SEXUAL RESPONSIVENESS OF FEMALE CANARIES TO SONG BOUT ORGANIZATION

Recent experiments demonstrated that in oscine species, Ij Some specia l sequences of multipartite songs convey more sexual information than others and 2) Stimulus change or switching is often associated with in tersexual interactions. We looked for an influence of these two song c ues in common domesticated canaries. Female canaries were tested for t heir sexual copulation solicitation display (CSD) in response to the p laybacks of different strings of sang sequences from males of the same breed. In order to induce habituation, three monotonous strings were created: A.A.A.A.A.A; B.B.B.B.B.B and C.C.C.C.C.C. (repetition of the same song sequence). In order to manage disrupt of habituation by stim ulus changes, four types of strings including two types of song sequen ces were created: B.B.B.A.A.A., A.A.A.B.B.B., C.C.C.B.B.B. and B.B.B.C .C.C. We found that a monotonous repetition of the same sequence leads to habituation when the sexual potency of the sequence is high (seque nces A and B) and that song sequences may greatly differ in eliciting sexual displays (A>B>C). Subsequent stimulus change may elicit an imme diate response recovery. But such a disrupt of habituation occurs only if a prefered sequence follows a non prefered one. We discuss promine nt parameters that may have influenced female sensitivity and responsi veness to string organization in domesticated canaries.