Examination of Parental Investment in Nest Defence in a Tropical Songbird, the Pied Bush Chat (Saxicola Caprata)

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-23
Author(s):  
Navjeevan Dadwal ◽  
Dinesh Bhatt
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Parental Investment ◽  
Detailed Account ◽  
Nest Defence ◽  
Alarm Calls ◽  
Nest Protection ◽  
Himalayan Foothills ◽  
Defence Behaviour ◽  
Parental Aggression

Most animals that demonstrate parental care are also engaged in such behaviour that increases their offspring chance of survival when confronted by a predator. The present study is equipped with a detailed account of the parental investment in nest defence behaviour of a tropic zone (Haridwar, Himalayan foothills, India) inhabiting species, the Pied Bush Chat ( Saxicola caprata) (PBC). During simulated nest defence treatments, we recorded two distinct types of calls which were used during the display of parental aggression by PBCs, threat calls and alarm calls. Significant differences were noted for the usage of the threat calls over the alarm calls during nest defence. For the most part males were found to be more aggressive than females (on the basis of their call rates) during the simulated attacks of the decoy predator. Results also indicated that parental aggression was more inclined towards nestlings than that of the eggs. The results were consistent with the hypothesis that the nest protection intensity increases with the progression of the nesting cycle.

Are parental care trade-offs in shorebirds driven by parental investment or sexual selection?

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 672-682 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. A. OLSON ◽  
T. J. WEBB ◽  
R. P. FRECKLETON ◽  
T. SZÉKELY
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Selection ◽  
Parental Care ◽  
Parental Investment ◽  
Trade Offs

Geographic variation in nest-defence behaviour of the Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis

Ibis ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 131 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
RICHARD L. KNIGHT ◽  
DAVID E. ANDERSEN ◽  
MARC J. BECHARD ◽  
N. VERNE MARR
Keyword(s):  
Geographic Variation ◽  
Nest Defence ◽  
Buteo Jamaicensis ◽  
Defence Behaviour

Avian nest defence behaviour: assessment in relation to predator distance and type, and nest height

2005 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Kleindorfer ◽  
Birgit Fessl ◽  
Herbert Hoi
Keyword(s):  
Nest Defence ◽  
Defence Behaviour ◽  
Nest Height ◽  
Avian Nest

Tests of two functions of alarm calls given by yellow warblers during nest defence

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (10) ◽  
pp. 1685-1690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon A Gill ◽  
Spencer G Sealy
Keyword(s):  
Molothrus Ater ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Nest Defence ◽  
Alarm Calls ◽  
Potential Danger ◽  
Dendroica Petechia ◽  
Yellow Warblers ◽  
Avian Nest ◽  
Nest Predators

During nest defence, yellow warblers (Dendroica petechia) give "seet" and "chip" calls. Seet calls are given preferentially toward brood parasitic brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) during the yellow warblers' egg-laying period, whereas chip calls are given toward mammalian and avian nest predators throughout the nesting period. In this study, we investigated two possible functions of seet and chip calls during nest defence by playing alarm calls to nesting yellow warblers. We tested whether nest owners give seet and chip calls during defence to alert their offspring and their mates about nest threats and, in the latter case, whether the alarm calls differ in function depending on nesting stage. In response to playbacks, nestlings remained inactive for a significantly longer period when chip calls were played than when seet calls were played. Female yellow warblers returned to their nesting areas more quickly when seet calls were played than when chip calls were played, but pairs were equally likely to return to the nesting area in response to both call types. These findings suggests that both seet and chip calls alert mates but that only chip calls function to alert nestlings of potential danger.

scholarly journals Simultaneous GPS-tracking of parents reveals a similar parental investment within pairs, but no immediate co-adjustment on a trip-to-trip basis

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marwa M. Kavelaars ◽  
Jan M. Baert ◽  
Jolien Van Malderen ◽  
Eric W. M. Stienen ◽  
Judy Shamoun-Baranes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Parental Investment ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Gps Tracking ◽  
Nest Attendance ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Foraging Effort ◽  
Levels Of Care ◽  
Larus Fuscus ◽  
Underlying Processes

Abstract Background Parental care benefits the offspring, but comes at a cost for each parent, which in biparental species gives rise to a conflict between partners regarding the within-pair distribution of care. Pair members could avoid exploitation by efficiently keeping track of each other’s efforts and coordinating their efforts. Parents may, therefore, space their presence at the nest, which could also allow for permanent protection of the offspring. Additionally, they may respond to their partner’s previous investment by co-adjusting their efforts on a trip-to-trip basis, resulting in overall similar parental activities within pairs. Methods We investigated the coordination of parental care measured as nest attendance and foraging effort in the Lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus), a species with long nest bouts that performs extended foraging trips out of sight of their partner. This was achieved by GPS-tracking both pair members simultaneously during the entire chick rearing period. Results We found that the timing of foraging trips (and hence nest attendance) was coordinated within gull pairs, as individuals left the colony only after their partner had returned. Parents did not match their partner’s investment by actively co-adjusting their foraging efforts on a trip-by-trip basis. Yet, pair members were similar in their temporal and energetic investments during chick rearing. Conclusion Balanced investment levels over a longer time frame suggest that a coordination of effort may not require permanent co-adjustment of the levels of care on a trip-to-trip basis, but may instead rather take place at an earlier stage in the reproductive attempt, or over integrated longer time intervals. Identifying the drivers and underlying processes of coordination will be one of the next necessary steps to fully understand parental cooperation in long-lived species.

scholarly journals Incubation and nest-defence behaviour of Streaky-breasted Flufftail in Zambia

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-85
Author(s):  
Gabriel A Jamie ◽  
Moya Collins ◽  
Lazaro Hamusikili
Keyword(s):  
Nest Defence ◽  
Defence Behaviour
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