Polymorphism in the White-throated Sparrow: habitat occupancy and nest-site selection

Knapton, Richard W.; Falls, J. Bruce

doi:10.1139/z82-061

Cited by 18 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Previous work on this species suggests that male morphs might partition habitats (Rising and Shields 1980) and establish territories in areas that differ in ''openness'' (Knapton and Falls 1982). Preliminary study of our population in the Adirondack Park of New York, USA, suggests that such segregation does not exist (Tuttle 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 68%

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Spatial Dynamics of Alternative Reproductive Strategies: The Role of Neighbors

Formica

Gonser

Ramsay

et al. 2004

Ecology

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In territorial species, the reproductive success of a male is dependent on the quality of his territory. One important component of territory quality is spatial location. High‐quality territories not only should be located in areas of high food abundance and low predation, but also should be located in areas that offer optimal amounts of social interaction. Such optima might be different for individuals according to their sex, dominance, or genotype. We studied territory quality (size, vegetation structure, and placement) in a socially monogamous, polymorphic passerine, the White‐throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis), in order to determine how spatial attributes contribute to selection intensity on two genotypes. In this species, plumage (white and tan), behavior, and life‐history characteristics have a genetic basis and are correlated with the presence or absence of a chromosomal inversion. Using remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), we found that the territories of white and tan males do not differ in size or vegetation structure, suggesting that these factors are not of primary importance to males when deciding where to establish a territory. Instead, we suggest that the placement of white and tan territories depends on the number of neighbors (particularly, white male neighbors). Tan males settle in low‐density, neighbor‐restrictive habitats where intruder pressure from white males seeking extra‐pair copulations is reduced. In contrast, white males tend to settle in high‐density areas where the probability of encountering neighboring fertile females is greatest. This segregation has led to intraspecific niche partitioning in the two disassortative pair types so that each male morph can best exploit its respective reproductive strategies. These factors may, in turn, contribute to the maintenance of this unusual mating system and, ultimately, the stability of the polymorphism in this species. Similar forces may be operating in other species without distinct morphological markers; we suggest that researchers keep social factors in mind when examining habitat selection.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…A previous study reported differences in the proportion of open habitat in white and tan male territories, using standard aerial photography to delineate open areas (Knapton and Falls 1982). We attempted to compare our results by collapsing our vegetation classes into ''open'' and ''closed'' habitat types.…”

Section: Vegetation Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Dynamics of Alternative Reproductive Strategies: The Role of Neighbors

Formica

Gonser

Ramsay

et al. 2004

Ecology

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“…However, the ratio of WS:TS was still high in ground traps (36 WS:20 TS). Alternatively, TS individuals might choose to refuel in poorer quality habitat, as they do on breeding grounds (Knapton and Falls ), or further inland from the Lake Erie shore to avoid competition with WS individuals as seen in other species (Yong et al , Cerasale and Guglielmo ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetically‐based behavioural morph affects stopover refuelling performance in white‐throated sparrows Zonotrichia albicollis

Brown

McCabe

Kennedy

et al. 2014

Journal of Avian Biology

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Intraspecific competition can influence refuelling at migration stopover sites. White‐throated sparrows Zonotrichia albicollis have genetically‐determined plumage morphs that differ in dominance behaviour and competitive abilities. This study examines the effects of plumage morph, sex and age, three likely indicators of competitive ability, on fall migration timing, body composition, and refuelling rates during stopover at Long Point, Ontario. We used quantitative magnetic resonance analysis and plasma metabolite profiling to determine body composition and refuelling rates, respectively. We determined sex and plumage morph genetically. Competitive ability did not influence migration timing. Controlling for structural size, males had larger lean mass than females, but we found no differences in body fat or lean mass between plumage morphs. Plasma metabolite concentrations indicated that the aggressive white‐stripe morph refuelled faster than the less aggressive tan‐stripe morph, though there were no differences among sex and age groups. We suggest that increased refuelling rates did not result in increased fat or lean mass because 1) individuals categorised as less competitive had longer stopover durations to compensate for slower refuelling rates; or 2) costs of behaving more competitively offset gains from faster refuelling rates.

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“…During this study (see also Knapton and Falls 1982), we identified the male and female in each of 180 pairs. Of these, 1 17 pairs (65%) were WS male X TS female and 60 pairs (33%) were TS male x WS female.…”

Section: Negative Assortative Matingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this paper, We report On relative contributions coloured (tan-striped TS) rnorph of the White-throated to nestlings of male and female parents among different Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) (Lowther 196 1 ; pair types in the White-throated Spanow ~o w t h e r and Falls 1968; Rising and Shields 1980; Knapton and Falls 1982). This polymorphism appears to be maintained by negative assortative mating; WS birds of either sex.usually pair with TS birds of the opposite sex (Lowther 196 1 ;Thorneycroft 1976; see below).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in parental contribution among pair types in the polymorphic White-throated Sparrow

Knapton¹,

Falls²

1983

Can. J. Zool.

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1983. Differences in parental contribution among pair types in the polymorphic White-throated Sparrow. Can. J . Zool. 61: 1288-1292. We compared relative contributions to nestlings between male and female parents among different pair types in the White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). The amount of parental contribution between the two main pair types, white-striped (WS) male x tan-striped (TS) female and TS male x WS female, did not differ. However, we found that (a) pairs consisting of TS males and WS females showed biparental care in which the partners made approximately equal investment in feeding nestlings; (b) males of WS male x TS female pair types contributed far less than the female, and far less than a TS male; (c) in WS pairs, males and females contributed about the same as did WS birds in mixed pairings; and (d) secondary TS females nested in territories of already paired WS males, and these females raised young unassisted by a male. We suggest explanations for these differences in contribution to nestlings between the sexes and between morphs, and we discuss optimal reproductive strategies for each sex and morph. KNAPTON, R. W., et J. B. FALLS. 1983. Differences in parental contribution among pair types in the polymorphic White-throated Sparrow. Can. J. Zool. 61: 1288-1292. Nous avons compare les contributions relatives des parents mile et femelle au soin des oisillons chez differents types de couples de pinsons a gorge blanche (Zonotrichia albicollis). La contribution totale des parents au soin des oisillons est la m2me chez les deux principaux types de couples, mile a rayures blanches (WS) x femelle a rayures beiges (TS) et mile TS X femelle WS. Cependant, (a) chez les couples formks d'un mile TS et d'une femelle WS, le mile et la femelle fournissent une contribution a peu pr&s Cgale de soins aux oisillons, (b) chez les couples form& d'un mile WS et d'une femelle TS, le mile contribue beaucoup moins au soin des oisillons que la femelle ou qu'un mile TS et (c), chez les couples h miles et femelles WS, le mile et la femelle fournissent au soin des petits h peu pres la meme contribution que les oiseaux WS des couples mixtes, enfin, (d) les femelles TS secondaires nichent dans les territoires de miles WS dejh accouplCs et ces femelles elevent leurs petits seules. Nous tentons ici d'expliquer ces differences, entre les sexes et entre les morphs dans la contribution des parents aux soins des oisillons, les strategies reproductrices optimales de chaque sexe et de chaque morphe font I'objet d'une discussion. [Traduit par le journal] Introduction(or) the weight at fledging of the young (e.g., lighter Differences in behaviour, ecology, and mensural young at fledging survive less well than do heavier characteristics have been found between the brightly young in the Great Tit, Purus major; Penins 1965, coloured (white-striped WS) rnorph and the dull-1979). In this paper, We report On relative contributions coloured (tan-striped TS) rnorph of the White-throated to nestlings of male and female parents ...

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Polymorphism in the White-throated Sparrow: habitat occupancy and nest-site selection

Cited by 18 publications

References 9 publications

Spatial Dynamics of Alternative Reproductive Strategies: The Role of Neighbors

Spatial Dynamics of Alternative Reproductive Strategies: The Role of Neighbors

Genetically‐based behavioural morph affects stopover refuelling performance in white‐throated sparrows Zonotrichia albicollis

Differences in parental contribution among pair types in the polymorphic White-throated Sparrow

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