Abstract
Differences in vocalization between subspecies of songbirds may influence intraspecific interactions including mate choice and territorial behavior, and contribute to their further divergence by strengthening pre-mating reproductive isolation. We have recently shown that songs of two Bluethroat subspecies, Luscinia svecica svecia and L. s. cyanecula, differ in spectral characteristics and structure. Here, in a first experimental test of whether these differences are biologically relevant, we compared responses of L. s. svecica males to both types of songs. Altogether 19 males from a subartic population in Abisko, Sweden, were exposed to playbacks of songs from the two subspecies, accompanied by display of a stuffed Bluethroat lacking subspecies-specific colour marks. These stimuli were presented in random order, separated by over 1 h. We evaluated two largely uncorrelated components of male responses: non-vocal territorial behavior, and singing activity. A significant difference in reaction to subspecies playbacks was observed in aggressive behavior: independently of the song order, males generally responded more strongly to playback of their own subspecies. In contrast, playback order rather than subspecies identity significantly influenced the singing activity, which usually increased in the second trial. A more detailed analysis nevertheless suggested that vocal responses of birds exposed first to playback of their own subspecies were stimulated in the subsequent trial but not vice versa. Our results show that Bluethroats clearly discriminate the two song types, indicating the potential for subspecies recognition. Further experimental work is needed to assess the general validity of these patterns.
Zusammenfassung
Lautäußerungs-Unterschiede zwischen Unterarten von Singvögeln beeinflussen möglicherweise intraspezifische Interaktionen wie Partnerwahl und Revierverhalten und tragen zur weiteren Ausprägung der Unterschiede bei, indem sie die reproduktive Isolation vor der Paarung verstärken. Kürzlich haben wir gezeigt, dass sich die Gesänge zweier Blaukehlchen-Unterarten, Luscinina svecica svecica und L. s. cyanecula, in den Charakteristika und der Struktur ihrer Spektren unterscheiden. In einer ersten Untersuchung zur möglichen biologischen Relevanz dieser Unterschiede verglichen wir die Antworten von L. s. svecica-Männchen auf die Gesänge beider Unterarten. Dafür wurden insgesamt 19 Männchen einer subarktischen Population aus Abisko, Schweden, Aufnahmen der Gesänge beider Unterarten vorgespielt und dazu ein ausgestopftes Blaukehlchen ohne die für die betreffende Unterart spezifischen Farbmuster gezeigt. Diese Stimuli wurden in zufälliger Reihenfolge und in Abständen von mehr als einer Stunde dargeboten. Wir evaluierten zwei weitgehend unzusammenhängende Antworts-Komponenten der Männchen: Revierverhalten ohne Lautäußerungen sowie Gesangs-Aktivität. Ein signifikanter Unterschied in den Reaktionen auf das Vorspielen der Gesänge der Unterarten konnte in aggressivem Verhalten beobachtet werden: im Allgemeinen reagierten die Männchen stärker auf die Gesänge ihrer eigenen Unterart, unabhängig von der Reihenfolge, in der ihnen die Gesänge vorgespielt wurden. Im Gegensatz dazu beeinflusste die Reihenfolge stärker als die Identität der Unterart signifikant die Gesangs-Aktivität, die in der Regel beim zweiten Durchgang anstieg. Eine detailliertere Analyse legte jedoch nahe, dass vokale Reaktionen von Vögeln, die als erstes Aufnahmen ihrer eigenen Unterart hörten, im darauf folgenden Durchgang stimuliert wurden, nicht jedoch umgekehrt. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Blaukehlchen beide Gesangsarten eindeutig voneinander unterscheiden und die Fähigkeit haben, Unterarten zu erkennen. Weitere Untersuchungen sind notwendig, um die generelle Gültigkeit dieser Verhaltensmuster zu bewerten.
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Acknowledgments
The study was supported by the Czech Ministry of Education (projects no. MSM0021620828 and MSM6198959212), the fieldwork in Abisko was funded by ATANS (projects no. FP6 506004). The experiments complied with all relevant Swedish and Czech laws. The authors declare no conflict of interest. We thank Nils Ake Andersson and Karel Weidinger for field assistance, two anonymous referees for valuable comments that improved the manuscript, and David Hardekopf for language corrections.
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Turčoková, L., Pavel, V., Chutný, B. et al. Differential response of males of a subarctic population of Bluethroat Luscinina svecica svecica to playbacks of their own and foreign subspecies. J Ornithol 152, 975–982 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-011-0680-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-011-0680-7