The role of a generalized ultraviolet cue for blackbird food selection

Werner, Scott J.; Tupper, Shelagh K.; Carlson, James C.; Pettit, Susan E.; Ellis, Jeremy W.; Linz, George M.

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2012.04.007

Cited by 21 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Thus, a change in UV reflectance relative to the untreated control substrates, regardless of the direction of the change, was perceptible by PIWOs. This result mirrors those found in behavioral trials with Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) [28], and has implications for ecological interactions with wood decay fungi as well as for developing damage control strategies.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

“…The UV-reflective treatment corks were created by submersion in a warmed 0.07% magnesium carbonate (MgCO 3 ; Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) suspension (by weight) [28] for 20 s, with constant agitation by magnetic stir bar. MgCO 3 is a naturally occurring compound that is odorless and tasteless to humans and exhibits its peak reflectance below 300 nm.…”

Section: Corksmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We predicted that study subjects would respond differently to decayed and control substrates, and that decreasing the UV reflectance of decayed and control substrates would have little to no effect on substrate discrimination. This last prediction was based on Experiments 1 and 2 which occurred prior to Experiment 5, on work with other avian species [27] and [28], and in part on our inability to completely control potential confounding influences (see Section 7.2).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Functional visual sensitivity to ultraviolet wavelengths in the Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), and its influence on foraging substrate selection

O'Daniels

Kesler

Mihail

et al. 2017

Physiology & Behavior

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Most diurnal birds are presumed visually sensitive to near ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths, however, controlled behavioral studies investigating UV sensitivity remain few. Although woodpeckers are important as primary cavity excavators and nuisance animals, published work on their visual systems is limited. We developed a novel foraging-based behavioral assay designed to test UV sensitivity in the Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus). We acclimated 21 wild-caught woodpeckers to foraging for frozen mealworms within 1.2 m sections of peeled cedar (Thuja spp.) poles. We then tested the functional significance of UV cues by placing frozen mealworms behind UV-reflective covers, UV-absorptive covers, or decayed red pine substrates within the same 1.2 m poles in independent experiments. Behavioral responses were greater toward both UV-reflective and UV-absorptive substrates in three experiments. Study subjects therefore reliably differentiated and attended to two distinct UV conditions of a foraging substrate. Cue-naïve subjects showed a preference for UV-absorptive substrates, suggesting that woodpeckers may be pre-disposed to foraging from such substrates. Behavioral responses were greater toward decayed pine substrates (UV-reflective) than sound pine substrates suggesting that decayed pine can be a useful foraging cue. The finding that cue-naïve subjects selected UV-absorbing foraging substrates has implications for ecological interactions of woodpeckers with fungi. Woodpeckers transport fungal spores, and communication methods analogous to those of plant-pollinator mutualisms (i.e. UV-absorbing patterns) may have evolved to support woodpecker-fungus mutualisms.Published by Elsevier Inc.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Section: Corksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Functional visual sensitivity to ultraviolet wavelengths in the Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), and its influence on foraging substrate selection

O'Daniels

Kesler

Mihail

et al. 2017

Physiology & Behavior

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“…These tests should assess the efficacy of different spatial configuration of sacrificial plant and the zone of protection they provide. Additionally, Werner et al (2012) has shown that birds conditioned with Avipel, a UV-absorbent, postingestive repellent, avoided sunflower treated only with a UV absorbent cue. This suggests redwing blackbirds can be conditioned to avoid food sources, given a benign visual cue, if they have been previously exposed to anthraquinone.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Laboratory efficacy of an anthraquinone-based repellent for reducing bird damage to ripening corn

Carlson¹,

Tupper²,

Werner³

et al. 2013

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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a b s t r a c tWildlife repellents provide a non-lethal alternative for managing agricultural impacts associated with wildlife depredation. To evaluate a potential bird repellent for ripening corn, we conducted a feeding experiment at the United States Department of Agriculture, National Wildlife Research Center with 66 red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus). Using a two-choice experimental design we tested the efficacy of Avipel repellent (a.i. 50% 9,10-anthraquinone) on ripening sweet corn. Red-winged blackbirds consumed an average of 8.6% ± 0.9% of kernels from untreated ears and 5.3% ± 1.1% from ears treated with anthraquinone. The interaction between anthraquinone concentration and corn treatment suggests a positive concentration-response for red-winged blackbirds. Odds ratio analysis suggests red-winged blackbirds were 1.4 times more likely to damage untreated sweet corn compared to treated sweet corn. These results suggest efficacy of anthraquinone-based products as red-wing blackbird repellents for ripening corn. Moreover, exposure to anthraquinone-based repellents may reduce consumption of a food matrix that receives little to no direct anthraquinone exposure. Supplemental research is recommended to evaluate anthraquinone-based repellents under field conditions, including the establishment of a chemical tolerance for food and feed use.Published by Elsevier B.V.

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“…Trials with red-winged blackbirds showed that the birds associated pre-and post-ingestive consequences with visual cues, and reliably combined visual and gustatory cues with post-ingestive consequences to select foods and avoid toxins (Werner et al 2008: Werner & Provenza 2011. The recent demonstrations (Werner et al 2012(Werner et al , 2014a) that a UV cue paired with a post-ingestive repellent could be used to condition food avoidance in red-winged blackbirds and wild turkeys provides new opportunities to develop effective cues for aversion learning in birds that may not be effective in mammals. This could be of particular relevance to the New Zealand situation where the aim is to repel native birds from feeding on toxic bait, but not the target animals, possums and rats.…”

Section: Background Informationmentioning

confidence: 98%

Visual and taste cues for minimising native bird interactions with toxic 1080 baits – a review of current practices

Cowan¹,

Crowell²

2017

NZ J Ecol

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Non-target risk from the use of vertebrate toxins for pest control is an ongoing issue globally. In New Zealand, toxic bait for aerial control of possums and rodents is dyed green and contains cinnamon oil, both of which are thought to reduce the risk that birds will eat the bait. It has been suggested for some time that blue dye may be a more effective feeding deterrent than green dye. While both green and blue dye reduce the risk that birds will feed on bait, the available evidence is not sufficiently strong to suggest a significant improvement in repelling birds by switching from green to blue. Cinnamon oil, at the nominal concentration in bait, may have some bird repellent effects, but these are likely to depend on its origin (bark or leaves) and the freshness of the bait (as it evaporates relatively quickly from bait after manufacture). Bait colour, including ultraviolet, is also an important cue in avoidance learning by birds and should be considered in more detail in future studies of specific bird repellent additives to bait for possum and rodent control. Further research is needed to optimise the use of visual cues in bait, both for their inherent repellency (e.g. green vs blue; optimal concentration of dye) and for their effectiveness in promoting avoidance learning. It would also be worth investigating an alternative compound to cinnamon as a mask for 1080; ideally such an alternative would have enhanced stability and bird repellent properties.

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The role of a generalized ultraviolet cue for blackbird food selection

Cited by 21 publications

References 35 publications

Functional visual sensitivity to ultraviolet wavelengths in the Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), and its influence on foraging substrate selection

Functional visual sensitivity to ultraviolet wavelengths in the Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), and its influence on foraging substrate selection

Laboratory efficacy of an anthraquinone-based repellent for reducing bird damage to ripening corn

Visual and taste cues for minimising native bird interactions with toxic 1080 baits – a review of current practices

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