Behavioral Ecology Vol. 14 No. 4: 457-462
© 2003 International Society for Behavioral Ecology
Brood size, sibling competition, and the cost of begging in great tits (Parus major)
Division of Evolutionary Ecology, University of Bern, Baltzerstr. 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
Address correspondence to S. Neuenschwander. E-mail: neuenschwander{at}zoo.unibe.ch.
Evolutionary theory of parent-offspring conflict explains begging displays of nestling birds as selfish attempts to influence parental food allocation. Models predict that this conflict may be resolved by honest signaling of offspring need to parents, or by competition among nestmates, leading to escalated begging scrambles. Although the former type of models has been qualitatively supported by experimental studies, the potential for a begging component driven by scramble competition cannot be excluded by the evidence. In a brood-size manipulation experiment with great tits, Parus major, we explored the scramble component in the begging activity of great tit nestlings by investigating the mechanisms of sibling competition in relation to brood size. While under full parental compensation, the feeding rate per nestling will remain constant over all brood sizes for both types of models; the scramble begging models alone predict an increase in begging intensity with brood size, if begging costs do not arise exclusively through predation. Great tit parents adjusted feeding rates to brood size and fed nestlings at similar rates and with similar prey sizes in all three brood-size categories. Despite full parental compensation, the begging and food solicitation activities increased with experimental brood size, whereas nestling body condition deteriorated. These findings support a scramble component in begging and suggest that the competition-induced costs of food solicitation behavior play an important role in the evolution of parent-offspring communication.
Key words: brood size, cost of begging, Parus major, parent-offspring communication, scramble competition.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  M. B.V. Bell Receiver identity modifies begging intensity independent of need in banded mongoose (Mungos mungo) pups Behav. Ecol., November 8, 2008; (2008) arn104v2. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Pagnucco, L. Zanette, M. Clinchy, and M. L Leonard Sheep in wolf's clothing: host nestling vocalizations resemble their cowbird competitor's Proc R Soc B, May 7, 2008; 275(1638): 1061 - 1065. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Helfenstein, A. Berthouly, M. Tanner, F. Karadas, and H. Richner Nestling begging intensity and parental effort in relation to prelaying carotenoid availability Behav. Ecol., January 1, 2008; 19(1): 108 - 115. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Qvarnstrom, J. V. Kehlenbeck, C. Wiley, N. Svedin, and S. A. Saether Species divergence in offspring begging intensity: difference in need or manipulation of parents? Proc R Soc B, April 7, 2007; 274(1612): 1003 - 1008. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Szollosi, B. Rosivall, and J. Torok Is hatching asynchrony beneficial for the brood? Behav. Ecol., March 1, 2007; 18(2): 420 - 426. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. A Hinde and R. M Kilner Negotiations within the family over the supply of parental care Proc R Soc B, January 7, 2007; 274(1606): 53 - 60. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Jacot and B. Kempenaers Effects of nestling condition on UV plumage traits in blue tits: an experimental approach Behav. Ecol., January 1, 2007; 18(1): 34 - 40. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|