana

Abstract

Abstract:Stressful environments have been suggested to enhance cooperative behaviours in animal communities. Prey animals living in risky environments can also increase long-term benefits by cooperating with neighbours, such as collectively harassing predators. However, empirical studies have rarely tested this prediction in the wild. In this experimental study we explored whether the perceived predation risk influences cooperative mobbing behaviour in tropical forest birds in French Guiana. The predation risk was increased by 5-d-long presentation of visual and acoustic stimuli of pygmy-owls in 24 locations. In order to examine whether mobbing response can vary in relation to the abundance of local predators, we used the Amazonian pygmy-owl (Glaucidium hardyi) as a common predator and the ferruginous pygmy-owl (Glaucidium brasilianum) as a rare predator in the study area. Our results showed that repeated predator-presentations increased mobbing response over time for the rarer owl species, while this effect was not significant for the common owl species. No effect of repeated presentations of either pygmy-owl species was found on the latency of mobbing. Moreover, mobbing latency was shorter and mobbing response was stronger for the common predator species, the Amazonian pygmy-owl. This study provides experimental evidence that birds exhibit stronger mobbing responses when the predator is locally abundant, while repeated encounters can be perceived as more dangerous when the predator is rare.

Mobbing behaviour in a passerine community increases with prevalence in predator diet

“…For example, in tropical forests of southern Brazil, the Ferruginous Pygmy Owl Glaucidium brasilianum is often mobbed by a wide range of avian species (Shalter , Motta‐Junior , Sandoval & Wilson , Cunha et al . , Tilgar & Moks ), as is the Northern Pygmy Owl Glaucidium californicum in North America (Deppe et al . , Templeton et al .…”

“…Owls in the genus Glaucidium prey mainly on passerine birds, making them particularly suited to study the mobbing behaviour in passerine communities. For example, in tropical forests of southern Brazil, the Ferruginous Pygmy Owl Glaucidium brasilianum is often mobbed by a wide range of avian species (Shalter 1978, Motta-Junior 2007, Sandoval & Wilson 2012, Cunha et al 2013, Tilgar & Moks 2015, as is the Northern Pygmy Owl Glaucidium californicum in North America (Deppe et al 2003, Templeton et al 2005, Templeton & Greene 2007, Nocera & Ratcliffe 2010, Billings et al 2015. In Europe, the Eurasian Pygmy Owl Glaucidium passerinum (hereafter Pygmy Owl) also specializes in feeding on birds (Solheim 1984, Kullberg 1995, Sotnar et al 2015, including fledglings (Likachev 1971, Kellom€ aki 1977, Sotnar et al 2015, some of which may be pulled from nest-holes (M€ ockel & M€ ockel 1984).…”

Ecological and phylogenetic predictors of mobbing behavior in a tropical dry forest

“…It may define whether a species can be caught, subdued, and consumed by a predator (Hua et al, ). Potential preys are known to adjust the strength of their mobbing behavior according to their risk of predation (Motta‐Junior & Santos‐Filho, ; Sandoval & Wilson, ; Tilgar & Moks, ). Therefore, mobbing may vary in response to predation pressure (Dutour, Lena, & Lengagne, ; Sandoval & Wilson, ).…”

“…The imitation of the vocalization of the Ferruginous Pygmy‐Owl in the field often attracts many otherwise silent or hidden birds, and represents a tool often used by ornithologists and birdwatchers alike to disclose the presence of many different bird species. In fact, mobbing on the Ferruginous Pygmy‐Owl is possibly one of the most well‐studied cases in the Neotropics (Cunha & Vasconcelos, ; Reudink, Nocera, & Curry, ; Sandoval & Wilson, ; Tilgar & Moks, ). Nearly, 250 bird species from 27 different avian families display mobbing behaviors against this species throughout its range (Data available in the Dryad Digital Repository, see Data Accessibility for more information).…”

Comparative analysis of hissing calls in five tit species

“…Nest predation often leads to failed reproduction and is a major selective pressure that affects nest defense behavior in birds (Ricklefs 1969;Martin 1995;Forstmeier and Weiss 2004;Fontaine and Martin 2006;Lima 2009;Tilgar and Moks 2015;Fu et al 2016;Guppy et al 2017). Birds have evolved complex anti-predation strategies to protect their nests and demonstrate specific behaviors when facing predators of different types and risk levels (Lima et al 2005;Yorzinski and Vehrencamp 2009;Krams et al 2010;Yorzinski and Platt 2012;Suzuki 2011Suzuki , 2015Daniela et al 2018;Maziarz et al 2018).…”