mariette-juvenilesocial-2013.pdf (465.43 kB)
Juvenile social experience affects pairing success at adulthood: Congruence with the loser effect?
journal contribution
posted on 2013-09-22, 00:00 authored by Mylene MarietteMylene Mariette, C Cathaud, R Chambon, C VignalSocial interactions with adults are often critical for the development of mating behaviours. However, the potential role of other primary social partners such as juvenile counterparts is rarely considered. Most interestingly, it is not known whether interactions with juvenile females improve males’ courtship and whether, similar to the winner and loser effects in a fighting context—outcome of these interactions shapes males’ behaviour in future encounters. We investigated the combined effects of male quality and juvenile social experience on pairing success at adulthood in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). We manipulated brood size to alter male quality and then placed males in either same- or mixed-sex juvenile dyads until adulthood. We found that males from reduced broods obtained more copulations and males from mixed-sex dyads had more complete courtships. Furthermore, independent of their quality, males that failed to pair with juvenile females, but not juvenile males, had a lower pairing success at adulthood. Our study shows that negative social experience with peers during adolescence may be a potent determinant of pairing success that can override the effects of early environmental conditions on male attractiveness and thereby supports the occurrence of an analogous process to the loser effect in a mating context.
History
Journal
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: biological sciencesVolume
280Issue
1767Pagination
1 - 9Publisher
Royal Society PublishingLocation
London, EnglandPublisher DOI
Link to full text
ISSN
0962-8452eISSN
1471-2954Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal; C Journal articleCopyright notice
2013, Royal Society PublishingUsage metrics
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No categories selectedKeywords
Courtship persistencePair bondSocial feedbackSocial learningWinner and loser effectZebra finchScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineBiologyEcologyEvolutionary BiologyLife Sciences & Biomedicine - Other TopicsEnvironmental Sciences & EcologyFINCH TAENIOPYGIA-GUTTATAZEBRA FINCHESSEXUAL SELECTIONMATE CHOICEDEVELOPMENTAL STRESSMATING PREFERENCESMALE SONGFEMALECOURTSHIPWILD
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