Intra- and extra-pair behavior and productivity in captive zebra finch colonies.
Item
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Title
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Intra- and extra-pair behavior and productivity in captive zebra finch colonies.
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Identifier
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AAI9618089
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identifier
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9618089
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Creator
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Oliva-Purdy, Joanne.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Cheryl F. Harding
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Date
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1996
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Behavioral | Biology, Zoology | Biology, Ecology
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Abstract
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Observations were conducted on three colonies of 16 (8 male, 8 female) mature but sexually naive zebra finches (Taenopygia guttata) for 13 weeks and the full range of their behavior recorded. During this time, most birds completed at least one breeding cycle. Of the 44 birds which formed pair bonds, 43% of females and 38% of males did not form exclusive male-female pairs, but instead were members of ten alternate nesting groups of various types, some with multiple pair bonds. Birds in groups bonded at the same time as those in pairs; however, females from groups took longer to start their first clutches and if their young died, offspring of groups died earlier than those of pairs. In productive groups, there was no intra-sexual competition among those occupying the same nest.;During the first breeding cycle of all birds which completed incubation (n = 32) and an equivalent period for all other subjects (n = 6), pairs and groups did not differ in courtship or copulation behavior. Males directed courtship and copulation behavior towards (1) females during their fertile periods, (2) females outside their fertile periods, (3) other males. Males who were bonded to females (n = 20) directed 21% of their courtship bouts to other birds, and 73% of the males that raised young to independence (n = 11) courted extra-pair. Extra-pair copulations constituted 21% of male and 13% of female copulations. Extra-pair courtship displays included more songs than intra-pair displays. Courtship and copulation occurred at all stages of the breeding cycle and both during and outside females' fertile periods. The frequency of intra-pair, but not extra-pair, copulations dropped during incubation.;Among pairs which fledged young, three characteristics distinguished the most successful: (1) they took longer to initiate these clutches, (2) the males courted their mates relatively more than they courted other birds, and (3) both males and females engaged in fewer extra-pair copulations during the fertile periods for these clutches. A variety of factors appear to be involved in total clutch loss. The data reported support the theory that there is a mix of copulation and nesting strategies in this opportunistic species and that it is important for finches to form a strong pair bond well before breeding occurs.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
