Status signalling, metabolic rate and body mass in the siskin: the cost of being a subordinate

• Published in: Animal behaviour Vol. 59; no. 1; pp. 103 - 110
• Main Authors: Senar, Juan Carlos, Polo, Vicente, Uribe, Francesc, Camerino, Montse
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kent Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2000; Elsevier; Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Ltd
• Subjects: Age; Animal behavior; Animal ethology; Aves; Biological and medical sciences; Carduelis spinus; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Insects; Metabolism; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Status; Vertebrata; Laboratory study; Animal communication; Costs; Intraspecific relation; Body weight; Metabolism; Social status; Vertebrata; Social dominance; Social interaction; Individual recognition; Aves; Visual signal

The higher metabolic rate of dominant individuals, found in different species, has been interpreted as the cost that prevents subordinates from cheating by adopting large badges of status. However, an alternative prediction for status-signalling species, in which subordinates may recognize dominants...