Date of Award
2012
Publication Type
Master Thesis
Degree Name
M.Sc.
Department
Biological Sciences
Keywords
Psychology, Biological sciences, Animal communication, Frequency matching, Gargle call, Overlapping, Signal reliability, Song rate
Supervisor
Daniel Mennill
Rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Abstract
The traditional view of birdsong indicates that it functions in territory defence and mate attraction. Recent literature focuses on aggressive signalling between males during territorial song contests. Using a protocol that simulates territorial intruders with song playback and a taxidermic model, four previous studies showed that quiet song predicts attack in several species. Using this protocol, I examined aggressive signals in black-capped chickadees, Poecile atricapillus . I explored which signals predict attack on a taxidermic mount, a potential graded signalling system, and how individual rank affects aggressive signalling. I found song rate and gargle calling predict attack in chickadees. Also, song rate and gargle calling may constitute a graded signalling system used to communicate increasing levels of threat. Finally, I found no effect of male rank on aggressive signalling strategies. This thesis provides new insight into avian aggressive signalling and new avenues for research on graded signalling.
Recommended Citation
Marie Baker, Tyne, "Aggressive signalling strategies in black-capped chickadee territorial vocal interactions/Stratégies aggressive de signalisation dans les interactions vocales du territoire en mésange à tête noire." (2012). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 4785.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/4785