2026-09-24T02:01:08Z https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/99226 2023-07-11 col_2142_5131 col_2142_97958 col_2142_14737 col_2142_27685 com_2142_5130 com_2142_8803 com_2142_10683 com_2142_690 com_2142_397

Ward, Michael P. Benson, Thomas J. Schooley, Robert L. Brawn, Jeffrey D. Whelan, Christopher J. Kelly, Janice Katherine 2018-03-13T15:25:23Z 2018-03-13T15:25:23Z 2020-03-14T09:15:12Z 2017-12-05 2017-12 For many animals, breeding habitat selection is important because of its direct effects on fitness. There is growing evidence that songbirds select habitat using social cues emitted from individuals present in the habitat. Using the Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia), I designed multiple playback experiments to test what types of social cues animals use for habitat selection, what fitness benefits individuals. I first examined whether Yellow Warblers discriminate between conspecific song categories social cues with different information about habitat quality. Second-category song broadcast attracted more Yellow Warblers to breeding habitat than first-category song did, highlighting that yellow warblers prefer to use social cues linked to pairing status (e.g., second-category song) over other social cues available (e.g., first-category song). I also evaluated if Yellow Warblers and heterospecific Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii) assess apparent warbler density (a function of the number of social cues present) when selecting habitat. Yellow Warblers did not make their settlement decisions based on apparent conspecific density, but individuals clustered territories more closely where apparent conspecific density was highest. In contrast heterospecific attraction by Willow Flycatchers did occur, with Willow Flycatchers being most abundant at high apparent Yellow Warbler density treatments. Finally, I tested for reproductive benefits of using social cues for habitat selection to investigate fitness benefit of conspecific attraction (i.e., settling near conspecifics), therefore providing an ultimate explanation for why conspecific attraction occurs. Results from an experiment with Brown-headed Cowbird models (Molothrus ater; a brood parasite that reduces reproductive success) revealed that Yellow Warblers behaved more aggressively towards cowbirds when apparent conspecific density was high. Results from these studies provide insight as to when, where, and in what species to expect social cue use for habitat selection. Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'U of I Access', the embargo will last until 2019-12-01 The student, Janice Kelly, accepted the attached license on 2017-12-04 at 09:13. The student, Janice Kelly, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2017-12-04 at 09:20. This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2017-12-05 at 08:27. DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #11822 on 2018-03-13 at 09:56:46 Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-13T15:25:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 KELLY-DISSERTATION-2017.pdf: 1882135 bytes, checksum: 3ef7f04e2bd44542ca35fbee3cd10f76 (MD5) LICENSE.txt: 4209 bytes, checksum: 50f800e9d2783e2e95e8f34ecbc760ff (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-12-05 Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 105189 Lift date: 2020-03-13T15:25:40Z Reason: Author requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD system Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 105189 Lift date: 2020-03-13T15:28:52Z Reason: Author requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD system U of I Only Restriction Lifted for Item 105189 on 2020-03-14T09:15:12Z. application/pdf http://hdl.handle.net/2142/99226 en Copyright 2017 Janice Kelly conspecific attraction heterospecific attraction habitat selection songbirds social information social cues yellow warbler Testing proximate causes and ultimate explanations of social cue use for habitat selection by songbirds text text Natural Res & Env Sci Natural Res & Env Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Dissertation Ph.D.