Do as i do, not as i say: Anti-predator behavior in dark-eyed junco flocks

Jacquelyn P Randolet, Purdue University

Abstract

Animals living in groups can use cues and signals to make anti-predator decisions. However we do not know if cues and signals elicit different responses from individuals. Our goal was to study how dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis) responded to a cue (flushing flock mates) and a signal (an alarm call). We used robotic flock mates to simulate flushing flock mates, playbacks for alarm calls. We manipulated the number of flushing robots and the number of alarm calls, and had treatments in which only robots, flushed, only alarm calls played, and where both were presented simultaneously. Our results show that individuals become more alarmed as more robots flush, but take longer to react as more alarm calls are played. In addition, an individual's head scanning rate increases during a treatment compared to baseline behavior, and the body movement rate decreases compared to baseline behavior. Our findings suggest that in some cases cues may override signals, despite the fact that cues are normally considered more ambiguous than signals. This has implications for what kind of information flows between group members, and to what information group members may pay attention.

Degree

M.S.

Advisors

Fernandez-Juricic, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Zoology|Behavioral Sciences

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