Predator recognition by red-backed Predator recognition by red-backed shrikes – importance of predator colour, shrikes – importance of predator colour,
size and presence of key featuressize and presence of key features
Petr Veselý, Michal M. Němec, Michaela Syrová, Roman S. Fuchs
Center of Cognitive EthologyDepartment of Zoology
Faculty of ScienceUniversity of South Bohemia
České BudějoviceCzech Republic
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Classical studiesKey features (releasers)Connected to reproduction
Supernormal stimulus
Lack 1943
Tinbergen 1951 Tinbergen 1953 Tinbergen 1948
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Background
Classical studiesKey features (releasers)Connected to antipredatory behaviour
Krätzig 1940
Lorenz 1940
Curio 1975
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Background
Our studyRelevant stimulus
PredatorRecognition is essential
Vigorous and unambiguous response Red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio)
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Background
Dummy presented at the nest (one meter)
actual peril
Breeding stage – large chicks (10-12 days)
large investment of parents
Behavioural response
Number of attacks
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Methods
Stuffed dummy has limits in terms of feature manipulation
Textile dummy is suitable
Němec et al. (in press) Animal Cognition stuffed textile plastic
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Methods – dummy material
Shrikes avoid attacking large corvids
Němec and Fuchs (in press) Acta Ethologica
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Shrikes vs. corvids
Shrikes avoid attacking very large jays
Kopecká et al. (in prep.)
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Importance of body size
Shrikes respond differently to predators and pigeon
Shrikes respond differently to sparrowhawk and kestrel
Strnad et al. (2012) Ornis Fennica, 89, 206-215
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Shrikes’ responses to various predators?
Shrikes consider all dummies without raptor features harmless
Unfamiliar colouration affects the raptor recognition
Němec et al. (in prep.)
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Relative importance of raptor features and colouration
Shrikes are able to recognize particular predators, to assess the danger, they represent and to appropriately respond
When confronted to novel form of a predator, they generalize according to specific features available for recognition
Body size is a measure of danger in general, raptor features like beak, talons and conspicuous eyes are used to identify a raptor, and colour identifies particular species
None of tested features universally fullfilled the key role in predator recognition
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www.cke.czSummary
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AcknowledgementsFinancial support:Academy of Sciences (IAA601410803, 2008-2012)Czech Science Foundation (206/03/H034, 2004-2007; 206/08/H044, 2008-2011)Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MSM6007665801, 2005-2010)
Field research:Martin Strnad, Tereza Součková, Barbora Holečková, Anna Vlašánková (Falkenauerová), Dana Luhanová, Lenka Dokoupilová (Bendová), Kateřina Kopecká, Eliška Perlová, Tomáš Minařík, Irena Tichá, Josef Šalom, Miroslav Bažant, Barbora Kamišová, František Nuc, Nela Nováková
…and thank You for your attention
