Anting behavior by the White-bearded Manakin (Manacus manacus, Pipridae): an example of functional interaction in a frugivorous lekking bird

Abstract

CESTARI, C. Anting behavior by the White-bearded Manakin (Manacus manacus, Pipridae): an example of functional interaction in a frugivorous lekking bird. Biota Neotrop. 10(4): http://www.biotaneotropica.org. br/v10n4/en/abstract?short-communication+bn02110042010.Abstract: Behavioral studies of birds have reported several functions for active anting. Maintenance of plumage and prevention from ectoparasites are some examples. In this context, anting by males may be of particular importance in a classical lek mating system, where male-male competition is common and individuals with higher fitness may be more successful at attracting of females. In the present note, I describe the anting behavior of White-bearded Manakin (Manacus manacus) and I relate it to lek breeding and feeding (frugivory) habits of the species. Males used up to seven Solenopsis sp. ants. They rubbed each small ant from 4 to 31 times on undertail feathers until the ants were degraded; ants were not eaten. Males then searched for a new ant in the court. Seeds discarded by males on their individual display courts attract herbivorous ants that are used for anting as a way to maintain feathers and fitness. I hypothesize that anting in White-bearded Manakin may increase the probability of males to attract females to their display courts. Keywords: ants, lek, male-male competition, maintenance of plumage, restinga forest, seeds.CESTARI, C. Comportamento de formicar-se da rendeira (Manacus manacus, Pipridae): um exemplo de interação funcional em um pássaro frugívoro com comportamento de lek. Biota Neotrop. 10(4): http://www. biotaneotropica.org.br/v10n4/pt/abstract?short-communication+bn02110042010.Resumo: Estudos sobre comportamento de aves têm reportado várias funções para o ato de formicar-se. A manutenção de plumagem e prevenção de ectoparasitas são alguns exemplos. Nesse contexto, o comportamento de formicar-se em machos alcança importância maior em um sistema de lek clássico, onde a competição sexual entre machos é comum e indivíduos com boa condição física podem ter mais sucesso na atração de fêmeas. Na presente nota, eu descrevo o comportamento de formicar-se da rendeira (Manacus manacus) relacionando-o com os hábitos frugívoro e reprodução em lek da espécie. Os machos utilizaram até sete formigas Solenopsis sp. durante o comportamento de formicar-se. Eles esfregaram cada formiga entre 4 a 31 vezes em suas penas caudais inferiores até a completa degradação das formigas, sem ingerí-las. Posteriormente, os machos procuraram por uma nova formiga em suas arenas. As sementes descartadas por machos em suas arenas de exibição atraem formigas herbívoras que são utilizadas para formicarem-se como uma forma de manutenção de penas e de boa condição física. Provavelmente, o comportamento de formicar-se colabora para o aumento da habilidade de machos na atração de fêmeas para suas arenas de exibição. Palavras-chave: formigas, lek, competição entre machos, manutenção de plumagem, floresta de restinga, sementes.

Seed dispersal by the lek-forming white-bearded manakin (Manacus manacus, Pipridae) in the Brazilian Atlantic forest

“…Considering the movements of manakins, we asked: do resident males and females/juveniles differ in the potential seed distribution they provide during the daily period of peak activity in leks and when lek activity decreases? We hypothesized that a greater abundance and species richness of bird-dispersed seeds would reach lek areas than non-lek areas, and courts than non-court sites due to the constant presence and deposition of seeds by lekking males (Cestari 2010). We also expected that juveniles and females would generate a more extensive distribution of seeds than the more sedentary lekking males.…”

The use of auxiliary courts by the lek-forming White-bearded Manakin Manacus manacus (Aves, Pipridae)

“…Combined biological features (e.g., court-cleaning, plumage maintenance, higher frequency of aggressive display and defense of territory, larger territory size, and the centrality of the male's courts) may contribute for individual attractiveness to females and mating success of Manacus species (Lill 1974a;Olson and McDowell 1983;Shorey 2002;Uy and Endler 2004;Cestari 2010). Furthermore, in a local population perspective, the number of individuals in a lek is suggested to increase the male's attractiveness (Snow 1962).…”

“…Studies on the lek system of the White-bearded Manakin focused mainly on the traits that influence the attraction of females by males, such as male's size, plumage maintenance of males, frequency of aggressive display and territory defense by males, male's territory size, and distance of a male's court to the lek center (Snow 1962;Lill 1974a;Olson and McDowell 1983;Shorey 2002;Cestari 2010). In relation to the latter trait, it has been shown that central males attract more females and get more matings than peripheral males (Snow 1962;Lill 1974a;Shorey 2002).…”

“…By definition, we expected a greater displaying time in the main courts. Due to the absence of studies that reported the use of more than one court inside the territories of resident males, we presumed that all the studies that reported displays of resident males referred to main courts only (Snow 1962;Lill 1974a;Lill 1974b;Olson and McDowell 1983;Shorey 2000;Shorey 2002;Berres 2002;Cestari 2010). We discussed the importance of the use of auxiliary courts as an extra trait involved on mate attraction.…”

Frugivory by the White-bearded Manakin (Manacus manacus, Pipridae) in restinga forest, an ecosystem associated to the Atlantic forest

“…Seeds collected on courts and its immediate vicinity (0.70 m 2 of total sampled area per court) were accumulated monthly to a final number of species per court. We considered these seeds as most likely regurgitated and defecated by M. manacus due the substantial time that they spent near their courts (see Cestari 2010, Cestari & Pizo 2012, although we cannot discard the possibility that some of the seeds have been deposited by other frugivores. All the seeds were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible by comparison with a reference collection assembled during the study, and also consulting the literature and specialists.…”