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Experimental evidence for flexibility in provisioning behavior in a cooperatively breeding bird
María Espinosa-Colín1, Carlos de la Cruz1, Jorge S Gutiérrez1,2
1Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz 06006, Spain.
Summary
Parental care in birds is flexible. Breeders and helpers adjust feeding based on chick age, but breeders show more adaptability than helpers, supporting the flexible-investment hypothesis.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Ornithology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- The flexible-investment hypothesis suggests resource allocation aligns with offspring needs.
- Evidence supports this in biparental care, but data is scarce in cooperative breeding systems.
- Cooperative breeders involve non-breeding helpers in offspring rearing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if breeders and helpers adjust parental care duration and intensity based on offspring developmental stage in Iberian magpies (Cyanopica cooki).
- To quantify caregiver responses to brood age manipulation in a cooperative breeding context.
Main Methods:
- Cross-fostering of Iberian magpie chicks of varying ages between nests.
- Experimental manipulation of brood age (shortening or prolonging the nestling period).
- Monitoring of parental care duration and provisioning rates by breeders and helpers (all males).
Main Results:
- Both breeders and helpers adjusted nestling care duration based on foster chick age.
- Provisioning rates changed inversely with experimental alterations to the care period.
- Female breeders exhibited greater flexibility in provisioning responses compared to helpers.
Conclusions:
- Results support the flexible-investment hypothesis in cooperative breeding systems.
- Helpers demonstrate less flexible feeding responses than breeders.
- Helping behavior may serve as a signal for direct benefits via reciprocity.
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