Student number: 1004563643
Week: 2
Day: 1
Time: 1:30-4:30
Room number: RW 104
TA: Lisa Erdle
Species number: #17
Do the colour of the cheeks patches of Probosciger atterimus affect its ability to be chosen as a mate?
Introduction:
A distinctive feature in the Probosciger atterimus (Palm Cockatoo) are their red cheek patches. This trait is found in both males and females and hence is not a product of sexual dimorphism. Palm Cockatoos are weak seasonal breeders having infrequent and unsuccessful breeding attempts. Male Cockatoos perform courtship displays at the entrance of the hollow. Males always had their cheeks flushed to bright red during this period. Females if not interested in courting would cover their cheek patches with their feathers …show more content…
Due to this loss of habitat Palm Cockatoos would have to device different ways to make up for their low reproductive success (Murphy, 2003). Nest usurpation, male territorial displays at the nest and evidence of interference competition by members of the same species suggests a strong competition for nest sites depending on hollow quality and nest platform (Murphy, 2003). This shows ability to find a more durable nest is an important courtship ritual and displays such as flushing of red cheek patches and beating of the hollow might increase ability of male Palm Cockatoo to be chosen as a …show more content…
Then the male cockatoos will be divided into 2 groups. One group will have their cheeks painted red and another have their cheeks painted yellow. These 2 groups of males will be put into the same population with fewer females and then observed. The number of copulations received by the male Cockatoos will be monitored. The cheeks of all the male Cockatoos are painted to introduce uniformity and unscented paint will be used to reduce possibility of female Cockatoos detecting presence of paint. Hence the only difference in the 3 groups of male Cockatoos will be the colour of their cheek patches. The red cheek patches act as a control as they are the natural colour of the cheek patches of the Palm Cockatoo.
Predictions:
Null hypothesis- Colour of cheek patches do not affect the ability of Palm Cockatoo to be chosen as a mate. There are 2 predictions- The number of copulations received by all 3 groups of males are the same. Thus null hypothesis is not rejected. The number of copulations received by the red cheeked Cockatoos are higher than those of the other two groups of males. The null hypothesis is then rejected. The number of copulations received by the yellow cheeked Cockatoos are higher than those of the other two groups of males. The null hypothesis is then rejected.
Week: 2
Day: 1
Time: 1:30-4:30
Room number: RW 104
TA: Lisa Erdle
Species number: #17
Do the colour of the cheeks patches of Probosciger atterimus affect its ability to be chosen as a mate?
Introduction:
A distinctive feature in the Probosciger atterimus (Palm Cockatoo) are their red cheek patches. This trait is found in both males and females and hence is not a product of sexual dimorphism. Palm Cockatoos are weak seasonal breeders having infrequent and unsuccessful breeding attempts. Male Cockatoos perform courtship displays at the entrance of the hollow. Males always had their cheeks flushed to bright red during this period. Females if not interested in courting would cover their cheek patches with their feathers …show more content…
Due to this loss of habitat Palm Cockatoos would have to device different ways to make up for their low reproductive success (Murphy, 2003). Nest usurpation, male territorial displays at the nest and evidence of interference competition by members of the same species suggests a strong competition for nest sites depending on hollow quality and nest platform (Murphy, 2003). This shows ability to find a more durable nest is an important courtship ritual and displays such as flushing of red cheek patches and beating of the hollow might increase ability of male Palm Cockatoo to be chosen as a …show more content…
Then the male cockatoos will be divided into 2 groups. One group will have their cheeks painted red and another have their cheeks painted yellow. These 2 groups of males will be put into the same population with fewer females and then observed. The number of copulations received by the male Cockatoos will be monitored. The cheeks of all the male Cockatoos are painted to introduce uniformity and unscented paint will be used to reduce possibility of female Cockatoos detecting presence of paint. Hence the only difference in the 3 groups of male Cockatoos will be the colour of their cheek patches. The red cheek patches act as a control as they are the natural colour of the cheek patches of the Palm Cockatoo.
Predictions:
Null hypothesis- Colour of cheek patches do not affect the ability of Palm Cockatoo to be chosen as a mate. There are 2 predictions- The number of copulations received by all 3 groups of males are the same. Thus null hypothesis is not rejected. The number of copulations received by the red cheeked Cockatoos are higher than those of the other two groups of males. The null hypothesis is then rejected. The number of copulations received by the yellow cheeked Cockatoos are higher than those of the other two groups of males. The null hypothesis is then rejected.