What is the Hypothesized Benefit of Conspecific Cueing in American

Question

What is the hypothesized benefit of conspecific cueing in American redstarts?
A) A reduction in competition
B) A reduction in predation risk
C) A reduction in the time to find a high-quality habitat
D) A reduction in the energetic costs of parental care
E) An increase in immune system function

Accepted Answer

Conspecific cueing refers to the phenomenon where individuals of a species use the presence or actions of their conspecifics (members of the same species) to make decisions about their environment. For American redstarts, it is hypothesized that conspecific cueing helps them find high-quality habitats more efficiently. By observing where other redstarts settle, individuals can infer the quality of those areas, reducing the time and energy spent searching for suitable habitats themselves.