scholarly journals Thermodynamic constraints and the evolution of parental provisioning in vertebrates

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 583-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeleine Beekman ◽  
Michael Thompson ◽  
Marko Jusup
Keyword(s):  
Parental Provisioning

Counter culture: Causes, extent and solutions of systematic bias in the analysis of behavioural counts

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel L Pick ◽  
Nyil Khwaja ◽  
Michael A. Spence ◽  
Malika Ihle ◽  
Shinichi Nakagawa
Keyword(s):  
Recent Literature ◽  
Null Model ◽  
Mechanistic Explanation ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Systematic Bias ◽  
Intra Class Correlation ◽  
Counter Culture ◽  
Provisioning Rate ◽  
Parental Provisioning ◽  
Observation Period

We often quantify a behaviour by counting the number of times it occurs within a specific, short observation period. Measuring behaviour in such a way is typically unavoidable but induces error. This error acts to systematically reduce effect sizes, including metrics of particular interest to behavioural and evolutionary ecologists such as R2, repeatability (intra-class correlation, ICC) and heritability. Through introducing a null model, the Poisson process, for modelling the frequency of behaviour, we give a mechanistic explanation of how this problem arises and demonstrate how it makes comparisons between studies and species problematic, because the magnitude of the error depends on how frequently the behaviour has been observed (e.g. as a function of the observation period) as well as how biologically variable the behaviour is. Importantly, the degree of error is predictable and so can be corrected for. Using the example of parental provisioning rate in birds, we assess the applicability of our null model for modelling the frequency of behaviour. We then review recent literature and demonstrate that the error is rarely accounted for in current analyses. We highlight the problems that arise from this and provide solutions. We further discuss the biological implications of deviations from our null model, and highlight the new avenues of research that they may provide. Adopting our recommendations into analyses of behavioural counts will improve the accuracy of estimated effect sizes and allow meaningful comparisons to be made between studies.

scholarly journals Proximate Factors Determining Age and Mass at Fledging in Rhinoceros Auklets (Cerorhinca Monocerata): Intra- and Interyear Variations

The Auk ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 452-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohiro Deguchi ◽  
Akinori Takahashi ◽  
Yutaka Watanuki
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Wing Length ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Major Effect ◽  
Timing Of Breeding ◽  
Hatching Date ◽  
Cerorhinca Monocerata ◽  
Parental Provisioning ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Abstract In alcids, growth rate and hatching date of chicks appear to affect fledging age and mass. Underlying mechanisms are hypothesized to be (1) critical wing length at fledging for postfledging survival, (2) synchronization of fledging to dilute predation risk, and (3) variable parental provisioning according to timing of breeding. To elucidate the effects of growth rate and hatching date on fledging age and mass, and to test those mechanistic hypotheses, we measured chick growth and fledging periods in Rhinoceros Auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) at Teuri Island from 1995 to 2000. The multiple-linear regression analysis showed that intrayear variations of fledging age and mass were explained by growth rate or hatching date in five out of six years. Faster-growing chicks fledged younger and heavier, and earlier-hatched chicks fledged older and heavier. Consequently, no apparent correlation between fledging age and mass was observed in five out of six years. Analysis of interyear variation showed a negative correlation between fledging age and mass, which indicates that growth rates rather than hatching dates had a major effect. Wing length at fledging was independent of growth in mass. More than 80% of chicks fledged when they attained a narrow range of wing length (130–150 mm), presumably because they remained in their nests until they attained the critical wing length. In five out of six years, the chicks did not synchronize timing of fledging relative to timing of hatching. Later-hatched chicks attained lighter peak masses and at younger ages, which may indicate that their parents decreased provisioning rates when the chicks were still young. We suggest that (1) critical wing length at fledging and (2) variable parental provisioning according to timing of breeding could be underlying mechanisms determining these relationships between fledging age and mass.

Altitudinal Variation in Parental Provisioning of Nestling Varied Tits (Poecile varius)

2011 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong Koo Lee ◽  
Ok-Sik Chung ◽  
Woo-Shin Lee
Keyword(s):  
Altitudinal Variation ◽  
Parental Provisioning ◽  
Poecile Varius

Male House Wrens provide more parental provisioning to nests with a brighter artificial egg

2014 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 508-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey A. Walters ◽  
Nathan Olszewski ◽  
Kevin Sobol
Keyword(s):  
House Wrens ◽  
Parental Provisioning ◽  
Male House

scholarly journals Reproductive Success of American Kestrels: The Role of Prey Abundance and Weather

The Condor ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 814-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell D. Dawson ◽  
Gary R. Bortolotti
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Natural Variation ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Prey Abundance ◽  
Offspring Size ◽  
Minimum Threshold ◽  
Provisioning Behavior ◽  
American Kestrels ◽  
Parental Provisioning

Abstract We investigated how natural variation in abundance and availability of the main prey of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius), small mammals, influenced provisioning rates by parents, and offspring size and survival. Provisioning behavior of kestrels was not constrained by the abundance of food in the environment; however, the availability of food, mediated through variation in weather, appeared to significantly influence parental provisioning behavior. Moreover, variation in weather had clear effects on reproductive success because nestlings exposed to inclement weather were smaller and lighter at fledging, and less likely to survive to fledging, compared to nestlings raised during good weather conditions. Prey abundance was not related to offspring size or survival. Our results suggest American Kestrels are limited by the availability, as opposed to abundance, of food on territories. It is likely that during our study, prey abundance was above some minimum threshold necessary to support successful reproduction, and so variation in weather affected reproduction more than variation in prey abundance.

scholarly journals Risk of predation on offspring reduces parental provisioning, but not flight performance or survival across early life stages

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 2147-2157
Author(s):  
James C. Mouton ◽  
Bret W. Tobalske ◽  
Natalie A. Wright ◽  
Thomas E. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Early Life ◽  
Flight Performance ◽  
Life Stages ◽  
Early Life Stages ◽  
Risk Of Predation ◽  
Parental Provisioning

scholarly journals Effects of manipulated levels of predation threat on parental provisioning and nestling begging

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 1123-1135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariane Mutzel ◽  
Anne-Lise Olsen ◽  
Kimberley J Mathot ◽  
Yimen G Araya-Ajoy ◽  
Marion Nicolaus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History Theory ◽  
Parus Major ◽  
Reproductive Value ◽  
Predation Threat ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Provisioning Behavior ◽  
Parental Provisioning ◽  
Nestling Begging ◽  
Predator Model ◽  
Future Work

AbstractParental provisioning behavior is a major determinant of offspring growth and survival, but high provisioning rates might come at the cost of increased predation threat. Parents should thus adjust provisioning activity according to current predation threat levels. Moreover, life-history theory predicts that response to predation threat should be correlated with investment in current reproduction. We experimentally manipulated perceived predation threat in free-living great tits (Parus major) by presenting parents with a nest predator model while monitoring different aspects of provisioning behavior and nestling begging. Experiments were conducted in 2 years differing greatly in ecological conditions, including food availability. We further quantified male territorial aggressiveness and male and female exploratory tendency. Parents adjusted provisioning according to current levels of threat in an apparently adaptive way. They delayed nest visits during periods of elevated perceived predation threat and subsequently compensated for lost feeding opportunities by increasing provisioning once the immediate threat had diminished. Nestling begging increased after elevated levels of predation threat, but returned to baseline levels by the end of the experiment, suggesting that parents had fully compensated for lost feeding opportunities. There was no evidence for a link between male exploration behavior or aggressiveness and provisioning behavior. In contrast, fast-exploring females provisioned at higher rates, but only in the year with poor environmental conditions, which might indicate a greater willingness to invest in current reproduction in general. Future work should assess whether these personality-related differences in delivery rates under harsher conditions came at a cost of reduced residual reproductive value.

Parental provisioning and nestling mortality in house sparrows

2009 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 677-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas W. Mock ◽  
P.L. Schwagmeyer ◽  
Matthew B. Dugas
Keyword(s):  
House Sparrows ◽  
Parental Provisioning ◽  
Nestling Mortality
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