Birds display a wide variety of courtship behaviors. Which behavior is also a territorial behavior? (1 point)
O creating a bower (arch) with interesting objects and defending it from rival males
O singing a particular song to help potential mates hear them
O flashing feathers to show their health and grooming abilities
O dancing and calling on a lek (communal ground) with other males, competing for female attention
Creating a bower (arch) with interesting objects and defending it from rival males.
The behavior that is also a territorial behavior among birds is creating a bower (arch) with interesting objects and defending it from rival males.
To determine which behavior is both a courtship behavior and a territorial behavior, we can look at the options provided and analyze each one.
Option 1: Creating a bower (arch) with interesting objects and defending it from rival males. This behavior is associated with certain bird species, particularly the bowerbirds. Bowerbirds create elaborate structures called bowers using various objects like flowers, leaves, and feathers. They use these bowers to attract females, but also defend them from rival males. This behavior is both a courtship behavior as it helps attract potential mates and a territorial behavior as the male birds defend their bowers from other males.
Option 2: Singing a particular song to help potential mates hear them. This behavior is a common courtship behavior observed in many bird species. Male birds often sing melodious songs to attract females and establish their reproductive fitness. However, this behavior is not directly associated with territory defense.
Option 3: Flashing feathers to show their health and grooming abilities. Some bird species display their feathers in a flashy manner as a part of their courtship behavior. By displaying healthy and well-groomed feathers, males aim to attract females. However, this behavior does not involve territorial defense.
Option 4: Dancing and calling on a lek (communal ground) with other males, competing for female attention. Lekking is a unique mating system observed in several bird species, such as grouse and sage-grouse. During lekking, several males gather at a communal ground and display their courtship behaviors, including dancing and calling. Females visit these communal grounds to select mates. Although this behavior involves competition for female attention, it does not involve territorial defense.
Based on the information provided, the behavior that is both a courtship behavior and a territorial behavior is Option 1: Creating a bower (arch) with interesting objects and defending it from rival males.