10.5061/DRYAD.NZS7H44T3
Gotanda, Kiyoko
0000-0002-3666-0700
University of Cambridge
Data from: Darwin’s small and medium ground finches might have taste
preferences, but not for human foods
Dryad
dataset
2021
FOS: Biological sciences
2022-01-05T00:00:00Z
2022-01-05T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.07.17.452789
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.211198
441164 bytes
4
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Urbanization is rapidly changing ecological niches. On the inhabited
Galapagos Islands, Darwin’s finches consume human-introduced foods
preferentially; however, it remains unclear why. Here we presented pastry
with flavour profiles typical of human foods (oily, salty, sweet) to small
ground finches (Geospiza fuliginosa) and medium ground finches (Geospiza
fortis) to test if latent taste preferences might drive selection of human
foods. If human-food flavours were consumed more than a neutral or bitter
control only at sites with human foods, then we predicted tastes were
acquired after urbanization; however, if no site-differences were found
then this would indicate latent taste preferences. Contrary to both
predictions, we found little evidence that human-food flavours were
preferred compared to control flavours at any site. Instead, finches
showed a weak aversion to oily foods, but only at remote (no human foods
present) sites. This was further supported by behavioural responses, with
beak wiping occurring more often at remote sites after finches tasted
flavours associated with human foods. Our results suggest, therefore, that
while Darwin’s finches exposed to human foods might have acquired a
tolerance human food flavours, latent taste preferences are unlikely to
have played a major role in their dietary response to increased
urbanization.