Melanin-based colour polymorphism signals aggressive personality in nest and territory defence in the tawny owl (Strix aluco)

Melanin-based colour polymorphism signals aggressive personality in nest and territory defence in the tawny owl (Strix aluco)

Nest and territory defence are risky and potentially dangerous behaviours. If the resolution of life history trade-offs differs between individuals, the level of defence may also vary among individuals. Because melanin-based colour traits can be associated with life history strategies, differently c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Behavioral ecology and sociobiology Vol. 67; no. 7; pp. 1041 - 1052
Main Authors: Da Silva, Arnaud, van den Brink, Valentijn, Emaresi, Guillaume, Luzio, Ester, Bize, Pierre, Dreiss, Amélie N., Roulin, Alexandre
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer 01-07-2013
Springer-Verlag
Springer Nature B.V
Springer Verlag
Subjects:
Aggressiveness
Animal Ecology
Animal nesting
Animal reproduction
Behavioral Sciences
Biodiversity and Ecology
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Bird nesting
Breeding
Color
Conspecifics
Ecology, environment
Environmental Sciences
Evolution
Female animals
Human aggression
Life history
Life Sciences
Male animals
Mating behavior
Original Paper
Owls
Parents
Pigments
Polymorphism
Strix aluco
Symbiosis
Zoology
Colour polymorphism
Personality
Predation
Pheomelanin
Nest defence
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Summary:Nest and territory defence are risky and potentially dangerous behaviours. If the resolution of life history trade-offs differs between individuals, the level of defence may also vary among individuals. Because melanin-based colour traits can be associated with life history strategies, differently coloured individuals may display different nest and territory defence strategies. We investigated this issue in the colour polymorphic tawny owl (Strix aluco) for which plumage varies from dark to light reddish melanic. Accordingly, we found that (1) our presence induced a greater response (flying around) from dark-coloured than light-coloured females and (2) dark reddish males suffered lower nest predation rates than light-coloured males. In experimentally enlarged broods, the probability that females reacted after we played back the hoot calls of a stranger male was higher if these females were lighter reddish; the opposite pattern was found in experimentally reduced broods with dark parents being more reactive than light parents. Finally, darker females alarmed more frequently when paired with a light than with a dark male, suggesting that partners adjust their behaviour to each other. We also tested whether colouration is used as a signal by conspecifics to adjust the level of their defensive behaviour. Accordingly, breeding females responded more vigorously to a dark than a light reddish stuffed tawny owl placed beside their nest. We conclude that melanin-based colouration is a signal of alternative nest and territory defence behaviour that depends on ecological factors.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:0340-5443
1432-0762
DOI:10.1007/s00265-013-1529-2