Female zebra finches prefer the songs of males who quickly solve a novel foraging task to the songs of males unable to solve the task

ABSTRACT: Abstract Correlative evidence suggests that high problem?solving and foraging abilities in a mate are associated with direct fitness advantages, so it would benefit females to prefer problem?solving males. Recent work has also shown that females of several bird species who directly observe males prefer those that can solve a novel foraging task over those that cannot. In addition to or instead of direct observation of cognitive skills, many species utilize assessment signals when choosing a mate. Here, we test whether females can select a problem?solving male over a non?solving male when presented only with a signal known to be used in mate assessment: song. Using an operant conditioning assay, we compared female zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) preference for the songs of males that could quickly solve a novel foraging task to the songs of males that could not solve the task. Females were never housed with the test subject males whose song they heard, and the only information provided about the males was their song. We found that females elicited more songs of problem?solving males than of non?solvers, indicating that song may contain information about a male’s ability to solve a novel foraging task and that naïve females prefer the songs of problem?solving males. Birdsong is known to be an indicator of overall brain function and developmental conditions, but it is unknown whether song can reflect cognitive or personality traits that specifically affect foraging tasks. Here, we tested female preference for song from males who could quickly solve or could not solve an artificial novel foraging task. Although females had no prior knowledge of males, they solicited more song from males who could quickly solve the novel foraging task.

SUBMITTER: Howell C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7520207 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature