Presentation Details
| Does calling in chickadees and titmice represent a personality-like behavior? Heather JB Brooks1, 2. 1University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA.2University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA |
Abstract
Animals often demonstrate consistency in their behavioral phenotypes. Researchers study these phenomena through behavioral syndromes and animal personality. Animal communication encompasses topics such as predator avoidance, mate attraction, and sociality, but the integration between communication and animal personality is lacking. I examined calling behavior (call rate) in tufted titmice (Baeolophus bicolor) and Carolina chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) by recording the calls of known individuals daily. I conducted two experiments, 1) keeping social groups stable and 2) manipulating the social environment mid-experiment. I used repeatability analyses in R to examine whether birds were consistent in their calling behavior. I ran an ANOVA to explore whether calling differed between species and social conditions. Individuals were repeatable in their calling behavior. Titmice called more than chickadees, and social condition did not affect calling behavior. These results indicate that some birds consistently called more than others, regardless of social condition. This has implications for ecological topics like information transmission and conspicuousness for predator avoidance.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
Content Locked. Log into a registered attendee account to access this presentation.