The effect of variability in the food supply on the daily singing routines of European robins: A test of a stochastic dynamic programming model
Article Abstract:
The daily singing routine of songbirds features a large dawn chorus and a small dusk chorus. Many hypotheses have been put forward to account for the dawn chorus but few can account for the variations in song throughout the day. One hypothesis is based on a stochastic dynamic programming (SDP) model, using the size of the bird's fat reserves as an indication of energy balance. Free living European robins, Erithacus rubecula, were studied using food supplementation which appeared to have had a large effect on their energy budgets. The results support the SDP model prediction that robins sing more at dawn when food supplementation is constant, and less at dawn when supplementation is variable.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 1999
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Two tests of a stochastic dynamic programming model of daily singing routines in birds
Article Abstract:
Bird song varies greatly at different times of the day and night and many hypotheses have been put forward to account for the 'dawn chorus', although few can account for the variations over a whole day. An hypothesis, based on a stochastic dynamic programming (SDP) model, may offer a more general explanation. This relates the size of a bird's fat reserves with relative costs and benefits of feeding and singing at various times of the day. This was tested Erithacus rubecula, European robins, and the results suggest that some of the SDP processes do have measurable effects on the song output of wild birds.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 1999
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Strategic diel regulation of body mass in European robins
Article Abstract:
Research is presented describing the use of stochastic dynamic programming to model foraging routines in the European robin, Erithacus rubecula. Diurnal changes in body mass are monitored as reliable estimates of fat reserves.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 2000
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