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Geoffrey M Gould Dissertation.pdf (4.32 MB)

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Signaling and Communication in the Breeding Behavior of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus)

Gould, Geoffrey Michael
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7521-5853
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1595442814242732

Abstract Details

2020, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology.
Critical social interactions between animals such as courtship and competition over resources are mediated by communication signals, which have evolved via natural or sexual selection. Signals may have evolved to transmit information about senders, to affect receiver responses, or both. Birds have long served as focal organisms in studies of signaling, as many avian signals have undergone extensive elaboration. The role of avian signals in breeding behavior is also well studied, as many signals evolved specifically for use in this context. Additionally, birds exhibit several types of mating systems and the reliability of signal information may vary between mating systems. Among birds, some grouse species are distinguished by a promiscuous mating system which is often centered on leks. Although these species exhibit the classic lek-mating system, several questions related to signals transmitted during breeding behavior remain scantly researched. The research in this dissertation focuses on signals employed in the breeding behavior of the lek-mating lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus), a North American grouse (sub-family Tetraonidae). Males display two sets of bright, conspicuous color ornaments used in visual signaling and sound production during breeding behavior. I tested the hypotheses that these ornaments are honest signals of age, condition (Chapter 2), and parasite loads (Chapter 3). Additionally, I considered the effects of ornament size and color properties on male mating success and the performance of male duets which are unique to the lesser prairie-chicken relative to other grouse. In Chapter 4, I tested the hypothesis that females rely on the interpretation of multiple male signals when choosing mates, and in Chapter 5 I explored three non-mutually exclusive hypotheses related to male duets: 1) duets serve as an endurance contest, 2) duets serve as a mechanism to de-escalate or prevent violent interactions between males, and 3) duets are intended as signals for females or have different functions when females are present or absent. By focusing on the honesty of signal information and the responses to signals by receivers of both sexes, this research addresses the key questions related to animal communication signals. The main findings of this research are that color ornaments in male lesser prairie-chickens do not serve as signals of age or body condition, but that they respond to manipulation of endoparasite loads, suggesting that they serve as reliable signals of parasite abundance. Ornament color properties correlate with mating success, which is also predicted by age, behavior rates, morphological trait size, and characteristics of territories held on breeding grounds. Male duets do not appear to function as endurance contests, but they may help to reduce physical conflict. Duet structure differs when females are absent versus present and duets may serve different functions under these two conditions. Overall, these results indicate that color, vocalizations, and locomotor signals in the lesser prairie-chicken reliably transmit information and that this information informs mate choice, suggesting that signal interpretation allows females to procure benefits for themselves or their offspring.
Jacqueline Augustine, PhD (Advisor)
Robert Gates, PhD (Committee Member)
Ian Hamilton, PhD (Committee Member)
Christopher Tonra, PhD (Committee Member)
254 p.
Animals; Biology; Ecology; Evolution and Development; Zoology
lesser-prairie chicken; grouse; lekking; spectrophotometry; spectrometry; mate choice; nematode; parasite; honest signaling; discrete choice models; relational event modelling; breeding behavior; avian duet; duetting; visual modelling

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Gould, G. M. (2020). Signaling and Communication in the Breeding Behavior of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1595442814242732

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Gould, Geoffrey. Signaling and Communication in the Breeding Behavior of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus). 2020. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1595442814242732.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Gould, Geoffrey. "Signaling and Communication in the Breeding Behavior of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus)." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1595442814242732

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1595442814242732
294
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