Chemical cues in the mating behavior of a highly polygynous bird

• Published in: Behavioral ecology and sociobiology Vol. 78; no. 6; p. 69
• Main Authors: Rivers, Pearl R., DuVal, Emily H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.06.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal Ecology; Animal reproduction; Auditory signals; Behavioral Sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Birds; Chemical communication; Chemical stimuli; Courtship; Displays; Ethanol; Females; Genetic diversity; Life Sciences; Males; Mate selection; Mating behavior; Olfactory stimuli; Original Article; Sensory integration; Zoology; Manakin; Chemical communication; Avian olfaction; Mate choice; Y-maze
• ISSN: 0340-5443; 1432-0762
• DOI: 10.1007/s00265-024-03477-0

Visual and auditory signals are well-established components of avian courtship, but the role of chemical signaling remains poorly understood, particularly in mating systems with elaborate courtship displays. To test how chemical cues influence mating behavior we conducted two experiments in the lance-tailed manakin ( Chiroxiphia lanceolata ). First, in a field experiment, we tested the response of free-living males and females to manipulation of chemical cues at male display perches by cleaning the perches with ethanol or a dry cloth (control) and quantified a potential chemical signaling behavior (bill-wiping) in response to experimental manipulation. During bouts of dance perch maintenance and displays with a female present (i.e., activity relevant to female mate choice) males increased bill-wiping behavior during initial ethanol treatment periods. We also detected carryover effects of the ethanol treatment; in later treatment periods males bill-wiped more when the prior treatment was ethanol. The likelihood of a female either revisiting a display area or copulating with a male was unrelated to experimental treatment. Next, in captive trials, we assessed female preference for olfactory cues from males that differed in their genetic diversity, a trait previously identified as relevant to female mate choice. In contrast to similar trials in other bird species, females showed no clear preference. Together, these results provide some evidence for chemical signaling by males at display perches, but it remains unclear what information chemical cues convey. Significance statement Chemical communication is an understudied phenomenon in birds, and especially so when it occurs as part of complex courtship displays. We investigated chemical signaling in the mating behavior of a highly polygynous bird with elaborate courtship displays by experimentally altering the chemical cues at courtship sites that are actively maintained by males. Male lance-tailed manakins detect and respond to changes in the chemical environment on display perches, however we detected no response from females. Our results contrast with other studies that detected significant responses to chemical cues by both males and females and suggest that association time with chemical cues may be important to their detection in avian systems.