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Journal article
Biomechanics of the Peacock's Display: How Feather Structure and Resonance Influence Multimodal Signaling
PloS one, v 11(4), 0152759
27 Apr 2016
PMCID: PMC4847759
PMID: 27119380
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Courtship displays may serve as signals of the quality of motor performance, but little is known about the underlying biomechanics that determines both their signal content and costs. Peacocks (Pavo cristatus) perform a complex, multimodal "train-rattling" display in which they court females by vibrating the iridescent feathers in their elaborate train ornament. Here we study how feather biomechanics influences the performance of this display using a combination of field recordings and laboratory experiments. Using high-speed video, we find that train-rattling peacocks stridulate their tail feathers against the train at 25.6 Hz, on average, generating a broadband, pulsating mechanical sound at that frequency. Laboratory measurements demonstrate that arrays of peacock tail and train feathers have a broad resonant peak in their vibrational spectra at the range of frequencies used for train-rattling during the display, and the motion of feathers is just as expected for feathers shaking near resonance. This indicates that peacocks are able to drive feather vibrations energetically efficiently over a relatively broad range of frequencies, enabling them to modulate the feather vibration frequency of their displays. Using our field data, we show that peacocks with longer trains use slightly higher vibration frequencies on average, even though longer train feathers are heavier and have lower resonant frequencies. Based on these results, we propose hypotheses for future studies of the function and energetics of this display that ask why its dynamic elements might attract and maintain female attention. Finally, we demonstrate how the mechanical structure of the train feathers affects the peacock's visual display by allowing the colorful iridescent eyespots-which strongly influence female mate choice-to remain nearly stationary against a dynamic iridescent background.
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Details
- Title
- Biomechanics of the Peacock's Display: How Feather Structure and Resonance Influence Multimodal Signaling
- Creators
- Roslyn Dakin - University of British ColumbiaOwen McCrossan - Drexel UniversityJames F. Hare - University of ManitobaRobert Montgomerie - Queen's UniversitySuzanne Amador Kane - Haverford College
- Publication Details
- PloS one, v 11(4), 0152759
- Publisher
- Public Library Science
- Number of pages
- 25
- Grant note
- Haverford College RGPIN-2349-08; RGPIN-1542-71 / NSERC; Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC); Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Physics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000374976200012
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85013224914
- Other Identifier
- 991021864310604721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Zoology