Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/7970
Title: Cooperative provisioning dynamics: fathers and unrelated helpers show similar responses to manipulations of begging
Contributor(s): McDonald, Paul  (author)orcid ; Kazem, AJN (author); Wright, Jonathan (author)
Publication Date: 2009
DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.10.009
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/7970
Abstract: Cooperative provisioning dynamics between members of a pair in biparental systems has received a lot of attention, both empirically and theoretically. The dynamics of provisioning in cooperatively breeding groups, however, remains poorly understood. Such groups often include unrelated helpers that may have very different provisioning rules from related helpers and parents, since they accrue different types of fitness benefits from helping. The bell miner, 'Manorina melanophrys', provides an ideal system in which to investigate cooperative provisioning, because substantial levels of care are provided by a number of unrelated helpers per nest. We experimentally increased brood demand via targeted begging playbacks during nest visits of either breeding males or unrelated male helpers. Both types of males used similar behavioural investment rules, significantly increasing food delivery rate during playback relative to control periods. Surprisingly, all other provisioners also increased their visit rates during playbacks, although to a lesser extent. This could only have been in response to the increase in visits by the target individuals, suggesting an additional indirect mechanism by which individuals in this cooperative setting assess brood demand. The resultant overall increase in food delivery during the playback periods caused nestlings to show the expected reduction in their own begging and an increase in body mass gain. It is therefore interesting how similar the evolved provisioning responses are for all types of group member, irrespective of whether such benefits of investment in the brood are derived via kin selection (fathers) or some future direct increase in fitness (helpers).
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Animal Behaviour, 77(2), p. 369-376
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Place of Publication: United Kingdom
ISSN: 1095-8282
0003-3472
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 060201 Behavioural Ecology
060304 Ethology and Sociobiology
060801 Animal Behaviour
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article

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