Quality of public information matters in mate-choice copying in female zebra finches

Abstract

BackgroundMate-choice copying is a form of social learning in which an individual gains information about potential mates by observing conspecifics. However, it is still unknown what kind of information drives the decision of an individual to copy the mate choice of others. Among zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis), only females (not males) copy the mate choice of others. We tested female zebra finches in a binary choice test where they, first, could choose between two males of different phenotypes: one unadorned male and one male artificially adorned with a red feather on the forehead. After this mate-choice test, females could observe a single unadorned male and a pair of zebra finches, i.e. a wild-type female and her adorned mate. Pair interactions were either restricted to acoustic and visual communication (clear glass screen between pair mates) or acoustic communication alone (opaque screen between pair mates). After the observation period, females could again choose between new males of the two phenotypes in a second mate-choice test.ResultsIn experiments with a clear glass screen, time spent with the respective males changed between the two mate-choice tests, and females preferred adorned over unadorned males during the second mate-choice test. In experiments with an opaque screen, time spent with the respective males did not change between the two mate-choice tests, although females lost an initial preference for unadorned males.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that the quality of the received public information (visual and acoustic interaction of the observed pair) influences mate-choice copying in female zebra finches.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12983-015-0119-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The role of the model in mate‐choice copying in female zebra finches

“…Thus, the choice positions covered only 16% of all possible perching positions. This method is an established measurement to determine sexual preferences in zebra finches (Kniel, Dürler, et al., ; Kniel, Schmitz, et al., ; Kniel et al., ; Witte, ; Witte & Caspers, ; Witte & Sawka, ). From this time, we also calculated the choosing motivation (total time spent in both mate‐choice zones during the 2 × 20 min mate‐choice test).…”

“…Test females that showed side biases during the first mate‐choice test, that is, those that spent more than 80% of their choosing time on the same side, even though we had switched the position of the stimulus cages, were excluded from the analysis in accordance with other studies (Dosen & Montgomerie, ; Hoysak & Godin, ; Kniel, Dürler, et al., ; Kniel, Schmitz, et al., ; Kniel et al., ; Schlupp & Ryan, ; Williams & Mendelson, ).…”

“…Several studies have found evidence of this mate‐choice strategy in different species (overviews in Vakirtzis, ; Witte et al., ). Individuals may not only copy the choice for individual potential mates, but they may generalise and prefer other potential mates of the same phenotype as the observed one chosen as a mate as well (Godin, Herdmann, & Dugatkin, ; Kniel, Schmitz, & Witte, ; Kniel, Dürler, et al., ; Witte & Noltemeier, ).…”

“…We asked whether female zebra finches would copy the mate choice of a conspecific model female, which was artificially adorned with a red feather on the forehead, thus expressing a different phenotype as the test females. Female zebra finches are known to copy the mate choice of their wild‐type conspecific females (Swaddle, Cathey, Correll, & Hodkinson, ; Drullion & Dubois, ; Kniel, Dürler, et al., ; Kniel, Schmitz, et al., ; but see Doucet, Yezerinac, & Montgomerie, ). As Benskin et al.…”

“…We asked whether female zebra finches would copy the mate choice of a conspecific model female, which was artificially adorned with a red feather on the forehead, thus expressing a different phenotype as the test females. Female zebra finches are known to copy the mate choice of their wild-type conspecific females (Swaddle, Cathey, Correll, & Hodkinson, 2005;Drullion & Dubois, 2008;Kniel, Dürler, et al, 2015;Kniel, Schmitz, et al, 2015; but see Doucet, Yezerinac, & Montgomerie, 2004). As Benskin et al (2002) found that both sexes of the zebra finch preferentially copied individuals wearing red leg bands over those with green leg bands in a feeding context, we hypothesised that the phenotype of the model female in mate-choice copying might also be of importance.…”