On sex-specific foraging behaviour in the Willow Warbler, <i>Phylloscopus trochilus</i>

Nyström, K. G. Kenneth

doi:10.1139/z91-072

Cited by 18 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Larger species may prefer more productive habitats, if the insects occupying these habitats are larger than average, as Shvarts and Demin (1994) found for ground-dwelling insects. This idea is supported by the finding of Nyström (1990) that deciduous trees hold a higher proportion of large arthropods than coniferous trees. Also, Price (1991) found that larger Phylloscopus species prefer larger prey items.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Habitat choice in Phylloscopus warblers: the role of morphology, phylogeny and competition

2001

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We studied ecological and evolutionary aspects of habitat choice in a group of closely related bird species to gain insight into factors influencing bird community structure. Seven species of Phylloscopus warblers breed sympatrically in the middle taiga subzone of Central Siberia. We examine how the distribution of species among habitats is related to morphology, phylogeny and competition, and we compare our results with an earlier study on the ecomorphology of Phylloscopus warblers in Kashmir. We found that in Siberia, large warbler species prefer productive habitats with mostly deciduous vegetation, whereas small species occupy poor coniferous forests. Possible explanations for this finding remain to be tested in the future. Moreover, we found a tendency for species with large feet, small bills and short wings to occupy habitats with an abundance of bush thickets near the ground. In the Kashmir study, competition was considered a major factor in structuring the Phylloscopus community, and patterns of habitat choice were not influenced by phylogenetic relationships. In strong contrast, we found that in the Siberian community, closely related species occupy similar habitats. We discuss whether this conservative evolution of habitat preferences in Siberia may be due to low intensity of interspecific competition or to other ecological factors.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Habitat choice in Phylloscopus warblers: the role of morphology, phylogeny and competition

2001

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“…Unassisted females need to catch prey at a higher rate than assisted females (Sasva¨ri 1986;Pinxten & Eens 1994;Aho et al 1997) and they may achieve this by increasing search speed (Sasva¨ri 1986;Aho et al 1997;W. Forstmeier, unpublished data) and by using more energy-consuming foraging manoeuvres (NystrÎm 1990;W. Forstmeier, unpublished data).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bill morphology reflects female independence from male parental help

Forstmeier

Leisler

Kempenaers

2001

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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The study of territorial polygyny in birds has been in£uential in the development of the theory of social mating systems. Alternative female mating options have been studied within the framework of the polygyny-threshold model and later as the outcome of con£icts of interest between individuals. However, little attention has been given to variations between individual females, and how this a¡ects their mating behaviour. Here, we test the hypothesis that some females are better adapted to raise nestlings without male assistance, and thus to mate polygynously. Speci¢cally, we investigate whether intraspeci¢c variation in female bill morphology is related to mating behaviour. This hypothesis is derived from earlier studies showing that, in both intra-and interspeci¢c comparisons, uniparental care by females is correlated with the catching of larger prey items than when both parents provision the young. Using the polygynous dusky warbler (Phylloscopus fuscatus) as a model species, we found that, in accordance with our prediction, females with deep bills were more likely to mate as a secondary female. Moreover, regardless of mating status, females with deep bills settled in territories with more food and they received less male assistance in feeding their o¡spring. We argue that females with stronger bills are better adapted to exploit the abundance of large food items in rich territories and thus to raise young on their own. Our results demonstrate the importance of studying variations between individual females, and provide evidence for an extended version of the`constrained-female hypothesis'. As bill depth is a highly heritable trait, our study strongly suggests that variation in female mating behaviour is not only related to ecological factors and female condition (as shown elsewhere) but also to heritable morphological traits.

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“…when they arrive on breeding territories about 11 days before females. The arrival of females is correlated with the female mating order (Nystrom 1987(Nystrom , 1991Radesater et al 1987). The male provides a territory as a resource necessary for successful breeding, which is defended throughout the breeding season.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They did not measure food abundance or consider the influence of male body condition on song rate, and they found no correlation between male mass or wing length and arrival date. Nystrom (1991) also reported that during the first week at a territory, males, except when they were gleaning, used more energy-demanding foraging methods, such as hovering and fly catching, when foraging on the sparse food resources that were available. Small males, then, should be favoured and gain a high body condition and fighting capability, since they can acquire the energy required for body maintenance with less effort (Gustafsson 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food density, song rate, and body condition in territory-establishing willow warblers (Phylloscopus trochilus)

Nyström¹

1997

Can. J. Zool.

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Early-arriving small male willow warblers (Phylloscopus trochilus) in good body condition were relatively successful at defending their territories. Later arriving neighbouring males tended to be larger but had poorer body condition. When males arrived, food resources were limited but increasing. The song rate varied among males during the period before pair formation and was positively correlated with the male body condition index. Song phrase length and song rate decreased after the performance of other activities, which suggests that singing was energy demanding. The sequence of pairing correlated well with male arrival, song rate, and food abundance. Females apparently take food abundance into account when selecting a mate. A model is presented to explain the adaptation of male and female willow warblers to the avaikbility of food resources in time and space and the role of the male in securing a high-quality breeding territory.RCsumC : Les petits miles en bonne condition physique du Pouillot fitis, Phylloscopus trochilus qui arrivent t6t sont relativement efficaces dans la defense de leur territoire. Les miles avoisinants qui arrivent plus tard ont tendance a etre plus gros, mais sont en moins bonne condition physique. A I'arrivCe des miles, les ressources alimentaires sont limitees mais en croissance. La frequence des chants varie chez les miles au cours de la formation des couples et est directement reliee au coefficient d'embonpoint des miles. La longueur des phrases et la frequence des chants diminuent aprks les autres activites, ce qui semble indiquer que l'emission des chants est une activite exigeante du point de vue energktique. La sequence de la formation des couples est en correlation positive avec l'arrivee des miles, la frequence de leurs chants et l'abondance de la nourriture. Les femelles tiennent apparemment compte de l'abondance de la nourriture lors de leur choix d'un partenaire. On trouvera ici un modkle capable d'expliquer l'adaptation des pouillots miles et femelles a la disponibilite des ressources alimentaires dans le temps et dans l'espace et le r61e joue par les miles lors du choix d'un territoire de reproduction de haute qualite. [Traduit par la Redaction]

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On sex-specific foraging behaviour in the Willow Warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus

Cited by 18 publications

References 24 publications

Habitat choice in Phylloscopus warblers: the role of morphology, phylogeny and competition

Habitat choice in Phylloscopus warblers: the role of morphology, phylogeny and competition

Bill morphology reflects female independence from male parental help

Food density, song rate, and body condition in territory-establishing willow warblers (Phylloscopus trochilus)

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