An experimental analysis of mate choice in the wren: a monomorphic, polygynous passerine

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Abstract
Male wrens (Troglodytes troglodytes) construct nests that are used in their display to females. Previous work has suggested that the number of vacant nests may be used as a mate choice cue. Correlational data from 1992 confirmed that females appeared to be assessing die number of vacant nests on a male's territory and preferentially mating with males with more nests. Male tail lengdi was also correlated widi mating success. In 1993 the numbers of nests on territories was experimentally manipulated, the female setdement patterns confirmed that die number of vacant nests did mediate mate choice. Male tail length failed to explain additional variance in mating success when die variance explained by the experimental manipulation was removed, suggesting diat die original correlation arose because both tail length and mating success were correlated widi a confounding variable. The structure of the vegetation in a male's territory influenced mating success. This appeared to be due to nests surviving better in territories widi dense vegetation. Males on territories in which nests survive well had longer tails. Male-male competition for good territories may explain die observed effects of male morphology on mating success. Furdier analysis of die nest choice data showed diat all nests had an equal chance of being used by a female. The fact diat all nests had an equal probability of being chosen by a female means diat each additional nest built by a male wren results in die same increase in mating success. This suggests diat die benefits to males of nest building increase linearly. The number of nests on a territory will be affected by various factors such as predation pressure, nest building rate, and vegetation structure. The information diat females are getting by assessing such a signal is discussed.

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