Sexy males and choosy females on exploded leks: Correlates of male attractiveness in the Little Bustard

Jiguet, Frédéric; Bretagnolle, Vincent

doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2014.01.008

Cited by 28 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…With respect to intersexual differences, although male and female Little Bustards share a large extent of their core areas, males differed significantly from females in seeking less concealment than the latter, as might be expected in a species whose reproductive strategy involves a costly and conspicuous sexual display by males, both to attract females and for territory defence (Cramp andSimmons 1980, Jiguet andBretagnolle 2014). Male Great Bustards also employ a conspicuous sexual display but they are much larger than Little Bustards (Table 1) and so do not find themselves forced to seek out more exposed locations (Olea et al 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Resource partitioning and niche segregation in a steppe bird assemblage

Traba¹,

Morales²,

Carmona³

et al. 2015

Community Ecology

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This is a final version of authorNiche theory predicts that coexisting species will partition resources to limit the effects of interspecific competition. We examined microhabitat partitioning in six sets of steppe birds associated to agroecosystems in central Spain (female and male Great Bustards Otis tarda, female and male Little Bustards Tetrax tetrax, Red-legged Partridges Alectoris rufa and Eurasian Stone-curlews Burhinus oedicnemus) to estimate realized niche breadth, overlap and segregation. Principal Components Analysis on data from used and random microhabitat locations produced two axes we retained for analysis related with two key factors: cover-visibility and food availability. Non-parametric kernel density functions were calculated for each of the PCA axes and species (or sexes), and niche overlap estimated as the area shared between species' density functions. Null models were run to evaluate overlap significance. In analyses of microhabitat selection by the six sets of birds, 13 out of 15 pairs had significant resource partitioning and niche segregation, except for the pairs partridge and female Great Bustard and the two sexes of Great Bustard. Eurasian Stone-curlew showed wider trophic niche breadth, although segregated from the other species, probably because of its higher invertebrate requirements. Great and Little Bustards segregated in both niche axes, selecting microhabitat according to their body size. Accessibility to food resources and shelter seems to be similar for partridges and female Great Bustards, overlapping in their selection, which may indicate the existence of segregation in other niche factors (e.g., feeding habits). Great Bustard males showed niche overlap with females. Little Bustard males showed feeding microhabitat selection patterns similar to those of females, although they preferred more open microhabitats to meet their sexual display requirements. The entire assemblage had significantly less overlap than expected by chance, suggesting that differential microhabitat selection and realized niche partitioning may explain coexistence in steppe bird communities. Our results suggest that the maintenance of different microhabitat structure should be a priority in the management of agricultural environmentsThis paper is a contribution to projects CGL2004-06147-C02-01, CGL2004-06147-C02-02 and CGL2009-13029/BOS of the Spanish Ministry of Science, as well as to the REMEDINAL 2 (S-2009/AMB/1783) and 3CM. (S2013/MAE-2719) networks of the CA

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Resource partitioning and niche segregation in a steppe bird assemblage

Traba¹,

Morales²,

Carmona³

et al. 2015

Community Ecology

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It would be relevant to investigate whether plumage reflectance or morphology pattern of the ornamental feathers might also be individual specific in the Houbara bustard. These traits have been recently shown to be related to male attractiveness in another bustard species, the little Bustard Tetrax tetrax (Jiguet & Bretagnolle 2014). Dale et al (2001) stated that 'individual recognition occurs when an organism identifies another individual according to its distinctive characteristics' and that features signalling identity are fixed phenotypes, are not condition-dependent nor related to fitness differences and are genetically determined.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual Signature in a Lekking Species: Visual and Acoustic Courtship Parameters May Help Discriminating Conspecifics in the Houbara Bustard

2014

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Selection pressures acting on both intrasexual competition and intersexual relationships may lead to the emphasis of individual variation and might thus lead to the expression of individual signature. This is particularly true in lek mating systems, where providing information on identity and/or quality to potential mates or congeners of the same sex can be essential for individuals to optimize their reproductive success. Visual and acoustic signals produced during the courtship of the lekking North African Houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata undulata), based on field data from wild birds, are investigated here for the first time. Results show that the vocal signals, called booms, are characterized by a very low frequency, a rare phenomenon in birds which should allow booms to propagate over long distances. Results also show that both visual and acoustic signals are individualized and stereotyped between males. Using three methods of analysis, we highlight the acoustic parameters likely to support vocal individual signature and show that such information mainly relies on frequency parameters.

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“…However, such assessments of male fitness are rare for wild populations. Studies of diverse taxa and both in the field and in the lab typically use proxies of fitness, e.g., number of offspring, number of matings, number of females a male associates with (Alberts et al 2003;Brommer et al 2005;Alonso et al 2010;Jiguet and Bretagnolle 2014). The last measure, the number of females a male associates with, is a commonly used proxy for male reproductive success in wild populations (Alberts et al 2003;Alonso et al 2010;Bretagnolle 2006, 2014;Lappin and Husak 2005).…”

Section: No Evidence Of "Inverse Size-assortment" Due To Invalid Methmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hypothesizing novel mating behaviours in the squaretail grouper based on direct behavioural observations

Karkarey¹,

Zambre²,

Isvaran³

2019

ReEco

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Historically unfished, high-density spawning aggregations are vanishingly uncommon. Behavioural observations from such aggregations are rare, and may be sometimes novel and unexpected. Given the weight of evidence required to document spawning aggregations, how can we best report rare and unusual behavioural variations in spawning populations? Based on two years of in-water observations of a high-density spawning aggregation of the squaretail grouper in the Lakshadweep Archipelago, we described a previously unreported male alternative reproductive tactic (ART) and an inverse size assortment with large males courting several small females that shoaled mid-water (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12898-017-0120-5). In critiquing our manuscript, it has been suggested that our observations, methodologies and interpretation are inadequate, flawed, and do not fit within currently accepted theory (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12898-018-0206-8). While offering a detailed counter of the main methodological and theoretical criticisms we question how best to document and interpret novel behaviours in poorly known systems. Reporting novelty itself can hardly be the basis of criticism. Our report relied on direct in-water observations, conducted at peak densities over two spawning years. The critique ignores this, choosing instead to focus on a supplementary video which was not the basis of our conclusions. Like other researchers working on this species, we did not directly observe mating, but report courtship as a well-established proxy used across mating systems studies. Apart from these methodological concerns, the authors suggest that there is no theoretical support for our observations. However, sexual selection theory provides well-established frameworks showing that, at very high mating densities, a variety of tactics can emerge, that often vary considerably between populations and locations. In our original paper, we use this broader theory of sexual selection together with detailed behavioural data to propose plausible evolutionary explanations that bear testing in these novel, high-density systems. We agree with the authors that novel observations should be scrutinised carefully as they can challenge our current understanding of the range of behaviours populations display and serve as a springboard for theoretical advancement. Given their rarity, these observations should be evaluated against the rigour of their documentation and the transparency of their reporting. In this context, we hope our carefully documented observations serve as a useful addition to the fascinating and complex natural history of species like the squaretail grouper.

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Sexy males and choosy females on exploded leks: Correlates of male attractiveness in the Little Bustard

Cited by 28 publications

References 65 publications

Resource partitioning and niche segregation in a steppe bird assemblage

Resource partitioning and niche segregation in a steppe bird assemblage

Individual Signature in a Lekking Species: Visual and Acoustic Courtship Parameters May Help Discriminating Conspecifics in the Houbara Bustard

Hypothesizing novel mating behaviours in the squaretail grouper based on direct behavioural observations

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