Interspecific vocal discrimination in Neotropical wrens: responses to congeneric signals in sympatry and allopatry

摘要: When animals defend resources using territorial signals, they must distinguish between competitors and noncompetitors. Conspecific routinely compete for regularly engage in aggressive signalling exchanges. Heterospecific may also resources, therefore direct their aggression towards heterospecific as well conspecific rivals. In both cases, should benefit by discriminating nonthreatening individuals versus threatening competitors. Experience play an important role competitor discrimination; living sympatry with gain experience rivals, but allopatry will not. We investigated whether influences species discrimination two congeneric Neotropical wrens (rufous-and-white wrens, Thryophilus rufalbus, banded pleurostictus) that live some parts of range other range. simulated the presence male conspecific, control intruders territories rufous-and-white at sites where are sympatric or allopatric wrens. If is influenced experience, we predicted would always respond strongly to songs, sympatry, more than songs. Conversely, that, allopatry, show similarly low responses congener contrast our predictions, found discriminated animals, this response did not differ suggesting does influence interspecific species. By contrasting populations, can better understand effect on insight into evolution signals.