Same-Sex Partner Preference in Zebra Finches: Pairing Flexibility and Choice

Tomaszycki, Michelle L.; Zatirka, Brendon P.

doi:10.1007/s10508-014-0377-0

Cited by 13 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…As documented in several species, same-sex pairings are widespread in birds ( Bagemihl, 1999 ; Bailey & Zuk, 2009 ; Sommer & Vasey, 2006 ). Specifically, female–female pair bonds are noted in a range of bird species including gulls, Laridae ( Conover & Hunt Jr, 1984 ; Hunt Jr, & Hunt, 1977 ; Mills, 1991 ), Greylag Gander, Anser anser anser ( Kotrschal, Hemetsberger & Weiss, 2006 ), Zebra Finches, Taeniopygia guttata ( Tomaszycki & Zatirka, 2014 ), and Laysan Albatross,—in which up to 30% of the pairs were female only ( Lindsay et al, 2008 ; for review see MacFarlane, Blomberg & Vasey, 2010 ). All the above-mentioned studies on same-sex pairs in monogamous birds focused mainly on reproductive behaviour, but few studies investigated differences and similarities between male–female and same-sex parental care behaviour ( Elie, Mathevon & Vignal, 2011 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating parental care behaviour in same-sex pairing of zoo greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

Regaiolli

Sandri

Rose

et al. 2018

PeerJ

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Same-sex pair bonds have been documented in several animal species and they are widespread in birds. However, little is known about the evolutionary origin and the adaptive value of such behaviour. The aim of this study was to investigate the parental behaviour of four zoo female greater flamingos involved in two breeding pairs, housed in a flock at Parco Natura Viva, Italy. Further, the behaviour of the study females was compared with that of male and female flamingos in heterosexual pairs described in a previous published work on this same flock. For each pair, the behaviour of both birds during the incubation period was recorded and twenty 10-minute sessions were run within the incubation period. A continuous focal animal sampling method was used to collect data on location (on the nest or not on the nest) and the parental care behaviour (e.g.: agonistic behaviours toward disturbing conspecifics, egg-care, nest-building, self-comfort behaviour, sleeping) of the two pairs. Data of the current study females were compared with those of females and males involved in heterosexual pairs of this same flock. Results showed that within each pair the egg-layer female stayed away from the nest more than the other female. In addition, the female that did not lay an egg was more involved in agonistic behaviour compared to other females, particularly when in specific locations. In heterosexual pairs, male flamingos were more involved in the incubation and in nest protection. Moreover, no significant differences in the time spent on the nest and away from the nest between the heterosexual male and the non-layer females of same-sex pairs were found. The same findings were reported when comparing heterosexual females and the egg-layer females of the same-sex pairs. Therefore, our findings suggest that in greater flamingos the behaviour of the female–female pairs seems to be equivalent to that of male-female bonds. Such research provides more insight into flamingo social behaviour, and their reproductive cycle, and provides information on why pair bonds may form and how these affect the wider breeding behaviour of the flock.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating parental care behaviour in same-sex pairing of zoo greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

Regaiolli

Sandri

Rose

et al. 2018

PeerJ

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“…However, zebra finches are also extremely gregarious and exhibit a high degree of social tolerance (Zann, 1996). In the absence of an opposite-sex partner, they will form equally strong social bonds with same-sex conspecifics, and they can also maintain multiple social bonds (Alger et al, 2011; Elie et al, 2011; Tomaszycki & Zatirka, 2014).…”

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confidence: 99%

Familiarity enhances moment-to-moment behavioral coordination in zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) dyads.

Prior¹,

Smith

Dooling

et al. 2020

Journal of Comparative Psychology

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An individual’s ability to respond to and align with the behavior of others is a fundamental component of social behavior. Zebra finches form lifelong monogamous pair bonds; however, zebra finches are also gregarious and can form strong social bonds with same-sex conspecifics. Here, we quantified behavior during brief 10-min reunions for males and females in five types of social conditions: monogamously bonded opposite-sex partners, familiar same-sex, familiar opposite-sex, novel same-sex, and novel opposite-sex dyads. We analyzed these interactions in three ways. First, we quantified overall activity levels (call and movement rates) for each individual. Second, we measured how coordinated calls and movements were by calculating (a) the percent difference in activity rates as an estimate of how similar calling and movement activity were between individuals within a dyad, and (b) the sliding correlation coefficients for time-stamped calls and movements for each dyad. Finally, we described multimodal behavioral profiles of coordination using principal component analyses. Overall, females were more active than males. For both females and males, activity levels as well as the coordination of calls and movements were significantly affected by social condition. In general, monogamous partners, female familiar same-sex dyads and familiar opposite-sex dyads were the most coordinated. This effect of familiarity shows that moment-to-moment behavioral coordination can be influenced by prior social experiences. Quantifying patterns of coordination or social synchrony may prove valuable for understanding the effects of social experience on brain and behavior.

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“…Zebra finch pairs do not hold and defend territories, and they remain gregarious. Interestingly, in the absence of an opposite-sex partner they will form equally strong social bonds with same-sex conspecifics, and in the laboratory it appears individuals can also maintain multiple social bonds ( Alger et al, 2011 ; Elie et al, 2011a ; Tomaszycki and Zatirka, 2014 ). Because zebra finches are gregarious, they do not show the increased aggression toward novel opposite-sex individuals that marks the establishment of a pair bond in rodents as described in the introduction.…”

Section: A Case Study: Assessing Behavioral Synchrony During Brief Somentioning

confidence: 99%

What’s in a Moment: What Can Be Learned About Pair Bonding From Studying Moment-To-Moment Behavioral Synchrony Between Partners?

Prior

2020

Front. Psychol.

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Our understanding of the behavioral and physiological mechanisms of monogamy largely comes from studies of behavioral interactions unique to pair-bonded individuals. By focusing on these highly marked behaviors, a remarkable conservation in the mechanisms underlying pair bonding has been revealed; however, we continue to know very little about the range of behavioral and neurobiological mechanisms that could explain the great diversity of pair-bonding phenotypes that exists both within and across species. In order to capture the dynamic nature of bonds over time and across contexts, we need specific, operationally-defined behavioral variables relevant across such a diversity of scenarios. Additionally, we need to be able to situate these behavioral variables within broader frameworks that allow us to interpret and compare patterns seen across species. Here I review what is known about behavioral synchrony with respect to pair bonding and discuss using synchrony as such a variable as well as a framework to expand on our understanding of pair bonding across timescales, contexts and species. First, I discuss the importance of behavioral synchrony and parental coordination for reproductive success in monogamous biparental bird species. Second, I highlight research documenting the critical importance of interpersonal coordination for human social relationships. Finally, I present recent work that experimentally bridges these lines of research by quantifying moment-to-moment behavioral synchrony during brief social interactions in zebra finch dyads. All together, these distinct perspectives support the notion that synchrony (1) is a shared premise for sociality across species, (2) is deeply shaped by social experiences, and (3) exists across timescales, behaviors, and levels of physiology. Conceptualizing pair bonding through the framework of behavioral synchrony is likely to facilitate a deeper understanding of the nuances of how social experiences and interactions impact the brain and behavior.

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Same-Sex Partner Preference in Zebra Finches: Pairing Flexibility and Choice

Cited by 13 publications

References 30 publications

Investigating parental care behaviour in same-sex pairing of zoo greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

Investigating parental care behaviour in same-sex pairing of zoo greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

Familiarity enhances moment-to-moment behavioral coordination in zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) dyads.

What’s in a Moment: What Can Be Learned About Pair Bonding From Studying Moment-To-Moment Behavioral Synchrony Between Partners?

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