SINGING AND MATING SUCCESS IN WATER PIPITS - ONE SPECIFIC SONG ELEMENT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE

Positive correlations between male vocalization and reproductive succe ss have been documented for many animal species. They are usually base d on differences between males in vocalization rate, duration or reper toire size. Here, we present probably the first field study linking di fferences in territorial overlap and mating status to differences in a single, clearly definable song element, the 'Snarr'. Male water pipit s, Anthus spinoletta, with high Snarr scores were mated more often tha n males with low scores, and their territories overlapped less with th ose of neighbours. Although correlating positively with male body cond ition, the frequency of the Snarr did not reflect male age, territory size, territory quality in terms of food and paternal performance. The refore, it seems unlikely that the higher mating success of males with high Snarr scores results from active female choice of high-quality m ales; rather, high Snarr scores seem to signal dominance in malts. Lik ely mechanisms that produce the link between vocalization and mating s uccess, and potential costs that prevent some males from producing the Snarr at a higher rate, are discussed. (C) 1998 The Association for t he Study of Animal Behaviour.