This study is intended to investigate the differences in anti-predator behavioural and acoustic response to terrestrial and aerial predators as well as the behavioural differences between sexes in the red-legged partridge. To this aim we observed the response of 114 partridge (57 males and 57 females) to dummy terrestrial and aerial predators, a raptor and a fox. We divided behavioural responses to predators into four mutually exclusive categories: vigilance, freezing, escape and non-anti-predator behaviours. We also recorded and analysed the vocalizations emitted during tests. The animals reacted differently to aerial and terrestrial stimuli. The reactions elicited by the terrestrial predator were ranked as follows: vigilance, escape, non-anti-predator behaviours, and freezing. Those elicited by the aerial predator were ranked as follows: vigilance, freezing, escape and non-antipredator behaviours. Vigilance and escape were elicited more frequently by the terrestrial predator than by the aerial predator (vigilance: p < 0.001; escape: p < 0.001). Freezing was the most frequent behaviour following the appearance of the aerial predator (p < 0.001). In fact, freezing may represent an effective strategy in an open space, combining camouflage from and detection by the predator. On the other hand, vigilance is an effective behaviour to detect and avoid a terrestrial predator hunting by ambush. We did not find clear-cut differences between sexes. The analysis of vocalizations revealed that the fox and the raptor elicited significantly different calls (p = 0.003); the fox evoked significantly more vocalizations than the raptor (p < 0.001), differing in addition in frequency parameters. Thus partridges not only discriminate between aerial and terrestrial predators and behave consequently, but are also able to tune alarm calls in relation to the context of predation.

Anti-predator behaviour of the red-legged partridge Alectoris rufa (Galliformes: Phasianidae) to simulated terrestrial and aerial predators / Binazzi, Rosaria; Zaccaroni, Marco; Nespoli, A.; Massolo, A.; DESSI' FULGHERI, Francesco. - In: THE ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY. - ISSN 1125-0003. - STAMPA. - 78:(2011), pp. 106-112. [10.1080/11250003.2010.509136]

Anti-predator behaviour of the red-legged partridge Alectoris rufa (Galliformes: Phasianidae) to simulated terrestrial and aerial predators

BINAZZI, ROSARIA;ZACCARONI, MARCO;DESSI' FULGHERI, FRANCESCO
2011

Abstract

This study is intended to investigate the differences in anti-predator behavioural and acoustic response to terrestrial and aerial predators as well as the behavioural differences between sexes in the red-legged partridge. To this aim we observed the response of 114 partridge (57 males and 57 females) to dummy terrestrial and aerial predators, a raptor and a fox. We divided behavioural responses to predators into four mutually exclusive categories: vigilance, freezing, escape and non-anti-predator behaviours. We also recorded and analysed the vocalizations emitted during tests. The animals reacted differently to aerial and terrestrial stimuli. The reactions elicited by the terrestrial predator were ranked as follows: vigilance, escape, non-anti-predator behaviours, and freezing. Those elicited by the aerial predator were ranked as follows: vigilance, freezing, escape and non-antipredator behaviours. Vigilance and escape were elicited more frequently by the terrestrial predator than by the aerial predator (vigilance: p < 0.001; escape: p < 0.001). Freezing was the most frequent behaviour following the appearance of the aerial predator (p < 0.001). In fact, freezing may represent an effective strategy in an open space, combining camouflage from and detection by the predator. On the other hand, vigilance is an effective behaviour to detect and avoid a terrestrial predator hunting by ambush. We did not find clear-cut differences between sexes. The analysis of vocalizations revealed that the fox and the raptor elicited significantly different calls (p = 0.003); the fox evoked significantly more vocalizations than the raptor (p < 0.001), differing in addition in frequency parameters. Thus partridges not only discriminate between aerial and terrestrial predators and behave consequently, but are also able to tune alarm calls in relation to the context of predation.
2011
78
106
112
Binazzi, Rosaria; Zaccaroni, Marco; Nespoli, A.; Massolo, A.; DESSI' FULGHERI, Francesco
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/953253
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