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Article
Open AccessIs syllable repetitions a song parameter important for male-male interactions in Eurasian reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)?
Song complexity has been identified as one song characteristic important in female choice, whereas its role in male-male interactions is less clear and not much is known which song characteristics are specific...
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Article
Relationships of wingtip shape, song-flight and mating success in male black-headed buntings Emberiza melanocephala
Wing design in birds is the result of different and potentially opposing natural selection pressures, such as those related to migration, predator avoidance and habitat type. Sexual selection for flight perfor...
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Article
Slow song syllable rates provoke stronger male territorial responses in Eurasian Reed Warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
In birds, male song is mainly driven by sexual selection, whereby several song characteristics have been demonstrated to be important. In this context, the number of syllables produced per time unit (syllable ...
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Article
Open AccessInfluence of different weather aspects on breeding performance, food supply and nest-space use in hoopoe offspring
In this study, we investigated the influence of different weather aspects on breeding performance, food supply and nest-space use in hoopoe offspring (Upupa epops). Camera recordings of 88 nests were used to exam...
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Article
Open AccessFlock-dependent exploitation of a limited resource in House Sparrow
The performances of different social groups can depend on various characteristics, such as familiarity among their members or the presence of individuals with specific traits. However, it has rarely been inves...
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Article
Behavioural response of Eurasian Blackcaps to acoustically simulated conspecific and heterospecific male intruders
Interspecific territoriality can frequently be observed in the animal kingdom, including birds. One important factor driving the degree of interspecific territoriality is competition for resources. Other influ...
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Article
Open AccessInsulin-like growth factor 1 is related to the expression of plumage traits in a passerine species
Avian plumage colors and ornaments are excellent models to study the endocrine mechanisms linking sexually selected traits and individual parameters of quality and condition. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-...
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Article
Open AccessHouse sparrows’ (Passer domesticus) behaviour in a novel environment is modulated by social context and familiarity in a sex-specific manner
Exploratory behaviour is one of the best-investigated behavioural traits. However, little is known about how differences in familiarity, i.e. in the knowledge and previous experience with a companion can influ...
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Article
Song structure and variability in the Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala)
Fighting and flirting are the main evolutionary forces behind the development of bird song and both contribute to different song characteristics. By comparison of vocalisations throughout bird taxa, we can hel...
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Article
The effect of the ectoparasite Carnus hemapterus on immune defence, condition, and health of nestling European Bee-eaters
One way that parasites influence host survival and fitness is by competing with their hosts for resources that would otherwise be used for growth and immune system development. Thus resource availability, infl...
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Article
Open AccessSexual and non-sexual social preferences in male and female white-eyed bulbuls
While the function of ornaments shaped by sexual selection is to attract mates or drive off rivals, these signals may also evolve through social selection, in which the social context affects the fitness of si...
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Article
Open AccessThe effect of social connections on the discovery of multiple hidden food patches in a bird species
Social foraging is thought to provide the possibility of information transmission between individuals, but this advantage has been proved only in a handful of species and contexts. We investigated how social c...
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Article
Housekee** by lodgers: the importance of bird nest fauna on offspring condition
Bird nests are designed to contain and protect parents, eggs and nestlings and to facilitate optimal safety and climatic conditions from egg-laying to fledging offspring. Bird nests also provide optimal condit...
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Article
Open AccessBMC Zoology – a home for all zoological research in the BMC series
This editorial accompanies the launch of BMC Zoology, a new open access, peer-reviewed journal within the BMC series that considers manuscripts on all aspects of zoology. BMC Zoology will increase and disseminate...
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Open AccessFemale and male Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) sing in response to experimental predator exposition
Female song is recognized to serve a similar function as male song and underlies sexual selection processes; yet certain patterns of the expression of female singing behaviour are not in line with traditional ...
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Article
Open AccessExperimental evidence for beneficial effects of projected climate change on hibernating amphibians
Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrates today, experiencing worldwide declines. In recent years considerable effort was invested in exposing the causes of these declines. Climate change has been identif...
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Variation in Chemical Defense Among Natural Populations of Common Toad, Bufo bufo, Tadpoles: the Role of Environmental Factors
Defensive toxins are widespread in nature, yet we know little about how various environmental factors shape the evolution of chemical defense, especially in vertebrates. In this study we investigated the natur...
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Article
Reproductive interference between Rana dalmatina and Rana temporaria affects reproductive success in natural populations
Experimental evidence suggests that reproductive interference between heterospecifics can seriously affect individual fitness; support from field studies for such an effect has, however, remained scarce. We st...
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Article
Vegetation type variation in marsh habitats: does it affect nest site selection, reproductive success, and maternal investment in Reed Warblers?
Habitat choice may have an important impact on survival and fitness of an individual. Besides an individual’s intrinsic features, such as resource-holding potential, experience, age, and habitat characteristic...
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Article
Open AccessHost response to cuckoo song is predicted by the future risk of brood parasitism
Risk assessment occurs over different temporal and spatial scales and is selected for when individuals show an adaptive response to a threat. Here, we test if birds respond to the threat of brood parasitism us...
