Abstract
BackgroundMate-choice copying is a form of social learning in which an individual gains information about potential mates by observing conspecifics. However, it is still unknown what kind of information drives the decision of an individual to copy the mate choice of others. Among zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis), only females (not males) copy the mate choice of others. We tested female zebra finches in a binary choice test where they, first, could choose between two males of different phenotypes: one unadorned male and one male artificially adorned with a red feather on the forehead. After this mate-choice test, females could observe a single unadorned male and a pair of zebra finches, i.e. a wild-type female and her adorned mate. Pair interactions were either restricted to acoustic and visual communication (clear glass screen between pair mates) or acoustic communication alone (opaque screen between pair mates). After the observation period, females could again choose between new males of the two phenotypes in a second mate-choice test.ResultsIn experiments with a clear glass screen, time spent with the respective males changed between the two mate-choice tests, and females preferred adorned over unadorned males during the second mate-choice test. In experiments with an opaque screen, time spent with the respective males did not change between the two mate-choice tests, although females lost an initial preference for unadorned males.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that the quality of the received public information (visual and acoustic interaction of the observed pair) influences mate-choice copying in female zebra finches.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12983-015-0119-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Mate-choice copying is a form of social learning in which an individual gains information about potential mates by observing conspecifics
15 females observed the pair separated by a clear glass screen and 15 females observed the pair separated by an opaque plastic screen
Our experiments demonstrate that mate-choice copying in the zebra finch depends on the quality of the public information received by observing females
Summary
Mate-choice copying is a form of social learning in which an individual gains information about potential mates by observing conspecifics. We tested female zebra finches in a binary choice test where they, first, could choose between two males of different phenotypes: one unadorned male and one male artificially adorned with a red feather on the forehead. During matechoice copying females gain supplemental information by observing other females and use this public information for their own mate-choice decisions [6, 7]. Females showed mate-choice copying if a previously non-preferred male was courting a model female without being able to mate because of a partition keeping them apart (allowing visual and acoustic communication but no copulation). Females copied if the observed male and the female were separated visually from each other (no courtship/copulation, only proximity), but they did not change their choice if the observed male could court a model female but the observing female could not
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