HR: 1330h
AN: B33D-03    [Abstracts]
TI: An Investigation Of The Use Of Song And Territory Defense In Paternity Guarding Behavior Of The Carolina Wren
AU: * Ramon, P
EM: pats_r@sbcglobal.net
AF: University of Houston-Downtown, One Main Street, Houston, TX 77002 United States
AU: Neudorf, D L
EM: pats_r@sbcglobal.net
AF: Sam Houston State University, Dept. Biological Sciences, Huntsville, TX 77341 United States
AB: A banded population of Carolina Wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus) was observed at Sam Houston State University's Center for Biological Field Studies in Walker Co., Texas to determine if males use paternity guarding behavior. Paternity guards are used by males to prevent the loss of paternity due to copulations that occur outside of the pair bond i.e. extra-pair copulations (EPC's). Song behavior and territory size were quantified over the breeding cycle for 5 males. Males sang at higher rates when their mates were fertile (nest building and egg laying stages) than when their mates were nonfertile (incubation and nestling stages). Males also defended larger territories during their mates' fertile stages. The results are suggestive of a paternity guard function for song and territory defense in the Carolina Wren.
DE: 0400 Biogeosciences
SC: Biogeosciences [B]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly