Lek behaviour in birds: do displaying males reduce nest predation?

Abstract

Male lek display in birds may reduce nest-related predation by decoying predators away from nests and alerting incubating females when a predator is approaching. The sentinel/decoy model predicts a region of decreased predator density just inside the maximum range at which predators are attracted by displaying males. The expected ring of successful nests is evident in data from three species of North American prairie grouse. Well-documented features of female mate choice in lekking species, including repeated visits to male display sites prior to mating, mate fidelity and mate copying, are consistent with females maximizing the proposed antipredator benefit. The sentinel/decoy model makes a number of unique predictions that will facilitate critical tests of the model.