Signals in intra-sexual competition between ring-necked pheasant males
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
1997 |
Authors: |
Concha Mateos, Juan Carranza |
Publication/Journal: |
Animal Behaviour |
Keywords: |
intra-sexual competition, mate choice, pheasant, signals |
ISBN: |
0003-3472 |
Abstract:
Many sexual ornaments are signals commonly used in both sexual selection contexts: mate choice and intra-sexual competition. Previous studies show that female choice in ring-necked pheasants,Phasianus colchicus, is influenced by features of some male ornaments. Experiments and correlational data were used in this study to investigate the role of male ornaments in male-male agonistic encounters. Some traits used by females in mate choice, namely tail length and black points in the wattle, had no effect in male-male competition, but the length of ear tufts had a role in both contexts. The most important traits appeared to be the head ornaments, which include ear tufts, but also wattle size. Head ornaments function as coverable signals that are displayed to rival males informing about readiness to fight, fighting ability and resource-holding power; and the total time spent displaying correlated with testosterone level, physical condition and rank. Thus, the costs of displaying head ornaments appear to be both inherent and target-receiver dependent.