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- Title
Common Loons can differentiate yodels of neighboring and non-neighboring conspecifics.
- Authors
Mager, III, John N.; Walcott, Charles; Piper, Walter H.
- Abstract
Although previous studies have identified elements of the yodel calls of male Common Loons ( Gavia immer) that might be important for neighbor/non-neighbor discrimination, no one to date has determined whether loons can distinguish between the yodels of neighbors and non-neighbors. Our objectives were to determine if Common Loons respond differently to playback recordings of yodels of neighbor and non-neighbors and, if so, if elements of the introductory phrase or the repeat phrases are important in such differentiation. We studied loons occupying single-lake territories in Oneida County, Wisconsin, in 2001 ( N= 20 pairs) and 2007 ( N= 16 pairs). Playback experiments revealed no significant difference in number of different types of vocalizations (yodels, tremolos, and wails) loons gave in response to neighbor and non-neighbor yodels. However, loons gave significantly more tremolos in response to yodels lower in peak frequency than those of resident male ( P= 0.01), indicating they were more threatened by such calls. In addition, loons gave significantly more tremolos ( P < 0.01) and yodels ( P < 0.01) in response to the lower frequency yodels of non-neighbors than neighbors. Because previous studies have revealed that males with greater resource-holding ability produce lower frequency yodels, our results suggest that the response of Common Loons to unfamiliar yodels depends on perceived condition-dependent fighting ability. When we used playbacks containing a non-neighbor's introductory phrase and a neighbor's repeat syllables, we found that loons uttered more tremolos ( P= 0.01) and yodels ( P= 0.01), suggesting that the introductory phrase is more important than the repeat phrases for neighbor/non-neighbor discrimination. Thus, the yodels of male Common Loons appear to provide conspecifics with information about their status (neighbor or non-neighbor) as well as their condition and aggressive motivation.
- Subjects
COMMON loon; DIVERS (Birds); TREMOLO; CITRUS fruits; BIRD surveys; ECOLOGICAL surveys
- Publication
Journal of Field Ornithology, 2010, Vol 81, Issue 4, p392
- ISSN
0273-8570
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1557-9263.2010.00295.x