Why Do Migratory Birds Sing on Their Tropical Wintering Grounds?

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorSorensen, Marjorie C
dc.contributor.authorJenni-Eiermann, Susanne
dc.contributor.authorSpottiswoode, Claire N
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T07:20:33Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T07:20:33Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.description.abstractMany long-distance migratory birds sing extensively on their tropical African wintering grounds, but the function of this costly behavior remains unknown. In this study, we carry out a first empirical test of three competing hypotheses, combining a field study of great reed warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) wintering in Africa with a comparative analysis across Palearctic-African migratory songbird species. We asked whether winter song (i) functions to defend nonbreeding territories, (ii) functions as practice to improve complex songs for subsequent breeding, or (iii) is a nonadaptive consequence of elevated testosterone carryover. We found support for neither the long-assumed territory-defense hypothesis (great reed warblers had widely overlapping home ranges and showed no conspecific aggression) nor the testosterone-carryover hypothesis (winter singing in great reed warblers was unrelated to plasma testosterone concentration). Instead, we found strongest support for the song-improvement hypothesis, since great reed warblers sang a mate attraction song type rather than a territorial song type in Africa, and species that sing most intensely in Africa were those in which sexual selection acts most strongly on song characteristics; they had more complex songs and were more likely to be sexually monochromatic. This study underlines how sexual selection can have far-reaching effects on animal ecology throughout the annual cycle.
dc.identifier.apacitationSorensen, M. C., Jenni-Eiermann, S., & Spottiswoode, C. N. (2016). Why Do Migratory Birds Sing on Their Tropical Wintering Grounds?. <i>The American Naturalist</i>, 187(3), E65 - E76. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34952en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationSorensen, Marjorie C, Susanne Jenni-Eiermann, and Claire N Spottiswoode "Why Do Migratory Birds Sing on Their Tropical Wintering Grounds?." <i>The American Naturalist</i> 187, 3. (2016): E65 - E76. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34952en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationSorensen, M.C., Jenni-Eiermann, S. & Spottiswoode, C.N. 2016. Why Do Migratory Birds Sing on Their Tropical Wintering Grounds?. <i>The American Naturalist.</i> 187(3):E65 - E76. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34952en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0003-0147
dc.identifier.issn1537-5323
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Sorensen, Marjorie C AU - Jenni-Eiermann, Susanne AU - Spottiswoode, Claire N AB - Many long-distance migratory birds sing extensively on their tropical African wintering grounds, but the function of this costly behavior remains unknown. In this study, we carry out a first empirical test of three competing hypotheses, combining a field study of great reed warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) wintering in Africa with a comparative analysis across Palearctic-African migratory songbird species. We asked whether winter song (i) functions to defend nonbreeding territories, (ii) functions as practice to improve complex songs for subsequent breeding, or (iii) is a nonadaptive consequence of elevated testosterone carryover. We found support for neither the long-assumed territory-defense hypothesis (great reed warblers had widely overlapping home ranges and showed no conspecific aggression) nor the testosterone-carryover hypothesis (winter singing in great reed warblers was unrelated to plasma testosterone concentration). Instead, we found strongest support for the song-improvement hypothesis, since great reed warblers sang a mate attraction song type rather than a territorial song type in Africa, and species that sing most intensely in Africa were those in which sexual selection acts most strongly on song characteristics; they had more complex songs and were more likely to be sexually monochromatic. This study underlines how sexual selection can have far-reaching effects on animal ecology throughout the annual cycle. DA - 2016 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 3 J1 - The American Naturalist LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2016 SM - 0003-0147 SM - 1537-5323 T1 - Why Do Migratory Birds Sing on Their Tropical Wintering Grounds? TI - Why Do Migratory Birds Sing on Their Tropical Wintering Grounds? UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34952 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34952
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationSorensen MC, Jenni-Eiermann S, Spottiswoode CN. Why Do Migratory Birds Sing on Their Tropical Wintering Grounds?. The American Naturalist. 2016;187(3):E65 - E76. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34952.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciences
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.sourceThe American Naturalist
dc.source.journalissue3
dc.source.journalvolume187
dc.source.paginationE65 - E76
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.1086/684681
dc.subject.otherPalearctic-African migrants
dc.subject.othergreat reed warbler
dc.subject.othernonbreeding
dc.subject.othersong function
dc.subject.otherwinter
dc.subject.otherAcoustic Stimulation
dc.subject.otherAnimals
dc.subject.otherSeasons
dc.subject.otherSongbirds
dc.subject.otherTelemetry
dc.subject.otherTerritoriality
dc.subject.otherTestosterone
dc.subject.otherVocalization, Animal
dc.subject.otherZambia
dc.subject.otherTestosterone
dc.titleWhy Do Migratory Birds Sing on Their Tropical Wintering Grounds?
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
SorensenMarjorieC_Why_Do_Migrator_2016.pdf
Size:
3.29 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Journal Articles