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The Preening Invitation or Head-Down Display of Parasitic Cowbirds: Ii. Experimental Analysis and Evidence for Behavioural Mimicry

The Preening Invitation or Head-Down Display of Parasitic Cowbirds: Ii. Experimental Analysis and... THE PREENING INVITATION OR HEAD-DOWN DISPLAY OF PARASITIC COWBIRDS: II. EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS AND EVIDENCE FOR BEHAVIOURAL MIMICRY by STEPHEN I. ROTHSTEIN') (Department of Biological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, U.S.A.) (With 7 Figures) (Acc. 26-V-1980) Two major approaches to understanding the adaptiveness of visual displays and other animal signals yield contrasting predictions. One ap- proach, referred to as the "classical ethological approach" by DAWKINS & KREBS (1978), stresses the overall efficiency of an interaction for both the sender and receiver of information. This approach predicts that displays transmit as much information as possible and reduce ambiguities so that interactants will know one another's intentions. The other approach, em- bracing sociobiological "selfish-gene" reasoning, argues that natural selection shapes displays in ways that maximize the sender's own fitness, even if this means concealing information or committing outright deceit. Since it is likely that animals can often increase their fitness by concealing their true intentions and capabilities the latter approach is probably the more valid one in most cases (DAWKINS & KREBS, 1978). This paper deals with a behavioural pattern that provides an example of a deceitful and ambiguous display. This display is performed by brood parasitic cowbirds (Molothrus spp.). SELANDER http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Behaviour Brill

The Preening Invitation or Head-Down Display of Parasitic Cowbirds: Ii. Experimental Analysis and Evidence for Behavioural Mimicry

Behaviour , Volume 75 (3-4): 35 – Jan 1, 1980

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References (32)

Publisher
Brill
Copyright
Copyright © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0005-7959
eISSN
1568-539X
DOI
10.1163/156853980x00384
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

THE PREENING INVITATION OR HEAD-DOWN DISPLAY OF PARASITIC COWBIRDS: II. EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS AND EVIDENCE FOR BEHAVIOURAL MIMICRY by STEPHEN I. ROTHSTEIN') (Department of Biological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, U.S.A.) (With 7 Figures) (Acc. 26-V-1980) Two major approaches to understanding the adaptiveness of visual displays and other animal signals yield contrasting predictions. One ap- proach, referred to as the "classical ethological approach" by DAWKINS & KREBS (1978), stresses the overall efficiency of an interaction for both the sender and receiver of information. This approach predicts that displays transmit as much information as possible and reduce ambiguities so that interactants will know one another's intentions. The other approach, em- bracing sociobiological "selfish-gene" reasoning, argues that natural selection shapes displays in ways that maximize the sender's own fitness, even if this means concealing information or committing outright deceit. Since it is likely that animals can often increase their fitness by concealing their true intentions and capabilities the latter approach is probably the more valid one in most cases (DAWKINS & KREBS, 1978). This paper deals with a behavioural pattern that provides an example of a deceitful and ambiguous display. This display is performed by brood parasitic cowbirds (Molothrus spp.). SELANDER

Journal

BehaviourBrill

Published: Jan 1, 1980

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