Asymmetries in Mobbing Behavior Among Nuclear Flockmates

Courter, Jason R.; Ritchison, Gary

doi:10.1676/11-168.1

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Whereas prey species mobbed intensely when they detected Pygmy Owl call playback, species not known to be preyed upon by Pygmy Owls were never seen mobbing the loudspeaker. These results concur with those of Courter and Ritchison () focusing on two prey species, and those of Gehlbach (), who recorded the mobbing response among a larger prey species community (17 species) as in the present study. However, in those studies, the relative abundance of the different species at the study site was unknown, making it difficult to distinguish between the mobbing propensity of each species and their respective prevalence and abundance at the study site.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

“…In addition, differences in the response obtained are not the same according to the sensory modality used. For instance, Courter and Ritchison (2012) used skins of the Eastern Screech Owl Megascops asio to elicit mobbing behaviour. Using the same biological model, Nolen and Lucas (2009) presented a visual model coupled with playback of monotonic trill and found that several bird species do not react in the same way as previously.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Raptors preying on birds are more heavily mobbed than other birds of prey (Dutour et al 2016) but mobbing response can vary substantially among prey species according to their respective risk of predation (Shedd 1983). For example, Courter and Ritchison (2012) found that raptors preying more on Tufted Titmice Baeolophus bicolor than on Carolina Chickadees Poecile carolinensis elicit heavier mobbing from the Titmouse than from the Chickadee. Mobbing activity also varies seasonally and is often most intense during the breeding season to deter nest predators and to teach offspring predator-specific defence strategies , Vieth et al 1980, Frankenberg 1981, Zimmermann & Curio 1988, Gehlbach & Leverett 1995.…”

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Mobbing behaviour in a passerine community increases with prevalence in predator diet

Dutour

Léna

Lengagne

2017

Ibis

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Mobbing behaviour against predators is well documented but less is known about the factors influencing variation in behavioural response between prey species. We conducted a series of playback experiments to examine how the mobbing responses of prey species differed according to their relative risk of predation by the Eurasian Pygmy Owl Glaucidium passerinum, a predator of passerines. We found that mobbing among 22 passerine prey species was positively correlated with their prevalence in the Pygmy Owl diet. To compare mobbing behaviour between two seasons, we conducted playback experiments during spring (breeding season) and autumn (non‐breeding season). Contrary to previous studies, we found that mobbing intensity was greater during autumn than in spring. Our study shows a differential mobbing response of 22 species to the calls from one predator species and underscores the importance of considering seasonal variation in mobbing behaviour. Mobbing response differences observed among bird species strongly suggest different cooperation behaviour at the community level.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Mobbing behaviour in a passerine community increases with prevalence in predator diet

Dutour

Léna

Lengagne

2017

Ibis

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“…During trials, we placed a taxidermic mount of an Eastern Screech-Owl ( Megascops asio ) on a platform 1 m away from the bird feeder to elicit alarm calls [ 31 , 37 , 38 ]. We initially covered the Screech-Owl for a 5-minute acclimation period [ 39 ] before removing the covering and recording chickadee vocalizations for an 8-minute trial period using a Roland R-26 Omni-directional Portable Field Recorder at a distance of 5 m.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) alter alarm call duration and peak frequency in response to traffic noise

et al. 2020

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Anthropogenic noise is an often-overlooked byproduct of urbanization and affects the soundscape in which birds communicate. Previous studies assessing the impact of traffic noise have focused on bird song, with many studies demonstrating the ability of birds to raise song frequency in the presence of low-frequency traffic noise to avoid masking. Less is known about the impact of traffic noise on avian alarm calls, which is surprising given the degree to which predator information within alarm calls may impact fitness. The objective of this study was to assess the impacts of traffic noise on the Black-capped Chickadees ( Poecile atricapillus ), a small non-migratory songbird with a well-studied and information-rich alarm call. We studied birds at eight locations in Stark County, Ohio, from 15 January to 7 March 2016, and used a taxidermic mount of an Eastern Screech-Owl to elicit alarm calls. In half of the trials, a pre-recorded traffic noise track was also broadcasted at 50 decibels. In noise trials, chickadee calls contained more introductory notes (P < 0.001), more total notes (P < 0.001), were of longer duration (P < 0.001), and had lower introductory and D-note peak frequencies (P = 0.032 and P = 0.041, respectively). No differences were noted in the number of D-notes per call between noise and control trials. Modifying alarm call duration and frequency, without changing the number of D-notes, may be a strategy that chickadees use to convey predator information and to coordinate a threat-appropriate mobbing response when it is not possible to change call type. Our results add to the small, but growing, literature documenting the effects of anthropogenic noise on avian alarm calls, demonstrate the flexibility and complexity of chickadee calls given in response to predators, and may partially explain why chickadees adapt well to urban areas.

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“…Mobbing behavior can vary considerably between situations and among individuals. Most research on the causes of variation in mobbing has been conducted across situations: mobbing behavior may vary seasonally (Cully & Ligon, 1986;Krams & Krama, 2002;Shedd, 1982), depend on the species of the mobber (Courter & Ritchison, 2012), or the predator that is being mobbed (Suzuki, 2016;Syrová, Michal, Vesel, Landová, & Fuchs, 2016;Welbergen & Davies, 2008). Propensity to mob also varies based on whether the individual whose life or nest is in danger has previously assisted its neighbors during predator attacks in their territories: neighbors that have been assisted in mobbing in the past are more likely to reciprocate their help in the future (Krams et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Condition explains individual variation in mobbing behavior

Āboliņš-Ābols

Ketterson

2017

Ethology

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During mobbing, individuals approach predators with the apparent aim of reducing the risk of predation. The intensity of mobbing may depend on the costs and benefits of this behavior, which likely vary among individuals and between different social contexts. We studied whether Dark‐eyed junco male mobbing behavior is related to social environment, individual condition, and age during experimentally induced mobbing events. Based on risk‐taking theory, we predicted that individuals with high residual reproductive value—younger individuals and those in better condition—would show weaker mobbing behavior. We also expected to see weaker mobbing when the total number of individuals in the mobbing assemblage was small. All subjects were caught to assess condition and age. Focal males were then attracted to simulated mobbing events using heterospecific alarm calls. Social environment did not explain individual variation in mobbing behavior in focal juncos. Community‐wise, the relationship between the closest approach and group size was not significantly different from chance. Junco males in better condition approached the predator less closely and were less likely to give alarm calls. Age did not explain variation in mobbing. Both the mean approach and probability of giving alarm calls by junco males were repeatable, in contrast to the size and composition of mobbing assemblages in junco territories, which were inconsistent. Our results show that variation in mobbing can be linked to individual state, which likely affects the costs and benefits of mobbing.

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Asymmetries in Mobbing Behavior Among Nuclear Flockmates

Cited by 9 publications

References 23 publications

Mobbing behaviour in a passerine community increases with prevalence in predator diet

Mobbing behaviour in a passerine community increases with prevalence in predator diet

Black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) alter alarm call duration and peak frequency in response to traffic noise

Condition explains individual variation in mobbing behavior

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