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The Effect of Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium Gnoma ) False Eyespots on Avian Mobbing

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The Effect of Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium Gnoma ) False Eyespots on Avian Mobbing University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2000 The effect of northern pygmy-owl (Glaucidium gnoma ) false eyespots on avian mobbing Caroline Deppe The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Deppe, Caroline, "The effect of northern pygmy-owl (Glaucidium gnoma ) false eyespots on avian mobbing" (2000). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 6792. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/6792 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Maureen and Mike MANSFIELD LIBRARY Hie University ofJVTONTA jN'A Permission is granted by the author to reproduce this material in its entirety, provided that this material is used for scholarly purposes and is properly cited in published works and reports. ** Please check "'Yes” or and provide sigjiaiurc Yes, I grant permission No, I do not grant permission Authofs Signature (^âÀXlLu^ ^ Date ______________ Any copying for commercial purposes or financial gain may be undertaken only with the author's explicit consent. THE EFFECT OF NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL (GLAUCIDIUM GNOMA) FALSE EYESPOTS ON AVIAN MOBBING by Caroline Deppe B.A. Cornell University, 1993 Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science The University of Montana 2000 Approved by: Chairperson Dean, Graduate School 3o-j2oco Date UMI Number: EP37593 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMT Oissartation Publishing UMI EP37593 Published by ProQuest LLC (2013). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuest ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 Deppe, Caroline E., M.S., May 2000 Environmental Studies The Effect of Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium gnoma) False Eyespots on Avian Mobbing (33 pp.) Committee Chair: Len Broberg I evaluated the effect of Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium gnoma) eyespots on avian mobbing. Using wooden replicates of Northern Pygmy-Owls, with and without eyespots on the nape, in paired trials, I assessed and quantified the mobbing behaviors of small forest birds. Behaviors were recorded with respect to mobbing direction variables (perching, passing, and close passing), as well as mobbing intensity variables (duration, number of species, and number of individuals). Eyespots had a significant effect on the location of the most proximal mobbing behaviors (close passing flights, made within 0.5 meters of the model), which shifted away from the eyespots and towards the true eyes. No other significant effects were detected. Thus, at least one mobbing behavior is affected by the presence of pygmy-owl eyespots. 11 Table of Contents Title Pages List of Table and Figures iv Introduction 1-4 Methods 4-10 Results 10-13 Discussion 14-16 Conclusion 17 Tables 18-19 Figures 20-29 Acknowledgements 30 Literature Cited 31-33 111 Table and Figures Tables pagg, I. Summary of mobbing observations I g II. Species response Figures One. Northern Pygmy-owl eyespot pattern 20 Two.Northern Pygmy-owl models 21 Three. Basic set-up 22 Four. Perching, passing, and close passing location 23 by model for all species Five. Perching, passing, and close passing locations 24 by model and species Six. Relationship between perching location and total perching by model 25 Seven.Relationship between passing location and 26 total passing by model Eight. Relationship between close passing location and 27 total close passing by model Nine. Duration of mobbing by model, before and after 28 accounting for total individuals Ten. Number of species and individuals by model 29 IV Introduction Eyespots, a conspicuous coloration pattern, have evolved in an array of taxa, including fish, insects, mammals, and birds (Cott 1944; Edmunds 1974). The broad taxonomic distribution of eyespots, as well as their potential to influence intra- and interspecific interactions, suggests that eyespots are adaptive. The function of eyespots appears to vary across taxa (Edmunds 1974). Eyespots have been found to function in sexual selection (Petrie et al. 1991) and in reducing risk of predation (Blest 1957). Eyespots also can induce avoidance behavior in prey (Paxton et al. 1994). For instance, Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata), when inspecting fish predator models vdth a caudal ocellus, were found to spend significantly less time near the tail, ’with the possible consequence that inspections yield ambiguous information about the predator and leave the prey fish more vulnerable to attack (Paxton et al. 1994). False eyespots occur in many pygmy-owls (Glaucidium)—a few Eurasian and African pygmy-owls, as well as all American pygmy-owls (Del Hoyo et al. 1999) (Fig. 1). The function of the eyespots is unknown (Wickler 1968). The eyespots are unlikely to aid the pygmy-owls in sexual selection because both sexes have them. A more common explanation is that they deter attacks from behind by potential predators (Johnsgard 1988). This explanation has not been well-studied. The one study of pygmy-owl eyespots in predation was equivocal, detecting no effect of eyespots in response to predators (Scherzinger 1971). However, it is extremely plausible—pygmy-owls are among the smallest avian predators—and merits further study. Another (not mutually exclusive) possible function of eyespots is that they function to deter attacks from behind by mobbing birds (Holt & Petersen 2000). Bent (1938) suggested that the two faces might confuse potential prey about which way the owl is looking. Eyespots could also have yet another function and only incidental effects on pygmy-owl predators and/or mobbers, or no function whatsoever. In this study, I examined whether eyespots affected avian mobbing, using the Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium gnoma) as my study species. According to Curio (1978), avian mobbing is initiated by a single individual, which is joined by conspecifics and/or members of other species. Birds assemble around a stationary or moving predator; change locations frequently; make (mostly) stereotyped wing and/or tail movements; and emit loud calls, usually with a broad frequency spectrum and transient (Curio 1978). Mobbing may merge into attacks on the predator (Hartley 1950; Altmann 1956; Kruuk 1964; Gramza 1967; Curio 1978; Shedd 1982) and may even result in predator injury or mortality (Furrer 1975 & Mienis 1985, cited in Flasskamp 1994). Conversely, predators have often been reported to attack their mobbers (Sordahl 1990). Predators have even been observed to provoke mobbing by making alarm notes and then hunt the mobbers they attracted (Smith 1969), or to use prolonged mobbing calls to find nests (McLean et al. 1986). Mobbing could pose energetic costs for the Northern Pgymy-Owl. A diurnal predator that feeds on a high percentage (36%) of birds (Holt & Leroux 1996), the pygmy-owl is frequently mobbed (Holt et al. 1990) by a wide variety of species. Many of the species are close in size to the pygmy-owl, and a few are even larger (Holt & Petersen 2000). Some, such as American Robins (Turdus migratorius) and swallows (Hirundinidae) have been observed to attack the pygmy-owl (pers. obs). It is possible that the Northern Pygmy-Owl’s eyespots function to deter rear attacks by mobbers. Mobbing could also pose energetic benefits for the Northern Pygmy-Owl. Perhaps pygmy-owls hunt during mobbing bouts—after all, the species that mob the Northern Pygmy-Owl are generally assumed to be potential prey species (Holt & Petersen 2000). Pygmy-owls have not been observed to provoke mobbing with calls or use mobbing vocalizations to find nests, but they have, on one occasion, been observed to hunt during mobbing bouts—one pygmy-owl was observed to catch mobbing hummingbirds (Ruschi 1982, cited in Curio 1987). Perhaps Northern Pygmy-owl eyespots facilitate prey capture by redirecting mobbers into the dangerous anterior region of their predator. To test whether pygmy-owl eyespots would affect mobbing behavior, I evaluated the response of small forest birds to model owls with and without eyespots. My first prediction was that eyespots would affect the direction of mobbing by shifting the perching, passing, or close passing location of mobbers towards or away from the eyespots. If mobbers shifted away from the eyespots to the front of the true eyes, the pygmy-owl would be able to monitor its mobbers, possibly either for reasons of defense or predation. My second prediction was that eyespots would affect the intensity of mobbing bouts by changing the duration of mobbing, number of species, and number of individuals. A more intense bout (longer duration and more mobbers) might facilitate prey capture; a less intense bout might reduce the potential for attacks on the predator. Methods Observations From April-June 1999, in Missoula County, Montana, I monitored two Northern Pygmy- Owl nest sites (a total of 50 hours of nest observations). I assessed whether pygmy-owl mobbers, length of mobbing bouts, and behaviors of mobbers reflected what I saw in the field trials. I also looked at the pygmy-owl’s response to mobbing and noted when the eyespots seemed most and least visible. Study Areas Experiments were conducted five days a week from 0630 to 1030, in June and July 1999 in Missoula County, Montana.
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