1
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Fortuna R, Covas R, D'Amelio PB, Silva LR, Parenteau C, Bliard L, Rybak F, Doutrelant C, Paquet M. Interplay of cooperative breeding and predation risk on egg allocation and reproductive output. Behav Ecol 2024; 35:arae010. [PMID: 38486920 PMCID: PMC10939053 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arae010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Predation risk can influence behavior, reproductive investment, and, ultimately, individuals' fitness. In high-risk environments, females often reduce allocation to reproduction, which can affect offspring phenotype and breeding success. In cooperative breeders, helpers contribute to feed the offspring, and groups often live and forage together. Helpers can, therefore, improve reproductive success, but also influence breeders' condition, stress levels and predation risk. Yet, whether helper presence can buffer the effects of predation risk on maternal reproductive allocation remains unstudied. Here, we used the cooperatively breeding sociable weaver Philetairus socius to test the interactive effects of predation risk and breeding group size on maternal allocation to clutch size, egg mass, yolk mass, and yolk corticosterone. We increased perceived predation risk before egg laying using playbacks of the adults' main predator, gabar goshawk (Micronisus gabar). We also tested the interactive effects of group size and prenatal predator playbacks on offspring hatching and fledging probability. Predator-exposed females laid eggs with 4% lighter yolks, but predator-calls' exposure did not clearly affect clutch size, egg mass, or egg corticosterone levels. Playback-treatment effects on yolk mass were independent of group size, suggesting that helpers' presence did not mitigate predation risk effects on maternal allocation. Although predator-induced reductions in yolk mass may decrease nutrient availability to offspring, potentially affecting their survival, playback-treatment effects on hatching and fledging success were not evident. The interplay between helper presence and predator effects on maternal reproductive investment is still an overlooked area of life history and physiological evolutionary trade-offs that requires further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Fortuna
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002, Porto, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Institutt for Biologi, NTNU, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Rita Covas
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- FitzPatrick Institute, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, 7701, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Pietro B D'Amelio
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 34293, Montpellier, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, 91400, Saclay, France
| | - Liliana R Silva
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Charline Parenteau
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Louis Bliard
- Department of Evolutionary Biology & Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fanny Rybak
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, 91400, Saclay, France
| | - Claire Doutrelant
- FitzPatrick Institute, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, 7701, Cape Town, South Africa
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 34293, Montpellier, France
| | - Matthieu Paquet
- Institute of Mathematics of Bordeaux, University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, 33405, Talence, France
- Theoretical and Experimental Ecology Station (SETE), CNRS, 09200, Moulis, France
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2
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Calvert AM, Gutowsky SE, Fifield DA, Burgess NM, Bryant R, Fraser GS, Gjerdrum C, Hedd A, Jones PL, Mauck RA, McFarlane Tranquilla L, Montevecchi WA, Pollet IL, Ronconi RA, Rock JC, Russell J, Wilhelm SI, Wong SNP, Robertson GJ. Inter-colony variation in predation, mercury burden and adult survival in a declining seabird. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 911:168549. [PMID: 37981162 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Migratory species with disjunct and localized breeding distributions, including many colonial marine birds, pose challenges for management and conservation as their dynamics are shaped by both broad oceanographic changes and specific factors affecting individual breeding colonies. We compare six colonies of the declining Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous, across their core range in Atlantic Canada using standard capture-mark-recapture methods to estimate annual survival of individually marked populations of breeding adults. Over the period analysed (5-20 years per colony; 2003-2022), mean annual survival varied among colonies (0.81-0.88) and annually (process error σ ranging from 0.01 to 0.09), though annual fluctuations were not synchronous across colonies. Two colonies with limited natural predation showed higher survival, and there was a decline in survival with increasing colony-specific total mercury burden. Our work shows that colony-specific pressures and regional contaminant burdens are potentially important contributors to current population declines, and highlights the importance of monitoring demographic rates at multiple sites for species that congregate at key life-history stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Calvert
- Landscape Science & Technology Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - David A Fifield
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Mount Pearl, NL, Canada
| | - Neil M Burgess
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change, Canada, Mount Pearl, NL
| | - Rachel Bryant
- Alder Institute, Tors Cove, NL, Canada; Department of Philosophy and Religion, University of Tampa, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Gail S Fraser
- Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Carina Gjerdrum
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
| | - April Hedd
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Mount Pearl, NL, Canada
| | | | | | | | - William A Montevecchi
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Ingrid L Pollet
- Biology Department, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada
| | - Robert A Ronconi
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
| | - Jennifer C Rock
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Sackville, NB, Canada
| | | | - Sabina I Wilhelm
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Mount Pearl, NL, Canada
| | - Sarah N P Wong
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
| | - Gregory J Robertson
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Mount Pearl, NL, Canada.
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3
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Jackson LM, Léandri-Breton DJ, Whelan S, Turmaine A, Hatch SA, Grémillet D, Elliott KH. Beyond body condition: Experimental evidence that plasma metabolites improve nutritional state measurements in a free-living seabird. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2023; 285:111504. [PMID: 37574042 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.111504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
The ability to efficiently measure the health and nutritional status of wild populations in situ is a valuable tool, as many methods of evaluating animal physiology do not occur in real-time, limiting the possibilities for direct intervention. This study investigates the use of blood plasma metabolite concentrations, measured via point-of-care devices or a simple plate reader assay, as indicators of nutritional state in free-living seabirds. We experimentally manipulated the energy expenditure of wild black-legged kittiwakes on Middleton Island, Alaska, and measured the plasma concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, B-hydroxybutyrate, and triglycerides throughout the breeding season, along with measures of body condition (size-corrected mass [SCM] and muscle depth). Supplemental feeding improved the nutritional state of kittiwakes by increasing feeding rate (higher glucose and triglycerides, lower cholesterol), and flight-handicapping caused a slight nutritional decline (lower glucose and triglycerides, higher cholesterol and B-hydroxybutyrate). Glucose and triglycerides were the best indicators of nutritional state when used alongside SCM, and improved upon commonly used metrics for measuring individual condition (i.e. SCM or mass alone). Metabolite concentrations varied across the breeding period, suggesting that the pre-laying stage, when feeding rates tend to be lower, was the most nutritionally challenging period for kittiwakes (low glucose, high cholesterol). Muscle depth also varied by treatment and breeding stage, but differed from other nutritional indices, suggesting that muscle depth is an indicator of exercise and activity level rather than nutrition. Here we demonstrate potential for the use of blood plasma metabolites measured via point-of-care devices as proxies for evaluating individual health, population health, and environmental food availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M Jackson
- Department of Natural Resources Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada.
| | - Don-Jean Léandri-Breton
- Department of Natural Resources Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada; Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, UMR-7372, Villiers-en-Bois, France. https://twitter.com/DonJean_Leandri
| | - Shannon Whelan
- Department of Natural Resources Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada; Institute for Seabird Research and Conservation, Anchorage, AK, USA. https://twitter.com/killerwhelan
| | - Alexandre Turmaine
- Department of Natural Resources Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Scott A Hatch
- Institute for Seabird Research and Conservation, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - David Grémillet
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France; Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Kyle H Elliott
- Department of Natural Resources Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada. https://twitter.com/ArcticEcology
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4
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Layton‐Matthews K, Reiertsen TK, Erikstad K, Anker‐Nilssen T, Daunt F, Wanless S, Barrett RT, Newell MA, Harris MP. Consequences of cross-season demographic correlations for population viability. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10312. [PMID: 37456077 PMCID: PMC10338798 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Demographic correlations are pervasive in wildlife populations and can represent important secondary drivers of population growth. Empirical evidence suggests that correlations are in general positive for long-lived species, but little is known about the degree of variation among spatially segregated populations of the same species in relation to environmental conditions. We assessed the relative importance of two cross-season correlations in survival and productivity, for three Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) populations with contrasting population trajectories and non-overlapping year-round distributions. The two correlations reflected either a relationship between adult survival prior to breeding on productivity, or a relationship between productivity and adult survival the subsequent year. Demographic rates and their correlations were estimated with an integrated population model, and their respective contributions to variation in population growth were calculated using a transient-life table response experiment. For all three populations, demographic correlations were positive at both time lags, although their strength differed. Given the different year-round distributions of these populations, this variation in the strength population-level demographic correlations points to environmental conditions as an important driver of demographic variation through life-history constraints. Consequently, the contributions of variances and correlations in demographic rates to population growth rates differed among puffin populations, which has implications for-particularly small-populations' viability under environmental change as positive correlations tend to reduce the stochastic population growth rate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kjell‐Einar Erikstad
- Norwegian Institute for Nature ResearchFRAM CentreTromsøNorway
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics CBDNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway
| | | | - Francis Daunt
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush EstatePenicuikUK
| | - Sarah Wanless
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush EstatePenicuikUK
| | | | - Mark A. Newell
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush EstatePenicuikUK
| | - Mike P. Harris
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush EstatePenicuikUK
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5
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McKee JL, Tompkins EM, Estela FA, Anderson DJ. Age effects on Nazca booby foraging performance are largely constant across variation in the marine environment: Results from a 5-year study in Galápagos. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10138. [PMID: 37304365 PMCID: PMC10253949 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Foraging outcomes dictate the nutritional resources available to an organism and may vary with intrinsic factors, like age. Thus, understanding how age affects foraging performance, alone or in interaction with extrinsic factors (like environmental quality), improves our understanding of aging processes in the wild. We examined how foraging traits, measured across five breeding seasons, change with age, environmental variation, and their interaction in Nazca boobies (Sula granti), a pelagic seabird in Galápagos. We evaluated the hypotheses that (1) foraging performance is better in middle-aged birds than in young ones, and that (2) foraging performance is better in middle-aged birds than in old ones. Furthermore, favorable environmental conditions will either (3) attenuate age differences in foraging performance (by relieving constraints on young, inexperienced and old, senescent age classes), or (4) accentuate age differences (if middle-aged birds can exploit abundant resources better than other age classes can). Incubating birds tagged with GPS loggers (N = 815) provided data on foraging performance (e.g., total distance traveled, mass gained) to evaluate interactions between age and environmental variation (e.g., sea surface temperature). Poor environmental conditions associated with the cool phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation increased foraging effort, including foraging distance and duration, for example. Across age classes, foraging boobies responded similarly to environmental variation except for female mass gain rate: age-related declines in mass gain rate were reduced under favorable environmental conditions. Birds of different ages also searched in somewhat distinct areas in the poor conditions of 2016, but not in other years. In several foraging traits, including foraging duration and distance, female boobies showed predicted early-life improvement and late-life decline, following the established pattern for reproductive traits in this species. Thus, deficits in resource acquisition (this study) may contribute to the poor survival and reproductive outcomes previously observed in old Nazca boobies, particularly in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. McKee
- Department of BiologyWake Forest UniversityWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Emily M. Tompkins
- Department of BiologyWake Forest UniversityWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Felipe A. Estela
- Department of BiologyWake Forest UniversityWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y MatemáticasPontificia Universidad Javeriana – CaliValle del CaucaColombia
| | - David J. Anderson
- Department of BiologyWake Forest UniversityWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
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6
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Fortuna R, Paquet M, Biard C, Élard L, Ferreira AC, Leroux-Coyaux M, Parenteau C, Silva LR, Théron F, Covas R, Doutrelant C. Egg components and offspring survival vary with group size and laying order in a cooperative breeder. Oecologia 2023; 202:129-142. [PMID: 37148378 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05379-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal resource allocation to offspring can be influenced by maternal environment and offspring value, and affect offspring survival. An important pathway for flexible maternal allocation is via egg components such as nutrients and hormones. In cooperative breeders, females with helpers may increase resource allocation to eggs-'differential allocation'-or reduce it-'load-lightening'. Yet, helper effects on egg composition have been poorly studied. Moreover, it is unknown how helpers' presence modulates laying order effects on egg content and survival. Here, we investigated how maternal allocation varied with group size and laying order in the cooperatively breeding sociable weaver (Philetairus socius). We estimated interactive effects of helpers and laying order on allocation to egg mass, yolk nutrients-yolk mass, proteins, lipids, carotenoids, vitamin A and vitamin E-and hormones-testosterone, androstenedione, and corticosterone. Results concurred with the 'differential allocation' predictions. Females with more helpers produced later-laid eggs with heavier yolks and more lipids, and laid eggs overall richer in lipids. Proteins, antioxidants, and hormones were not found to vary with helper number. We then analyzed how helper number modulated laying order effects on survival. Females with more helpers did not specifically produce later-laid eggs with higher survival, but eggs laid by females with more helpers were overall more likely to fledge. These findings show that some egg components (yolk mass, lipids) can positively vary according to females' breeding group size, which may improve offspring fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Fortuna
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002, Porto, Portugal.
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, 34293, Montpellier, France.
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Institutt for Biologi, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Matthieu Paquet
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7044, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
- Institute of Mathematics of Bordeaux, University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, Talence, France
| | - Clotilde Biard
- Sorbonne Université, UPEC, CNRS, IRD, INRA, Institut d'Écologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris, IEES, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Loïc Élard
- Sorbonne Université, UPEC, CNRS, IRD, INRA, Institut d'Écologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris, IEES, 75005, Paris, France
| | - André C Ferreira
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, 34293, Montpellier, France
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mathieu Leroux-Coyaux
- Sorbonne Université, UPEC, CNRS, IRD, INRA, Institut d'Écologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris, IEES, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Charline Parenteau
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Liliana R Silva
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Franck Théron
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, 34293, Montpellier, France
| | - Rita Covas
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Claire Doutrelant
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, 34293, Montpellier, France
- DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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7
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Cunningham SA, Schafer TLJ, Wikle CK, VonBank JA, Ballard BM, Cao L, Bearhop S, Fox AD, Hilton GM, Walsh AJ, Griffin LR, Weegman MD. Time-varying effects of local weather on behavior and probability of breeding deferral in two Arctic-nesting goose populations. Oecologia 2023; 201:369-383. [PMID: 36576527 PMCID: PMC9944342 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05300-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Arctic-nesting geese face energetic challenges during spring migration, including ecological barriers and weather conditions (e.g., precipitation and temperature), which in long-lived species can lead to a trade-off to defer reproduction in favor of greater survival. We used GPS location and acceleration data collected from 35 greater white-fronted geese of the North American midcontinent and Greenland populations at spring migration stopovers, and novel applications of Bayesian dynamic linear models to test daily effects of minimum temperature and precipitation on energy expenditure (i.e., overall dynamic body acceleration, ODBA) and proportion of time spent feeding (PTF), then examined the daily and additive importance of ODBA and PTF on probability of breeding deferral using stochastic antecedent models. We expected distinct responses in behavior and probability of breeding deferral between and within populations due to differences in stopover area availability. Time-varying coefficients of weather conditions were variable between ODBA and PTF, and often did not show consistent patterns among birds, indicating plasticity in how individuals respond to conditions. An increase in antecedent ODBA was associated with a slightly increased probability of deferral in midcontinent geese but not Greenland geese. Probability of deferral decreased with increased PTF in both populations. We did not detect any differentially important time periods. These results suggest either that movements and behavior throughout spring migration do not explain breeding deferral or that ecological linkages between bird decisions during spring and subsequent breeding deferral were different between populations and across migration but occurred at different time scales than those we examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A Cunningham
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
- Department of Environmental Biology, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA.
| | - Toryn L J Schafer
- Department of Statistics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
- Department of Statistics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | | | - Jay A VonBank
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, 78363, USA
| | - Bart M Ballard
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, 78363, USA
| | - Lei Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Stuart Bearhop
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, TR10 9EZ, UK
| | - Anthony D Fox
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, C.F. Møllers Allé 4-8, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Geoff M Hilton
- Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, GL2 7BT, Gloucester, UK
| | - Alyn J Walsh
- National Parks and Wildlife Service, Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, North Slob, Wexford, Ireland
| | - Larry R Griffin
- Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, GL2 7BT, Gloucester, UK
- ECO-LG Limited, Crooks House, Mabie, DG2 8EY, Dumfries, UK
| | - Mitch D Weegman
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada
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8
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Benscoter AM, D'Acunto LE, Haider SM, Fletcher RJ, Romañach SS. Nest‐site selection model for endangered Everglade snail kites to inform ecosystem restoration. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura E. D'Acunto
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center Davie Florida USA
| | - Saira M. Haider
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center Davie Florida USA
| | - Robert J. Fletcher
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
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9
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Hanssen SA, Erikstad KE, Sandvik H, Tveraa T, Bustnes JO. Eyes on the future: buffering increased costs of incubation by abandoning offspring. Behav Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arac116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Life history theory states that the resources invested in current reproduction must be traded off against resources needed for survival and future reproduction. Long-lived organisms have a higher residual reproductive value and are therefore expected to be sensitive to reproductive investments that may reduce survival and future reproduction. Individuals within a population may vary in phenotypic quality, experience, access to resources etc. This may affect their optimal reproductive investment level. In this study we manipulated reproductive costs by shortening and extending the incubation period in common eiders Somateria mollissima without altering clutch size. Females whose incubation time was prolonged experimentally, suffered higher mass loss and increased clutch loss/nest desertion. These females were also more prone to abandon their brood after hatching. Both clutch loss and brood abandonment decreased with clutch size in all treatment categories, indicating higher phenotypic quality and/or better access to resources for females producing more eggs. However, although females with prolonged incubation were lighter at hatching, their return rate and breeding performance in the following year were unaffected. These results show that individual quality as expressed through clutch size and body mass is affecting current reproductive investment level as well as future survival and breeding performance. The results also show that individual birds are sensitive to changes in their own condition, and when reproductive effort is approaching a level where survival or future survival may be compromised, they respond by terminating their current reproductive attempt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sveinn Are Hanssen
- Norwegian Institute of Nature Research, Dept. of Arctic Ecology, FRAM – High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment , P.O. Box 6606 Langnes, NO-9296 Tromsø , Norway
| | - Kjell Einar Erikstad
- Norwegian Institute of Nature Research, Dept. of Arctic Ecology, FRAM – High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment , P.O. Box 6606 Langnes, NO-9296 Tromsø , Norway
| | - Hanno Sandvik
- Norwegian Institute of Nature Research, Dept. of Aquatic Biodiversity , P.O. Box 5685 Torgarden, NO-7485 Trondheim , Norway
- Centre of Biodiversity Dynamics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) , NO-7491 Trondheim , Norway
| | - Torkild Tveraa
- Norwegian Institute of Nature Research, Dept. of Arctic Ecology, FRAM – High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment , P.O. Box 6606 Langnes, NO-9296 Tromsø , Norway
| | - Jan Ove Bustnes
- Norwegian Institute of Nature Research, Dept. of Arctic Ecology, FRAM – High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment , P.O. Box 6606 Langnes, NO-9296 Tromsø , Norway
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10
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van Lieshout SHJ, Badás EP, Bright Ross JG, Bretman A, Newman C, Buesching CD, Burke T, Macdonald DW, Dugdale HL. Early-life seasonal, weather and social effects on telomere length in a wild mammal. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:5993-6007. [PMID: 34101279 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Early-life environmental conditions can provide a source of individual variation in life-history strategies and senescence patterns. Conditions experienced in early life can be quantified by measuring telomere length, which can act as a biomarker of survival probability in some species. Here, we investigate whether seasonal changes, weather conditions and group size are associated with early-life and/or early-adulthood telomere length in a wild population of European badgers (Meles meles). We found substantial intra-annual changes in telomere length during the first 3 years of life, where within-individual effects showed shorter telomere lengths in the winter following the first spring and a trend for longer telomere lengths in the second spring compared to the first winter. In terms of weather conditions, cubs born in warmer, wetter springs with low rainfall variability had longer early-life (3-12 months old) telomeres. Additionally, cubs born in groups with more cubs had marginally longer early-life telomeres, providing no evidence of resource constraint from cub competition. We also found that the positive association between early-life telomere length and cub survival probability remained when social and weather variables were included. Finally, after sexual maturity, in early adulthood (i.e., 12-36 months) we found no significant association between same-sex adult group size and telomere length (i.e., no effect of intrasexual competition). Overall, we show that controlling for seasonal effects, which are linked to food availability, is important in telomere length analyses, and that variation in telomere length in badgers reflects early-life conditions and also predicts first year cub survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sil H J van Lieshout
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.,NERC Environmental Omics Visitor Facility, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Elisa P Badás
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.,Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Julius G Bright Ross
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Abingdon, UK
| | - Amanda Bretman
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Chris Newman
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Abingdon, UK
| | - Christina D Buesching
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Abingdon, UK.,Department of Biology, The University of British Columbia, Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Terry Burke
- NERC Environmental Omics Visitor Facility, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - David W Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Abingdon, UK
| | - Hannah L Dugdale
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.,Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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11
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Chick Provisioning in Grey-Faced Petrel (Pterodroma gouldi) under Environmental Stress. BIRDS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/birds3030019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Grey-faced Petrels (Pterodroma gouldi) are colonial burrowing seabirds predominantly nesting on offshore islands of the upper North Island of New Zealand. We studied their chick provisioning on Te Hāwere-a-Maki during two years of unfavourable warmer La Niña conditions in 2011 and 2013. We intensively monitored chicks in each year, weighing chicks every 12 h for 10 consecutive days to estimate meal sizes following chick provisioning and to estimate 12-hourly body mass loss as a function of time since last feeding. We found a quadratic relationship of body mass loss with time since last feeding, with rapid digestion of meals following provisioning followed by a period of fasting from five days post feeding as chicks waited an unknown and variable amount of time until their next meal. The rate of body mass loss did not depend on chick age nor body mass, and did not differ between years, but heavier chicks included in our study were more likely to successfully fledge, suggesting a legacy of adult provisioning prior to our study commencing. Our regular handling of chicks for monitoring has no discernible impact on parent provisioning compared to a set of control chicks. The mean estimates of 100-gram meal sizes and 10-day foraging trip durations are likely to be below the break-even point for this species.
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12
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Little J, Rubenstein DR, Guindre-Parker S. Plasticity in social behaviour varies with reproductive status in an avian cooperative breeder. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220355. [PMID: 35506224 PMCID: PMC9065970 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cooperatively breeding vertebrates are common in unpredictable environments where the costs and benefits of providing offspring care fluctuate temporally. To balance these fitness outcomes, individuals of cooperatively breeding species often exhibit behavioural plasticity according to environmental conditions. Although individual variation in cooperative behaviours is well-studied, less is known about variation in plasticity of social behaviour. Here, we examine the fitness benefits, plasticity and repeatability of nest guarding behaviour in cooperatively breeding superb starlings (Lamprotornis superbus). After demonstrating that the cumulative nest guarding performed at a nest by all breeders and helpers combined is a significant predictor of reproductive success, we model breeder and helper behavioural reaction norms to test the hypothesis that individuals invest more in guarding in favourable seasons with high rainfall. Variation in nest guarding behaviour across seasons differed for individuals of different reproductive status: breeders showed plastic nest guarding behaviour in response to rainfall, whereas helpers did not. Similarly, we found that individual breeders show repeatability and consistency in their nest guarding behaviour while individual helpers did not. Thus, individuals with the potential to gain direct fitness benefits exhibit greater plasticity and individual-level repeatability in cooperative behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Little
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia
| | - Dustin R Rubenstein
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.,Center for Integrative Animal Behavior, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sarah Guindre-Parker
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia
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13
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Acker P, Schaub M, Besnard A, Monnat JY, Cam E. Can attraction to and competition for high-quality habitats shape breeding propensity? J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:933-945. [PMID: 35157311 PMCID: PMC9314844 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In many animal species, sexually mature individuals may skip breeding opportunities despite a likely negative impact on fitness. In spatio‐temporally heterogeneous environments, habitat selection theory predicts that individuals select habitats where fitness prospects are maximized. Individuals are attracted to high‐quality habitat patches where they compete for high‐quality breeding sites. Since failures in contests to secure a site may prevent individuals from breeding, we hypothesized that attraction to and competition for high‐quality habitats could shape breeding propensity. Under this hypothesis, we predicted the two following associations between breeding propensity and two key population features. (1) When mean habitat quality in the population increases in multiple patches such that availability of high‐quality sites increases across the population, the resulting decrease in competition should positively affect breeding propensity. (2) When the number of individuals increases in the population, the resulting increase in competitors should negatively affect breeding propensity (negative density dependence). Using long‐term data from kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla, we checked the prerequisite of prediction (1), that availability of high‐quality sites is positively associated with current mean habitat quality in the population (represented by breeding success). We then applied integrated population modelling to quantify annual fluctuations in population mean breeding success, breeding propensity and number of individuals by breeding status (pre‐breeders, breeders, skippers and immigrants), and tested our predictions. Our results showed that breeding propensity acts as an important driver of population growth. As expected, breeding propensity was positively associated with preceding mean habitat quality in the population, and negatively with the number of competitors. These relationships varied depending on breeding status, which likely reflects status dependence in competitive ability. These findings highlight the importance of competition for high‐quality breeding sites in shaping breeding propensity. Thereby, we draw attention towards alternative and complementary explanations to more standard considerations regarding the energetic cost of reproduction, and point to possible side effects of habitat selection behaviours on individual life histories and population dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Acker
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Institutt for Biologi, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.,Laboratoire EDB (UMR 5174), Université Paul Sabatier - CNRS - IRD; 118 route de Narbonne, Toulouse, France.,CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE-PSL University, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Montpellier, France
| | - Michael Schaub
- Swiss Ornithological Institute; CH-6204, Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Aurélien Besnard
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE-PSL University, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Emmanuelle Cam
- Laboratoire EDB (UMR 5174), Université Paul Sabatier - CNRS - IRD; 118 route de Narbonne, Toulouse, France.,Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, F-29280, Plouzané, France
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14
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Johns ME, Warzybok P, Jahncke J, Doak P, Lindberg M, Breed GA. Episodes of high recruitment buffer against climate-driven mass mortality events in a North Pacific seabird population. J Anim Ecol 2021; 91:345-355. [PMID: 34741333 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Longitudinal studies of marked animals provide an opportunity to assess the relative contributions of survival and reproductive output to population dynamics and change. Cassin's auklets are a long-lived seabird that maximizes annual reproductive effort in resource-rich years through a behaviour called double brooding, the initiation of a second breeding attempt following the success of the first during the same season. Our objective was to explore whether double brooding influenced population change by contributing a greater number of future recruits. We fit temporal symmetry models to 32 years of mark-recapture data of Cassin's auklets to infer the mechanisms underlying the observed variability in per capita recruitment rates. We found that periodic peaks in recruitment were explained by an increase in available nest sites, the proportion of the population double brooding 4 years prior, and spring upwelling conditions. Estimates of population change suggests a relatively stable population throughout the time series, attributable to a 'floating' demographic class of sexually mature individuals excluded from breeding by competition which quickly fill vacant sites following periods of low adult survival. Our results highlight the importance of recruitment in maintaining the population of a long-lived seabird periodically impacted by adverse environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Johns
- Department of Biology and Wildlife and Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA.,Point Blue Conservation Science, Petaluma, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Pat Doak
- Department of Biology and Wildlife and Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
| | - Mark Lindberg
- Department of Biology and Wildlife and Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
| | - Greg A Breed
- Department of Biology and Wildlife and Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
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15
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Maynard LD, Gulka J, Jenkins E, Davoren GK. Different individual-level responses of great black-backed gulls (Larus marinus) to shifting local prey availability. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252561. [PMID: 34669725 PMCID: PMC8528284 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
To grow, survive and reproduce under anthropogenic-induced changes, individuals must respond quickly and favourably to the surrounding environment. A species that feeds on a wide variety of prey types (i.e. generalist diet) may be comprised of generalist individuals, specialist individuals that feed on different prey types, or a combination of the two. If individuals within a population respond differently to an environmental change, population-level responses may not be detectable. By tracking foraging movements of great black-backed gulls (Larus marinus), a generalist species, we compared group-level and individual-level responses to an increase in prey biomass (capelin; Mallotus villosus) during the breeding season in coastal Newfoundland, Canada. As hypothesized, shifts in prey availability resulted in significantly different individual responses in foraging behaviour and space use, which was not detectable when data from individuals were combined. Some individuals maintained similar foraging areas, foraging trip characteristics (e.g., trip length, duration) and habitat use with increased capelin availability, while others shifted foraging areas and habitats resulting in either increased or decreased trip characteristics. We show that individual specialization can be non-contextual in some gulls, whereby these individuals continuously use the same feeding strategy despite significant change in prey availability conditions. Findings also indicate high response diversity among individuals to shifting prey conditions that a population- or group-level study would not have detected, emphasizing the importance of examining individual-level strategies for future diet and foraging studies on generalist species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie D. Maynard
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Julia Gulka
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Edward Jenkins
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Gail K. Davoren
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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16
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McClelland SC, Cassey P, Maurer G, Hauber ME, Portugal SJ. How much calcium to shell out? Eggshell calcium carbonate content is greater in birds with thinner shells, larger clutches and longer lifespans. J R Soc Interface 2021; 18:20210502. [PMID: 34583563 PMCID: PMC8479367 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2021.0502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The avian eggshell is a bio-ceramic structure that protects the embryo. It is composed almost entirely of calcium carbonate and a small amount of organic material. An optimal amount of calcium carbonate in the eggshell is essential for the embryo's development, yet how the ratio of calcium carbonate to organic matter varies between species has not been investigated. Calcium is a limiting resource for most birds, so its investment in their eggs should be optimized for a bird's life history. We measured the relative calcium carbonate content of eggshells in 222 bird species and tested hypotheses for how this trait has evolved with the life-history strategies of these species and other traits of their respective egg physiologies. We found that (i) eggshell calcium carbonate content was positively correlated with species having thinner eggshells and smaller than expected eggs relative to incubating parental mass, (ii) species with small mean clutch sizes had lower calcium carbonate content in their eggshells, and (iii) for species with larger clutch sizes, eggshell calcium carbonate content was negatively correlated with their mean lifespan. The pattern of lower eggshell calcium carbonate in longer lived, larger clutched birds suggests that calcium provision to the eggshell has long-term costs for the individual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie C. McClelland
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Phillip Cassey
- Invasion Science & Wildlife Ecology Lab, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Golo Maurer
- BirdLife Australia, 2/5, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Studies, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4878, Australia
| | - Mark E. Hauber
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Steven J. Portugal
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK
- The Natural History Museum, Tring HP23 6AP, UK
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17
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Tompkins EM, Anderson DJ. Breeding responses to environmental variation are age- and trait-dependent in female Nazca boobies. Ecology 2021; 102:e03457. [PMID: 34166542 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Age and environment are important determinants of reproductive parameters in long-lived organisms. These factors may interact to determine breeding responses to environmental change, yet few studies have examined the environmental dependence of aging patterns across the entire life span. We do so, using a 20-yr longitudinal data set of reproductive phenotypes in long-lived female Nazca boobies (Sula granti), a monogamous seabird breeding in the eastern tropical Pacific. Young and old females may suffer from inexperience and senescence, respectively, and/or practice reproductive restraint. Breeding performance (for breeding participation, breeding date, clutch size, egg volume, and offspring production) was expected to be lower in these age classes, particularly under environmental challenge, in comparison with middle-aged breeders. Sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) represented interannual variation in the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and were one proxy for environmental quality (a population count of clutch initiations was a second). Although only females lay eggs, both sexes care for eggs and nestlings, and the male partner's age, alone or in interaction with female age, was evaluated as a predictor of breeding performance. Middle-aged females performed better than young and old birds for all reproductive traits. Pairing with a young male delayed breeding (particularly for old females) and reduced clutch size, and pairing with an old male reduced offspring production. Challenging environments increased age effects on breeding probability and breeding date across young to middle ages and for offspring production across middle to old ages. However, important exceptions to the predicted patterns for clutch size and fledging success across young to middle ages suggested that trade-offs between fitness components may complicate patterns of trait expression across the life span. Relationships between breeding participation, environment, and individual quality and/or experience in young females may also contribute to unexpected patterns for clutch size and fledging success, traits expressed only in breeders. Finally, independent of age, breeding responses of female Nazca boobies to the ENSO did not follow expectations derived from oceanic forcing of primary productivity. During El Niño-like conditions, egg-laying traits (clutch size, breeding date) improved, but offspring production declined, whereas La Niña-like conditions were "poor" environments throughout the breeding cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Tompkins
- Biology Department, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - David J Anderson
- Biology Department, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
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18
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Mohring B, Angelier F, Jaatinen K, Parenteau C, Öst M. Parental Investment Under Predation Threat in Incubating Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima): A Hormonal Perspective. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.637561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Predation risk affects the costs and benefits of prey life-history decisions. Predation threat is often higher during reproduction, especially in conspicuous colonial breeders. Therefore, predation risk may increase the survival cost of breeding, and reduce parental investment. The impact of predation risk on avian parental investment decisions may be hormonally mediated by prolactin and corticosterone, making them ideal tools for studying the trade-offs involved. Prolactin is thought to promote parental care and commitment in birds. Corticosterone is involved in allostasis and may either mediate reduced parental investment (corticosterone-fitness hypothesis), or promote parental investment through a reallocation of resources (corticosterone-adaptation hypothesis). Here, we used these hormonal proxies of incubation commitment to examine the impact of predation risk on reproduction in common eiders (Somateria mollissima) breeding in the Baltic Sea. This eider population is subject to high but spatially and temporally variable predation pressure on adults (mainly by the white-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla and introduced mammalian predators) and nests (by the adult predators and exclusive egg predators such as hooded crows Corvus cornix). We investigated baseline hormonal levels and hatching success as a function of individual quality attributes (breeding experience, female and duckling body condition), reproductive investment (clutch weight), and predation risk. We expected individuals nesting in riskier environments (i.e., on islands where predation on adults or nests is higher, or in less concealed nests) to reduce their parental investment in incubation, reflected in lower baseline prolactin levels and either higher (corticosterone-fitness hypothesis) or lower (corticosterone-adaptation hypothesis) baseline corticosterone levels. Contrary to our predictions, prolactin levels showed a positive correlation with nest predation risk. The unexpected positive relationship could result from the selective disappearance of low-quality females (presumably having low prolactin levels) from risky sites. Supporting this notion, female body condition and hatching success were positively correlated with predation risk on females, and baseline prolactin concentrations were positively correlated with duckling body condition, a proxy of maternal quality. In line with the corticosterone-adaptation hypothesis, baseline corticosterone levels increased with reproductive investment, and were negatively associated with nest predation risk. Hatching success was lower on islands where nest predation risk was higher, consistent with the idea of reduced reproductive investment under increased threat. Long-term individual-based studies are now needed to distinguish selection processes occurring at the population scale from individually plastic parental investment in relation to individual quality and variable predation risk.
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19
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Alden B, Heezik Y, Seddon PJ, Reid J, Young MJ. Fat chance? Endangered penguin rehabilitation has mixed conservation outcomes. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bryony Alden
- Department of Zoology University of Otago Dunedin New Zealand
| | - Yolanda Heezik
- Department of Zoology University of Otago Dunedin New Zealand
| | | | - Julia Reid
- Penguin Place Conservation Reserve Dunedin New Zealand
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20
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Ramírez F, Chiaradia A, O'Leary DA, Reina RD. Making the most of the old age: Autumn breeding as an extra reproductive investment in older seabirds. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:5393-5401. [PMID: 34026015 PMCID: PMC8131812 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The extrinsic and intrinsic factors affecting differing reproductive strategies among populations are central to understanding population and evolutionary ecology. To evaluate whether individual reproductive strategies responded to annual patterns in marine productivity and age-related processes in a seabird we used a long term (2003-2013), a continuous dataset on nest occupancy and attendance at the colony by little penguins (Eudyptula minor) at Phillip Island (Victoria, Australia). We found that concurrent with a secondary annual peak of marine productivity, a secondary peak in colony attendance and nest occupancy was observed in Autumn (out of the regular breeding season in spring/summer) with individuals showing mating-like behavior. Individuals attending this autumn peak averaged 2.5 years older than those individuals that exclusively bred during spring/summer. Rather than being a naïve response by younger and inexperienced birds misreading environmental cues, our data indicate that the autumn peak attendance is an earlier attempt to breed by older and more experienced penguins. Therefore, we provide strong support for the fundamental prediction of the life-history theory of increasing investment in reproduction with age to maximize lifetime fitness as future survival prospects diminish and experience increases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Ramírez
- Department of Renewable Marine ResourcesInstitut de Ciències del Mar (ICM‐CSIC)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Andre Chiaradia
- School of Biological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVICAustralia
- Conservation DepartmentPhillip Island Nature ParksCowesVICAustralia
| | | | - Richard D. Reina
- School of Biological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVICAustralia
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21
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Stojanovic D, McEvoy J, Alves F, Rayner L, Heinsohn R, Saunders D, Webb M. Parental care does not compensate for the effects of bad years on reproductive success of a vagile bird. J Zool (1987) 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- D. Stojanovic
- Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - J. McEvoy
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute National Zoological Park Front Royal VA USA
| | - F. Alves
- Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - L. Rayner
- Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - R. Heinsohn
- Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - D. Saunders
- Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - M. Webb
- Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
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22
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Fayet AL, Clucas GV, Anker-Nilssen T, Syposz M, Hansen ES. Local prey shortages drive foraging costs and breeding success in a declining seabird, the Atlantic puffin. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:1152-1164. [PMID: 33748966 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
As more and more species face anthropogenic threats, understanding the causes of population declines in vulnerable taxa is essential. However, long-term datasets, ideal to identify lasting or indirect effects on fitness measures such as those caused by environmental factors, are not always available. Here we use a single year but multi-population approach on populations with contrasting demographic trends to identify possible drivers and mechanisms of seabird population changes in the north-east Atlantic, using the Atlantic puffin, a declining species, as a model system. We combine miniature GPS trackers with camera traps and DNA metabarcoding techniques on four populations across the puffins' main breeding range to provide the most comprehensive study of the species' foraging ecology to date. We find that puffins use a dual foraging tactic combining short and long foraging trips in all four populations, but declining populations in southern Iceland and north-west Norway have much greater foraging ranges, which require more (costly) flight, as well as lower chick-provisioning frequencies, and a more diverse but likely less energy-dense diet, than stable populations in northern Iceland and Wales. Together, our findings suggest that the poor productivity of declining puffin populations in the north-east Atlantic is driven by breeding adults being forced to forage far from the colony, presumably because of low prey availability near colonies, possibly amplified by intraspecific competition. Our results provide valuable information for the conservation of this and other important North-Atlantic species and highlight the potential of multi-population approaches to answer important questions about the ecological drivers of population trends.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Erpur S Hansen
- South Iceland Nature Research Centre, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
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23
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Vedder O, Pen I, Bouwhuis S. How fitness consequences of early-life conditions vary with age in a long-lived seabird: A Bayesian multivariate analysis of age-specific reproductive values. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:1505-1514. [PMID: 33694165 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Evolutionary theory suggests that individuals can benefit from deferring the fitness cost of developing under poor conditions to later in life. Although empirical evidence for delayed fitness costs of poor developmental conditions is abundant, individuals that die prematurely have not often been incorporated when estimating fitness, such that age-specific fitness costs, and therefore the relative importance of delayed fitness costs are actually unknown. We developed a Bayesian statistical framework to estimate age-specific reproductive values in relation to developmental conditions. We applied it to data obtained from a long-term longitudinal study of common terns Sterna hirundo, using sibling rank to describe variation in developmental conditions. Common terns have a maximum of three chicks, and later hatching chicks acquire less food, grow more slowly and have a lower fledging probability than their earlier hatched siblings. We estimated fitness costs in adulthood to constitute c. 45% and 70% of the total fitness costs of hatching third and second, respectively, compared to hatching first. This was due to third-ranked hatchlings experiencing especially high pre-fledging mortality, while second-ranked hatchlings had lower reproductive success in adulthood. Both groups had slightly lower adult survival. There was, however, no evidence for sibling rank-specific rates of senescence. We additionally found years with low fledgling production to be associated with particularly strong pre-fledging selection on sibling rank, and with increased adult survival to the next breeding season. This suggests that adults reduce parental allocation to reproduction in poor years, which disproportionately impacts low-ranked offspring. Interpreting these results, we suggest that selection at the level of the individual offspring for delaying fitness costs is counteracted by selection for parental reduction in brood size when resources are limiting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Vedder
- Institute of Avian Research, Wilhelmshaven, Germany.,Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ido Pen
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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24
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Fortuna R, Paquet M, Ferreira AC, Silva LR, Theron F, Doutrelant C, Covas R. Maternal allocation in relation to weather, predation and social factors in a colonial cooperative bird. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:1122-1133. [PMID: 33550597 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Females may adjust prenatal allocation in relation to ecological conditions that affect reproductive success, such as weather conditions or predation risk. In cooperative breeders, helpers might also influence reproductive success, and previous studies suggest that females can lay smaller eggs or larger clutches when breeding with more helpers. Although recent work suggests that helper effects can vary according to climatic variables, how social and ecological factors interact to shape prenatal allocation is poorly understood. Here, we examine how ecological and social components of the breeding environment covary with egg mass and clutch size, using as a model the sociable weaver Philetairus socius, a colonial, cooperatively breeding passerine. The study spanned 9 years and included over 1,900 eggs from over 550 clutches. Our analyses combined natural variation in weather conditions (rainfall before each reproductive event) with a nest predator-exclusion experiment and continuous monitoring of the mother's social environment, allowing us to estimate how individual females adjust allocation to reproduction as their number of helpers varies. We found that egg mass varied consistently within females and did not clearly differ in relation to rainfall or predation risk. Contrary to previous studies, there was no evidence for plastic adjustments as females gained and lost helpers, and egg mass was instead better predicted by mother size and identity. Females laid larger clutches when breeding in environments where predation risk was experimentally reduced and after higher rainfall levels. Yet, there was no evidence for increasing clutch size as the number of helpers increased, nor for an interaction between helper effects and ecological factors. We conclude that while sociable weaver females can vary their clutch size, they show high individual consistency in egg mass. In addition, we found no evidence that females may maximize fitness through plastic prenatal allocation in relation to the number of helpers, or that the presence/absence of helper effects is modulated by rainfall levels or predation risk. These results challenge our current knowledge on some of the possible benefits of breeding with helpers and call for more long-term analyses on reproductive allocation adjustments in other cooperative systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Fortuna
- CIBIO-InBIO - Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Matthieu Paquet
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - André C Ferreira
- CIBIO-InBIO - Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Vairão, Portugal.,CEFE-UMR5175 CNRS - Université de Montpellier, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Liliana R Silva
- CIBIO-InBIO - Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Franck Theron
- CEFE-UMR5175 CNRS - Université de Montpellier, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Claire Doutrelant
- CEFE-UMR5175 CNRS - Université de Montpellier, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Rita Covas
- CIBIO-InBIO - Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Vairão, Portugal.,Percy FitzPatrick Institute, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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25
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Kavelaars MM, Baert JM, Stienen EWM, Shamoun-Baranes J, Lens L, Müller W. Breeding habitat loss reveals limited foraging flexibility and increases foraging effort in a colonial breeding seabird. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2020; 8:45. [PMID: 33292559 PMCID: PMC7653720 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-020-00231-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Habitat loss can force animals to relocate to new areas, where they would need to adjust to an unfamiliar resource landscape and find new breeding sites. Relocation may be costly and could compromise reproduction. METHODS Here, we explored how the Lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus), a colonial breeding seabird species with a wide ecological niche, responds to the loss of its breeding habitat. We investigated how individuals adjusted their foraging behaviour after relocating to another colony due to breeding site destruction, and whether there were any reproductive consequences in the first years after relocation. To this end, we compared offspring growth between resident individuals and individuals that recently relocated to the same colony due to breeding habitat loss. Using GPS-tracking, we further investigated the foraging behaviour of resident individuals in both colonies, as well as that of relocated individuals, as enhanced foraging effort could represent a potential driver of reproductive costs. RESULTS We found negative consequences of relocation for offspring development, which were apparent when brood demand was experimentally increased. Recently relocated gulls travelled further distances for foraging than residents, as they often visited more distant foraging sites used by residents breeding in their natal colony as well as new areas outside the home range of the residents in the colony where they settled. CONCLUSIONS Our results imply that relocated individuals did not yet optimally adapt to the new food landscape, which was unexpected, given the social information on foraging locations that may have been available from resident neighbours in their new breeding colony. Even though the short-term reproductive costs were comparatively low, we show that generalist species, such as the Lesser black-backed gull, may be more vulnerable to habitat loss than expected. Long term studies are needed to investigate how long individuals are affected by their relocation in order to better assess potential population effects of (breeding) habitat loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa M Kavelaars
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology (BECO) Researchgroup, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC), Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Jan M Baert
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology (BECO) Researchgroup, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC), Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eric W M Stienen
- Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Kliniekstraat 25, 1070, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Judy Shamoun-Baranes
- Computational Geo-Ecology, IBED, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94248, 1090, GE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Luc Lens
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC), Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wendt Müller
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology (BECO) Researchgroup, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
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26
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Bodey TW, Cleasby IR, Blount JD, McElwaine G, Vigfusdottir F, Bearhop S. Consistent measures of oxidative balance predict survival but not reproduction in a long‐distance migrant. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:1872-1882. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W. Bodey
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation University of Exeter Penryn Campus Penryn UK
- School of Biological Sciences University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - Ian R. Cleasby
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation University of Exeter Penryn Campus Penryn UK
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Centre for Conservation Science Inverness UK
| | - Jonathan D. Blount
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation University of Exeter Penryn Campus Penryn UK
| | | | - Freydis Vigfusdottir
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Social Sciences University of Iceland Reykjavik Iceland
| | - Stuart Bearhop
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation University of Exeter Penryn Campus Penryn UK
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27
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Rumolo P, Zappes IA, Fabiani A, Barra M, Rakaj A, Palozzi R, Allegrucci G. The diet of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) in Terra Nova Bay using stable isotope analysis. THE EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/24750263.2020.1720832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- P. Rumolo
- Istituto di Scienze Marine (ISMAR), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Naples, Italy
| | - I. A. Zappes
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - A. Fabiani
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - M. Barra
- Istituto di Scienze Marine (ISMAR), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Naples, Italy
| | - A. Rakaj
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - R. Palozzi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - G. Allegrucci
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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28
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Freeman NE, Norris DR, Sutton AO, Newman AEM. Raising young with limited resources: supplementation improves body condition and advances fledging of Canada Jays. Ecology 2019; 101:e02909. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nikole E. Freeman
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road East Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - D. Ryan Norris
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road East Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
- Nature Conservancy of Canada 245 Eglington Avenue East Toronto Ontario M4P 3J1 Canada
| | - Alex O. Sutton
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road East Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Amy E. M. Newman
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road East Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
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29
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Lemieux V, Garant D, Reale D, Bergeron P. Spatio-temporal variation in oxidative status regulation in a small mammal. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7801. [PMID: 31608176 PMCID: PMC6788435 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Life-history allocation trade-offs are dynamic over time and space according to the ecological and demographical context. Fluctuations in food availability can affect physiological trade-offs like oxidative status regulation, reflecting the balance between pro-oxidant production and antioxidant capacity. Monitoring the spatio-temporal stability of oxidative status in natural settings may help understanding its importance in ecological and evolutionary processes. However, few studies have yet conducted such procedures in wild populations. Here, we monitored individual oxidative status in a wild eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) population across the 2017 summer active period and over three study sites. Oxidative damage (MDA: Malondialdehyde levels) and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels (FRAP: Ferric reducing antioxidant power and HASC: Hypochlorous acid shock capacity) were quantified across time and space using assays optimized for small blood volumes. Our results showed an increase in oxidative damage mirrored by a decrease in FRAP throughout the season. We also found different antioxidant levels among our three study sites for both markers. Our results also revealed the effects of sex and body mass on oxidative status. Early in the active season, females and individuals with a greater body mass had higher oxidative damage. Males had higher HASC levels than females throughout the summer. This study shows that oxidative status regulation is a dynamic process that requires a detailed spatial and temporal monitoring to yield a complete picture of possible trade-offs between pro-oxidant production and antioxidant capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Lemieux
- Départment de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
- Biological Sciences, Bishop’s University, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Dany Garant
- Départment de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Denis Reale
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada
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30
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Wischnewski S, Arneill GE, Bennison AW, Dillane E, Poupart TA, Hinde CA, Jessopp MJ, Quinn JL. Variation in foraging strategies over a large spatial scale reduces parent–offspring conflict in Manx shearwaters. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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31
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Culina A, Linton DM, Pradel R, Bouwhuis S, Macdonald DW. Live fast, don't die young: Survival-reproduction trade-offs in long-lived income breeders. J Anim Ecol 2019; 88:746-756. [PMID: 30737781 PMCID: PMC6850603 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Trade-offs between survival and reproduction are at the core of life-history theory, and essential to understanding the evolution of reproductive tactics as well as population dynamics and stability. Factors influencing these trade-offs are multiple and often addressed in isolation. Further problems arise as reproductive states and survival in wild populations are estimated based on imperfect and potentially biased observation processes, which might lead to flawed conclusions. In this study, we aimed at elucidating trade-offs between current reproduction (both pregnancy and lactation), survival and future reproduction, including the specific costs of first reproduction, in long-lived, income breeding small mammals, an under-studied group. We developed a novel statistical framework that encapsulates the breeding life cycle of females, and accounts for incomplete information on female pregnancy and lactation and imperfect and biased recapture rates. We applied this framework to longitudinal data on two sympatric, closely related bat species (Myotis daubentonii and M. nattereri). We revealed the existence of several, to our knowledge previously unknown, trends in survival and breeding of these closely related, sympatric species and detected remarkable differences in their age and costs of first reproduction, as well as their survival-reproduction trade-offs. Our results indicate that species with this type of life history exhibit a mixture of patterns expected for long-lived and short-lived animals, and between income and capital breeders. Thus, we call for more studies to be conducted in similar study systems, increasing our ability to fully understand the evolutionary origin and fitness effects of trade-offs and senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antica Culina
- WildCRU, Zoology DepartmentThe Recanati‐Kaplan CentreUniversity of OxfordTubney, AbingdonUK
- Netherlands Institute of EcologyNIOO‐KNAWWageningenNetherlands
| | - Danielle Marie Linton
- WildCRU, Zoology DepartmentThe Recanati‐Kaplan CentreUniversity of OxfordTubney, AbingdonUK
| | - Roger Pradel
- CEFE UMR 5175CNRS Université de MontpellierUniversité Paul‐ Valery MontpellierEPHEMontpellier Cedex 05France
| | | | - David W. Macdonald
- WildCRU, Zoology DepartmentThe Recanati‐Kaplan CentreUniversity of OxfordTubney, AbingdonUK
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32
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Gossieaux P, Leclerc M, Van de Walle J, Poisson Y, Toni P, Landes J, Bourret A, Garant D, Pelletier F, Bélisle M. Offspring mass variation in tree swallows: A case of bet‐hedging? Ecosphere 2019; 10:e02607. [PMID: 35865407 PMCID: PMC9286465 DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of reproductive strategies is affected by the ability of organisms to deal with future environmental conditions. When environments are temporally unpredictable, however, it is difficult to anticipate optimal offspring phenotype. Diversification of offspring phenotypes, a strategy called diversified bet‐hedging, may allow parents to maximize their fitness by reducing between‐year variation in reproductive success. The link between diversification of offspring phenotypes and individual reproductive success, however, has rarely been documented empirically. We used an eight‐year dataset (1215 broods, 870 females) on individually marked tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) to assess whether intra‐brood mass variation was compatible with a diversified bet‐hedging strategy. Intra‐brood mass variation was weakly, but significantly repeatable within females, suggesting consistent individual differences. Greater intra‐brood mass variation, however, was not associated with reduced between‐year variation in reproductive success or increased female reproductive success. Moreover, contrary to diversified bet‐hedging expectations, fledging success of large broods was greater when hatchlings had similar rather than variable masses. Our results suggest that intra‐brood mass variation may not result from diversified bet‐hedging, but rather from complex interactions between environmental, brood, and maternal characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippine Gossieaux
- Département de Biologie Université de Sherbrooke 2500 Boulevard de l'Université Sherbrooke Quebec J1K 2R1 Canada
| | - Martin Leclerc
- Département de Biologie Université de Sherbrooke 2500 Boulevard de l'Université Sherbrooke Quebec J1K 2R1 Canada
| | - Joanie Van de Walle
- Département de Biologie Université de Sherbrooke 2500 Boulevard de l'Université Sherbrooke Quebec J1K 2R1 Canada
| | - Yoanna Poisson
- Département de Biologie Université de Sherbrooke 2500 Boulevard de l'Université Sherbrooke Quebec J1K 2R1 Canada
| | - Pauline Toni
- Département de Biologie Université de Sherbrooke 2500 Boulevard de l'Université Sherbrooke Quebec J1K 2R1 Canada
| | - Julie Landes
- Département de Biologie Université de Sherbrooke 2500 Boulevard de l'Université Sherbrooke Quebec J1K 2R1 Canada
| | - Audrey Bourret
- Département de Biologie Université de Sherbrooke 2500 Boulevard de l'Université Sherbrooke Quebec J1K 2R1 Canada
| | - Dany Garant
- Département de Biologie Université de Sherbrooke 2500 Boulevard de l'Université Sherbrooke Quebec J1K 2R1 Canada
| | - Fanie Pelletier
- Département de Biologie Université de Sherbrooke 2500 Boulevard de l'Université Sherbrooke Quebec J1K 2R1 Canada
| | - Marc Bélisle
- Département de Biologie Université de Sherbrooke 2500 Boulevard de l'Université Sherbrooke Quebec J1K 2R1 Canada
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33
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Tompkins EM, Anderson DJ. Sex-specific patterns of senescence in Nazca boobies linked to mating system. J Anim Ecol 2019; 88:986-1000. [PMID: 30746683 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Under life-history theories of ageing, increased senescence should follow relatively high reproductive effort. This expectation has rarely been tested against senescence varying between and within the two sexes, although such an approach may clarify the origins of sex-specific ageing in the context of a given mating system. Nazca boobies (Sula granti; a seabird) practise serial monogamy and biparental care. A male-biased population sex ratio results in earlier and more frequent breeding by females. Based on sex-specific reproductive schedules, females were expected to show faster age-related decline for survival and reproduction. Within each sex, high reproductive effort in early life was expected to reduce late-life performance and accelerate senescence. Longitudinal data were used to (a) evaluate the sex specificity of reproductive and actuarial senescence and then (b) test for early-/late-life fitness trade-offs within each sex. Within-sex analyses inform an interpretation of sex differences in senescence based on costs of reproduction. Analyses incorporated individual heterogeneity in breeding performance and cohort-level differences in early-adult environments. Females showed marginally more intense actuarial senescence and stronger age-related declines for fledging success. The opposite pattern (earlier and faster male senescence) was found for breeding probability. Individual reproductive effort in early life positively predicted late-life reproductive performance in both sexes and thus did not support a causal link between early-reproduction/late-life fitness trade-offs and sex differences in ageing. A high-quality diet in early adulthood reduced late-life survival (females) and accelerated senescence for fledging success (males). This study documents clear variation in ageing patterns-by sex, early-adult environment and early-adult reproductive effort-with implications for the role mating systems and early-life environments play in determining ageing patterns. Absent evidence for a disposable soma mechanism, patterns of sex differences in senescence may result from age- and condition-dependent mate choice interacting with this population's male-biased sex ratio and mate rotation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Tompkins
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - David J Anderson
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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Pacoureau N, Authier M, Delord K, Barbraud C. Population response of an apex Antarctic consumer to its prey and climate fluctuations. Oecologia 2018; 189:279-291. [PMID: 30116877 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-018-4249-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
A fundamental endeavor in population ecology is to identify the drivers of population dynamics. A few empirical studies included the effect of prey abundance when investigating simultaneously the effects of density-dependence and climate factors on marine top-predator population dynamics. Our aim was to unravel the mechanisms forcing population dynamics of an apex consumer seabird, the south polar skua, using long-term climatic and population time series of the consumer and its prey in Terre Adélie, Antarctica. Influences of density-dependence, climatic factors, and prey abundance with lag effects were tested on the breeding population dynamics with a Bayesian multi-model inference approach. We evidenced a negative trend in breeding population growth rate when density increased. Lagged effects of sea-ice concentration and air temperature in spring and a contemporary effect of prey resources were supported. Remarkably, results outline a reverse response of the south polar skua and one of its main preys to the same environmental factor (sea-ice concentration), suggesting a strong link between skua and penguin dynamics. The causal mechanisms may involve competition for food and space through territorial behavior as well as local climate and prey availability, which probably operate on breeding parameters (breeding propensity, breeding success, or recruitment) rather than on adult survival. Our results provide new insights on the relative importance of factors forcing the population dynamics of an apex consumer including density-dependence, local climate conditions, and direct and indirect effects of prey abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Pacoureau
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, UMR-CNRS 7372, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France.
| | - Matthieu Authier
- Observatoire PELAGIS, UMS-CNRS 3462, Université de la Rochelle, allée 4 de l'Océan, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Karine Delord
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, UMR-CNRS 7372, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Christophe Barbraud
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, UMR-CNRS 7372, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
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35
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Bårdsen BJ, Hanssen SA, Bustnes JO. Multiple stressors: modeling the effect of pollution, climate, and predation on viability of a sub-arctic marine bird. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bård-Jørgen Bårdsen
- Arctic Ecology Department; Fram Centre; Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA); N-9296 Tromsø Norway
| | - Sveinn Are Hanssen
- Arctic Ecology Department; Fram Centre; Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA); N-9296 Tromsø Norway
| | - Jan Ove Bustnes
- Arctic Ecology Department; Fram Centre; Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA); N-9296 Tromsø Norway
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36
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To breed or not to breed: drivers of intermittent breeding in a seabird under increasing predation risk and male bias. Oecologia 2018; 188:129-138. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-018-4176-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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37
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Weimerskirch H. Linking demographic processes and foraging ecology in wandering albatross-Conservation implications. J Anim Ecol 2018; 87:945-955. [PMID: 29476544 PMCID: PMC6032837 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Population dynamics and foraging ecology are two fields of the population ecology that are generally studied separately. Yet, foraging determines allocation processes and therefore demography. Studies on wandering albatrosses Diomedea exulans over the past 50 years have contributed to better understand the links between population dynamics and foraging ecology. This article reviews how these two facets of population ecology have been combined to better understand ecological processes, but also have contributed fundamentally for the conservation of this long‐lived threatened species. Wandering albatross research has combined a 50‐year long‐term study of marked individuals with two decades of tracking studies that have been initiated on this species, favoured by its large size and tameness. At all stages of their life history, the body mass of individuals plays a central role in allocation processes, in particular in influencing adult and juvenile survival, decisions to recruit into the population or to invest into provisioning the offspring or into maintenance. Strong age‐related variations in demographic parameters are observed and are linked to age‐related differences in foraging distribution and efficiency. Marked sex‐specific differences in foraging distribution, foraging efficiency and changes in mass over lifetime are directly related to the strong sex‐specific investment in breeding and survival trajectories of the two sexes, with body mass playing a pivotal role especially in males. Long‐term study has allowed determining the sex‐specific and age‐specific demographic causes of population decline, and the tracking studies have been able to derive where and how these impacts occur, in particular the role of long‐line fisheries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henri Weimerskirch
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372, CNRS/Université de La Rochelle, Villiers-en-Bois, France
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38
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Guindre-Parker S, Rubenstein DR. Multiple benefits of alloparental care in a fluctuating environment. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:172406. [PMID: 29515910 PMCID: PMC5830800 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.172406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Although cooperatively breeding vertebrates occur disproportionately in unpredictable environments, the underlying mechanism shaping this biogeographic pattern remains unclear. Cooperative breeding may buffer against harsh conditions (hard life hypothesis), or additionally allow for sustained breeding under benign conditions (temporal variability hypothesis). To distinguish between the hard life and temporal variability hypotheses, we investigated whether the number of alloparents at a nest increased reproductive success or load-lightening in superb starlings (Lamprotornis superbus), and whether these two types of benefits varied in harsh and benign years. We found that mothers experienced both types of benefits consistent with the temporal variability hypothesis, as larger contingents of alloparents increased the number of young fledged while simultaneously allowing mothers to reduce their provisioning rates under both harsh and benign rainfall conditions. By contrast, fathers experienced load-lightening only under benign rainfall conditions, suggesting that cooperative breeding may serve to take advantage of unpredictable benign breeding seasons when they do occur. Cooperative breeding in unpredictable environments may thus promote flexibility in offspring care behaviour, which could mitigate variability in the cost of raising young. Our results highlight the importance of considering how offspring care decisions vary among breeding roles and across fluctuating environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Guindre-Parker
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Dustin R. Rubenstein
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
- Center for Integrative Animal Behavior, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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39
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Cornioley T, Jenouvrier S, Börger L, Weimerskirch H, Ozgul A. Fathers matter: male body mass affects life-history traits in a size-dimorphic seabird. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.0397. [PMID: 28469021 PMCID: PMC5443952 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the predicted consequences of climate change is a shift in body mass distributions within animal populations. Yet body mass, an important component of the physiological state of an organism, can affect key life-history traits and consequently population dynamics. Over the past decades, the wandering albatross—a pelagic seabird providing bi-parental care with marked sexual size dimorphism—has exhibited an increase in average body mass and breeding success in parallel with experiencing increasing wind speeds. To assess the impact of these changes, we examined how body mass affects five key life-history traits at the individual level: adult survival, breeding probability, breeding success, chick mass and juvenile survival. We found that male mass impacted all traits examined except breeding probability, whereas female mass affected none. Adult male survival increased with increasing mass. Increasing adult male mass increased breeding success and mass of sons but not of daughters. Juvenile male survival increased with their chick mass. These results suggest that a higher investment in sons by fathers can increase their inclusive fitness, which is not the case for daughters. Our study highlights sex-specific differences in the effect of body mass on the life history of a monogamous species with bi-parental care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Cornioley
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stéphanie Jenouvrier
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Mailstop 50, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA.,Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Station d'Ecologie de Chizé-La Rochelle, CNRS UMR 7372, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Luca Börger
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Henri Weimerskirch
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Station d'Ecologie de Chizé-La Rochelle, CNRS UMR 7372, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Arpat Ozgul
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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40
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Smith KT, Beck JL, Kirol CP. Reproductive state leads to intraspecific habitat partitioning and survival differences in greater sage-grouse: implications for conservation. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/wr17123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Context
Inter- and intraspecific habitat partitioning is widespread across taxa, yet limited information is available on differences in intraspecific habitat selection by same-sex individuals among differing reproductive states. Understanding habitat selection by conspecifics of different reproductive states may help optimise conservation efforts, particularly for gallinaceous bird species such as greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), which are long-lived but have only moderate reproductive rates.
Aims
We predicted that habitat use differed between grouse under different reproductive states and that reproductive investment decreased survival of adults in summer.
Methods
We compared habitat characteristics used by brood-rearing and broodless female sage-grouse and evaluated the influence of reproductive investment and habitat use on survival of adult females.
Key results
We found that brood-rearing and broodless female sage-grouse partitioned habitat at micro- and macrohabitat scales. Broodless females were more likely to survive the summer.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest reproductive state variability in habitat selection by female sage-grouse. Broodless females were roosting and foraging in concealed habitats with intermediate visual obstruction and annual vegetation productivity, but less food forb availability compared with early and late brood-rearing females. In contrast, brood-rearing females likely selected more herbaceous understoreys to predictably maximise foraging opportunities and promote growth of their chicks, which appeared to mitigate the influence of reproductive costs on summer survival, particularly during the late brood-rearing period.
Implications
Survival of adult females is critical for population persistence of sage-grouse and other long-lived Galliformes, yet conservation efforts generally focus on habitats used during nesting and brood-rearing. Our results suggest that habitat partitioning is a potential risk-aversion strategy where individuals across different reproductive states likely select habitats to maximise their survival. Conservation efforts should focus on conserving habitats used by both brood-rearing and broodless sage-grouse to ensure population persistence.
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41
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Guindre-Parker S, Rubenstein DR. No short-term physiological costs of offspring care in a cooperatively breeding bird. J Exp Biol 2018; 221:jeb.186569. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.186569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The cost of reproduction results in a life-history trade-off where investment in current reproduction via costly parental care decreases subsequent fitness. Although this trade-off is thought to occur ubiquitously across animals, there is equivocal evidence that parental care behaviours are costly. A major challenge of studying the cost of parental care has been a lack of consensus over which physiological mechanisms underlie this trade-off. Here we compare four traits believed to mediate the cost of parental care by examining whether glucocorticoids, oxidative stress, immune function, or body condition represent a cost of performing offspring care and shape subsequent fitness. We use a 4-year dataset collected in free-living cooperatively breeding superb starlings (Lamprotornis superbus), a species in which parental and alloparental care effort varies widely among individuals and across years. Our results showed that within-individual change in physiology was unrelated to investment in offspring care, and physiological state during chick-rearing did not predict the likelihood that an individual would breeding in subsequent seasons. Instead, individuals that had elevated baseline corticosterone during incubation performed more nest guarding, suggesting that this hormone may play a preparatory role for investing in offspring care. Together, our results indicate that superb starlings modify their investment in offspring care according to their physiological state during incubation, despite no evidence of a short-term physiological cost of parental or alloparental care. Thus, breeding cooperatively appears to provide individuals with the flexibility to adjust their investment in offspring care and overcome any potential costs of reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Guindre-Parker
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi
| | - Dustin R. Rubenstein
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi
- Center for Integrative Animal Behavior, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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42
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Christensen-Dalsgaard S, May R, Lorentsen SH. Taking a trip to the shelf: Behavioral decisions are mediated by the proximity to foraging habitats in the black-legged kittiwake. Ecol Evol 2017; 8:866-878. [PMID: 29375761 PMCID: PMC5773323 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
For marine top predators like seabirds, the oceans represent a multitude of habitats regarding oceanographic conditions and food availability. Worldwide, these marine habitats are being altered by changes in climate and increased anthropogenic impact. This is causing a growing concern on how seabird populations might adapt to these changes. Understanding how seabird populations respond to fluctuating environmental conditions and to what extent behavioral flexibility can buffer variations in food availability can help predict how seabirds may cope with changes in the marine environment. Such knowledge is important to implement proper long‐term conservation measures intended to protect marine predators. We explored behavioral flexibility in choice of foraging habitat of chick‐rearing black‐legged kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla during multiple years. By comparing foraging behavior of individuals from two colonies with large differences in oceanographic conditions and distances to predictable feeding areas at the Norwegian shelf break, we investigated how foraging decisions are related to intrinsic and extrinsic factors. We found that proximity to the shelf break determined which factors drove the decision to forage there. At the colony near the shelf break, time of departure from the colony and wind speed were most important in driving the choice of habitat. At the colony farther from the shelf break, the decision to forage there was driven by adult body condition. Birds furthermore adjusted foraging behavior metrics according to time of the day, weather conditions, body condition, and the age of the chicks. The study shows that kittiwakes have high degree of flexibility in their behavioral response to a variable marine environment, which might help them buffer changes in prey distribution around the colonies. The flexibility is, however, dependent on the availability of foraging habitats near the colony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Signe Christensen-Dalsgaard
- Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Trondheim Norway.,Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) Trondheim Norway
| | - Roel May
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) Trondheim Norway
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43
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Desprez M, Gimenez O, McMahon CR, Hindell MA, Harcourt RG. Optimizing lifetime reproductive output: Intermittent breeding as a tactic for females in a long-lived, multiparous mammal. J Anim Ecol 2017; 87:199-211. [PMID: 29063588 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In iteroparous species, intermittent breeding is an important life-history tactic that can greatly affect animal population growth and viability. Despite its importance, few studies have quantified the consequences of breeding pauses on lifetime reproductive output, principally because calculating lifetime reproductive output requires knowledge of each individual's entire reproductive history. This information is extremely difficult to obtain in wild populations. We applied novel statistical approaches that account for uncertainty in state assessment and individual heterogeneity to an 18-year capture-recapture dataset of 6,631 female southern elephant seals from Macquarie Island. We estimated survival and breeding probabilities, and investigated the consequences of intermittent breeding on lifetime reproductive output. We found consistent differences in females' demographic performance between two heterogeneity classes. In particular, breeding imbued a high cost on survival in the females from the heterogeneity class 2, assumed to be females of lower quality. Individual quality also appeared to play a major role in a female's decision to skip reproduction with females of poorer quality more likely to skip breeding events than females of higher quality. Skipping some breeding events allowed females from both heterogeneity classes to increase lifetime reproductive output over females that bred annually. However, females of lower quality produced less offspring over their lifetime. Intermittent breeding seems to be used by female southern elephant seals as a tactic to offset reproductive costs on survival and enhance lifetime reproductive output but remains unavoidable and driven by individual-specific constraints in some other females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Desprez
- Marine Predator Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
| | - Olivier Gimenez
- CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS - Université de Montpellier - Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier - EPHE, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | | | - Mark A Hindell
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Robert G Harcourt
- Marine Predator Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
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44
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Vedder O, Bouwhuis S. Heterogeneity in individual quality in birds: overall patterns and insights from a study on common terns. OIKOS 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.04273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Vedder
- Inst. of Avian Research ‘Vogelwarte Helgoland’, An der Vogelwarte 21, DE-26386; Wilhelmshaven Germany
- Groningen Inst. for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Univ. of Groningen, PO Box 11103; NL-9700 CC Groningen the Netherlands
| | - Sandra Bouwhuis
- Groningen Inst. for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Univ. of Groningen, PO Box 11103; NL-9700 CC Groningen the Netherlands
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45
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Krause ET, Krüger O, Pogány Á. Zebra finch nestlings, rather than parents, suffer from raising broods under low nutritional conditions. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-017-2382-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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46
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Colón MR, Long AM, Morrison ML. Responses of an Endangered Songbird to an Extreme Drought Event. SOUTHEAST NAT 2017. [DOI: 10.1656/058.016.0207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Melanie R. Colón
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2258
- Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2260
| | - Ashley M. Long
- Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2260
| | - Michael L. Morrison
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2258
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47
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Benton TG, Grant A. OPTIMAL REPRODUCTIVE EFFORT IN STOCHASTIC, DENSITY-DEPENDENT ENVIRONMENTS. Evolution 2017; 53:677-688. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.1999.tb05363.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/1998] [Accepted: 01/25/1999] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T. G. Benton
- Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Stirling; Stirling FK9 4LA United Kingdom
| | - A. Grant
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia; Norwich NR4 7TJ United Kingdom
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48
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Caudill D, Guttery MR, Terhune TM, Martin JA, Caudill G, Dahlgren DK, Messmer TA. Individual heterogeneity and effects of harvest on greater sage-grouse populations. J Wildl Manage 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Danny Caudill
- Department of Wildland Resources; Utah State University; Logan UT 84322-5230 USA
| | - Michael R. Guttery
- Department of Wildland Resources; Utah State University; Logan UT 84322-5230 USA
| | - Theron M. Terhune
- Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy; Tallahassee FL 32312 USA
| | - James A. Martin
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Savannah River Ecology Lab; University of Georgia; Athens GA 30605 USA
| | - Gretchen Caudill
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Gainesville FL 32601 USA
| | - David K. Dahlgren
- Department of Wildland Resources; Utah State University; Logan UT 84322-5230 USA
| | - Terry A. Messmer
- Jack H. Berryman Institute, Department of Wildland Resources; Utah State University; Logan UT 84322-5230 USA
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49
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Dunham K, Grand JB. Evaluating models of population process in a threatened population of Steller's eiders: a retrospective approach. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kylee Dunham
- School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences; Auburn University; Auburn Alabama 36849 USA
| | - James B. Grand
- U.S. Geological Survey; Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit; Auburn University; Auburn Alabama 36849 USA
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50
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Griesser M, Wagner GF, Drobniak SM, Ekman J. Reproductive trade-offs in a long-lived bird species: condition-dependent reproductive allocation maintains female survival and offspring quality. J Evol Biol 2017; 30:782-795. [PMID: 28135017 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2016] [Revised: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Life history theory is an essential framework to understand the evolution of reproductive allocation. It predicts that individuals of long-lived species favour their own survival over current reproduction, leading individuals to refrain from reproducing under harsh conditions. Here we test this prediction in a long-lived bird species, the Siberian jay Perisoreus infaustus. Long-term data revealed that females rarely refrain from breeding, but lay smaller clutches in unfavourable years. Neither offspring body size, female survival nor offspring survival until the next year was influenced by annual condition, habitat quality, clutch size, female age or female phenotype. Given that many nests failed due to nest predation, the variance in the number of fledglings was higher than the variance in the number of eggs and female survival. An experimental challenge with a novel pathogen before egg laying largely replicated these patterns in two consecutive years with contrasting conditions. Challenged females refrained from breeding only in the unfavourable year, but no downstream effects were found in either year. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that condition-dependent reproductive allocation may serve to maintain female survival and offspring quality, supporting patterns found in long-lived mammals. We discuss avenues to develop life history theory concerning strategies to offset reproductive costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Griesser
- Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - G F Wagner
- Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - S M Drobniak
- Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - J Ekman
- Department of Ecology and Genetic/Population Biology and Conservation Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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