DOI: 10.5061/dryad.6hj2p
title: Data from: Experimentally provided conspecific cues boost bird territory density but not breeding performance

description: Decision-making during different life-history stages requires information,
 which is obtained through own or others’ experience and interaction with
 the environment. In birds, song is important for territory defense and
 mate attraction. Although song has evolved to purposely convey
 information, it can be inadvertently exploited by conspecifics.
 Experiments attempting to attract focal species by playing back their song
 are numerous, yet the consequences for reproductive performance remain
 little understood. In 2013 and 2014, settlement, reproduction, and
 extrapair paternity of Phylloscopus sibilatrix were assessed in a
 randomized experiment. We hypothesized that territory number, reproductive
 performance, and extrapair paternity would be higher on song plots (wood
 warbler song playbacks during prebreeding periods) than on control plots
 (no wood warbler song playback). On song plots, 3 times more territories
 were established, settlement occurred faster, and maximum plot occupancy
 was higher compared with control plots. Pairing rate, daily nest survival
 rate, mean clutch size, mean number of nestlings and fledglings, rates of
 extrapair young, nest abandonment, and nest predation did not differ
 between treatments, but fledging success was lower on song plots compared
 with control plots. This study shows the important role social cues can
 play for territory selection of birds, but also exemplifies the necessity
 for postattraction evaluation of reproduction to rule out negative effects
 of artificial attraction. Decreased fledging success on song plots and
 ambiguity about consequences of artificial attraction for distribution and
 settling dynamics of the species give reason to further evaluate whether
 acoustic attraction represents a suitable method for songbird
 conservation.
description: settlement of wood
 warbler in 2013-14this file was used for
 the analysis of settlement of wood warblers on experimental plots in 2013
 and 2014 as well as for the MANOVA of plot type in relation to number of
 trees, number of grass tussocks and number of rodent tracks (column
 descriptions are given as comments in the first cell of each column where
 relevant)settlement exp
 13-14.xlsxdaily nest survival rate
 data 2013-14 during experimentthis file was used for
 the analysis of daily nest survival rate of wood warblers settling in
 response to experimental treatment (description of variables are given as
 comments in each column header if necessary)dnsr exp
 13-14.xlsxclutch size and nr of
 hatchlings during experiment in 2013-14this file was used to
 analyze clutch size and number of hatchlings of wood warblers settling on
 experimental plots in 2013 and 2014 (variable descriptions are given as
 comments in column headers where necessary)egg exp
 13-14.xlsxnr of fledglings during
 experiment 2013-14this file was used to
 analyze number of fledglings of wood warblers settling on experimental
 plots in 2013 and 2014 (variable descriptions are given as comments in
 column headers where necessary)fled exp
 13-14.xlsxpairing
 ratesthis file was used to
 analyze pairing rates of wood warblers settling on experimental plots in
 2013 and 2014 (variable descriptions are given as comments in column
 headers where necessary)area_year
 comparisonsthis file was used to
 compare reproductive performance of wood warblers during the years of the
 experiement and during the three years preceding the experiement (variable
 descriptions are given as comments in column headers where
 necessary)