title: The role of a generalized ultraviolet cue for blackbird food selection.
abstract: Birds utilize ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths for plumage signaling and sexual selection. Ultraviolet cues may also be used for the process of avian food selection. The aim of our study was to investigate whether a UV cue and a postingestive repellent can be used to condition food avoidance in red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus). We found that birds conditioned with an UV-absorbent, postingestive repellent subsequently avoided UV-absorbent food. Thus, the UV-absorbent cue (coupled with 0-20% of the conditioned repellent concentration) was used to maintain avoidance for up to 18 days post-conditioning. Similarly, birds conditioned with the UV-absorbent, postingestive repellent subsequently avoided UV-reflective food. Thus, conditioned avoidance of an UV-absorbent cue can be generalized to an unconditioned, UV-reflective cue for nutrient selection and toxin avoidance. These findings support the hypothesized function of UV vision for avian food selection, the implications of which remain to be explored for the sensory and behavioral ecology within agronomic and natural environments.
authors.affiliation: USDA/APHIS/WS/National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521-2154, United States. Scott.J.Werner@aphis.usda.gov
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: Shelagh K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tupper
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Pettit
authors.forename: Jeremy W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Linz
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D003463:Cues; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays