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Abstract
High maternal investment in pregnancy and the perinatal period are prominent features of eutherian reproduction. Viviparity increases offspring survival, favoring high maternal prenatal investment. Matrotrophy through the placenta reduces maternal investment at early pregnancy, allowing the mother to abort embryos of subpar quality, therefore reducing resources wastage. On the other hand, intimate maternal-fetal interplay enables the fetus to manipulate maternal physiology to acquire more resources. This parent-offspring conflict likely drives the evolution of eutherian placentation, which is facilitated by the endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), ancient retroviruses that invaded host genome millions of years ago. ERVs bring new genes and novel regulatory elements into host genome, contribute to maternal-fetal tolerance, placenta-specific cell type formation, trophoblast gene expression network rewiring, and the establishment of imprinting. However, retroviruses/ERVs can function as infectious pathogens that interfere with host immune and inflammation pathways and cause genomic instability. In addition, ERVs coopted for host function may contribute to pathogenesis during infections due to their susceptibility to mechanisms activated by the invading pathogens. ERVs have been implicated in multiple perinatal adverse outcomes, therefore, eutherians must have evolved control mechanisms to regulate their function. Here we propose the TRIM family as an important participant of host antiviral defense and a likely candidate that mediates the coevolution of ERVs and their eutherian host. TRIMs have been shown to interact with retroviruses during each step of the infectious cycle. Understanding TRIMs' role in ERV regulation in the placenta may provide insight to both the physiology and pathology of eutherian reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuzhe Zhang
- March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center Ohio Collaborative, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Louis J Muglia
- March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center Ohio Collaborative, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
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2
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Garcia AG, Godoy WAC, Cônsoli FL, Ferreira CP. Modelling movement and stage-specific habitat preferences of a polyphagous insect pest. Mov Ecol 2020; 8:13. [PMID: 32161649 PMCID: PMC7053101 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-020-00198-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The feeding preferences of Diabrotica speciosa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) cause a parent-offspring conflict, as providing the best host for the offspring development is detrimental to adult survival and fecundity. Understanding the implications of this conflict could help entomologists to implement pest-management programs. With this in mind, the foraging behaviour of D. speciosa was investigated using an individual-based model in two distinct scenarios. METHODS In an intercropping scenario, parent-offspring conflict was simulated when adult insects exploit two crops (corn and soybean) that provide different nutritional advantages for each insect stage. First, we compared three hypothetical types of adult dispersal, considering a continuous oviposition over time: diffusion, attracted to a fixed host and alternating the preference between hosts with frequency 1 τ , where τ is the time in days spent foraging for each host. We also simulated two principles: "mother knows best" (adult females foraging for corn during the oviposition period) and "optimal bad motherhood" (adult females remain foraging for soybean to maximise their own fitness during the oviposition period), but considering the existence of a pre-oviposition period. In a landscape scenario, we investigated the population dynamics in an area composed by 4 crop plots that change over time. RESULTS Among dispersal types considering continuous oviposition, the crop-alternating movement a-3 performed best, when close to an optimal τ. Additionally, τ was predicted to be influenced mainly by the width of crop rows. We also verified that the "mother knows best" strategy is better for the population growth than the "optimal bad motherhood". In the landscape scenario, we observed that including fallow periods in the crop calendar and adopting a more-heterogeneous arrangement of crop plots reduced the density of this insect. CONCLUSION Both the continuous and sequential oviposition simulations indicate that foraging involving switching of target crop benefits population fitness. In the landscape scenario, arranging crop plots more heterogeneously and avoiding vast areas of soybean can help farmers to control this insect pest. Additionally, fallow periods can also reduce significantly D. speciosa populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano G. Garcia
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, 08901-8551 USA
| | - Wesley A. C. Godoy
- Department of Entomology and Acarology, University of São Paulo, ESALQ, USP, Piracicaba, 13418-900 Brazil
| | - Fernando L. Cônsoli
- Department of Entomology and Acarology, University of São Paulo, ESALQ, USP, Piracicaba, 13418-900 Brazil
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3
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Abstract
Parent-offspring conflict-conflict over resource distribution within families due to differences in genetic relatedness-is the biological foundation for many psychological phenomena. In genomic imprinting disorders, parent-specific genetic expression is altered causing imbalances in behaviors influenced by parental investment. We use this natural experiment to test the theory that parent-offspring conflict contributed to the evolution of vocal music by moderating infant demands for parental attention. Individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome, a genomic imprinting disorder resulting from increased relative maternal genetic contribution, show enhanced relaxation responses to song, consistent with reduced demand for parental investment (Mehr et al., 2017, Psychological Science). We report the necessary complementary pattern here: individuals with Angelman syndrome, a genomic imprinting disorder resulting from increased relative paternal genetic contribution, demonstrate a relatively reduced relaxation response to song, suggesting increased demand for parental attention. These results support the extension of genetic conflict theories to psychological resources like parental attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Kotler
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,Department of Psychology, Harvard University, 33 Kirkland St., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Samuel A Mehr
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, 33 Kirkland St., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,Data Science Initiative, Harvard University, 8 Story St., Suite 380, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Alena Egner
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, 33 Kirkland St., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - David Haig
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Max M Krasnow
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, 33 Kirkland St., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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Gish M, Inbar M. Standing on the shoulders of giants: young aphids piggyback on adults when searching for a host plant. Front Zool 2018; 15:49. [PMID: 30534184 PMCID: PMC6282293 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-018-0292-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Upon the detection of imminent peril, pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) often drop off their host plant. Dropping in response to insect enemies is intermittent in nature, but when a mammalian herbivore feeds on their host plant, a large mixed-age group of aphids usually drops off the plant at once. Aphids that reach the ground are confronted with new, hostile environmental conditions and must therefore quickly walk toward a suitable host plant. The longer it takes an aphid to reach a host plant, the more it is exposed to the risks of starvation, desiccation and predation. Results We found that young nymphs, which have limited mobility and high mortality on the ground, quickly climb on conspecific (not necessarily parental) adults and cling to them before the latter start walking in search of a plant. This “riding” behavior is likely to be adaptive for the nymphs, for it shortens their journey and the time they spend off a host plant. Adults however, seem to be irritated by the riding nymphs, as they often actively try to remove them. Conclusions After dropping from the host plant, young aphid nymphs travel at least part of the way back to a plant on the backs of adults. For the riding behavior to take place, nymphs need to successfully find adults and withstand removal attempts. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12983-018-0292-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moshe Gish
- 1Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Moshe Inbar
- 2Department of Evolutionary & Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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Vitzthum VJ, Thornburg J, Spielvogel H. Impacts of nocturnal breastfeeding, photoperiod, and access to electricity on maternal sleep behaviors in a non-industrial rural Bolivian population. Sleep Health 2018; 4:535-542. [PMID: 30442322 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleh.2018.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We tested 4 main predictions, derived from life history theory and self-evident human diurnality, regarding maternal sleep behaviors in a non-industrialized population in which mother-nursling co-sleeping is universal and prolonged: (1) Night breastfeeding incurs a sleep cost to co-sleeping mothers; (2) Night breastfeeding increases with infant age, causing mothers to sleep less; (3) Sleep duration co-varies with darkness duration; (4) Access to electricity reduces sleep duration. DESIGN Mothers self-recorded and reported nursing and sleep behaviors for a 48-hour period once per month (median = 5 months). SETTING Rural Bolivian altiplano homesteads, primarily reliant on agropastoralism, scattered throughout the countryside surrounding a main town (altitude 3800 m; 17°14'S, 65°55'W; darkness duration 10-12 hours over the year). PARTICIPANTS One hundred eighty-four co-sleeping mother-infant pairs (infant age 22-730 days). MEASUREMENTS Breastfeeding frequency, and retiring and rising times for 885 48-hour observation periods. RESULTS Maternal sleep duration covaried with darkness duration. Sleep duration was shorter in those with access to electricity (ie, living nearer to town) than those without access (more distant homesteads). Night breastfeeding rate was fairly steady until it began to decline after the first year postpartum. At a given infant age, higher night breastfeeding rates were associated with less maternal sleep. As their infants aged, mothers without electricity slept more, whereas mothers with access slept less. CONCLUSIONS During the first year postpartum, more frequent night nursing shortens maternal sleep more than any other predictor variable. For older infants, the effect of night nursing diminishes, and even modest "modernization" (eg, access to electricity) is associated with shorter maternal sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia J Vitzthum
- Evolutionary Anthropology Laboratory, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA; Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA; Department of Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
| | - Jonathan Thornburg
- Department of Astronomy, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA; Center for Spacetime Symmetries, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
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Fresneau N, Iserbyt A, Lucass C, Müller W. Size matters but hunger prevails-begging and provisioning rules in blue tit families. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5301. [PMID: 30038874 PMCID: PMC6054862 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
It is commonly observed in many bird species that dependent offspring vigorously solicit for food transfers provided by their parents. However, the likelihood of receiving food does not only depend on the parental response, but also on the degree of sibling competition, at least in species where parents raise several offspring simultaneously. To date, little is known about whether and how individual offspring adjusts its begging strategy according to the entwined effects of need, state and competitive ability of itself and its siblings. We here manipulated the hunger levels of either the two heaviest or the two lightest blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) nestlings in a short-term food deprivation experiment. Our results showed that the lightest nestlings consistently begged more than the heaviest nestlings, an effect that was overruled by the tremendous increase in begging behaviour after food deprivation. Meanwhile, the amplified begging signals after food deprivation were the only cue for providing parents in their decision process. Furthermore, we observed flexible but state-independent begging behaviour in response to changes in sibling need. As opposed to our expectations, nestlings consistently increased their begging behaviour when confronted with food deprived siblings. Overall, our study highlights that individual begging primarily aims at increasing direct benefits, but nevertheless reflects the complexity of a young birds’ family life, in addition to aspects of intrinsic need and state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nolwenn Fresneau
- Department of Biology/Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Universiteit Antwerpen, Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Arne Iserbyt
- Department of Biology/Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Universiteit Antwerpen, Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Carsten Lucass
- Department of Biology/Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Universiteit Antwerpen, Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Wendt Müller
- Department of Biology/Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Universiteit Antwerpen, Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
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Nguyen TTX, Moehring AJ. Cross-generational comparison of reproductive success in recently caught strains of Drosophila melanogaster. BMC Evol Biol 2017; 17:41. [PMID: 28166714 PMCID: PMC5294731 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-017-0887-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Males and females often have opposing strategies for increasing fitness. Males that out-compete others will acquire more mating opportunities and thus have higher lifetime reproductive success. Females that mate with a high quality male receive either direct benefits through productivity or acquisition of additional resources or indirect benefits through the increased fitness of offspring. These components may be in conflict: factors that increase offspring fitness may decrease a female’s productivity, and alleles that are beneficial in one sex may be detrimental in the opposite sex. Here, we use a multigenerational study with recently caught strains of Drosophila melanogaster to examine the relationship between parental, male offspring, and female offspring fitness when fitness is measured in a basal non-competitive environment. Results We find synergy between parental and offspring lifetime reproductive success, indicating a lack of parent-offspring conflict, and a synergy between son and daughter reproductive success, indicating a lack of intersexual conflict. Interestingly, inbreeding significantly reduced the lifetime reproductive success of daughters, but did not have a significant effect on short-term productivity measures of daughters, sons or parents. Conclusions In wild-caught flies, there appears to be no parent-offspring conflict or intersexual conflict for loci influencing offspring production in a anon-competitive environment. Further, there may not be a biologically relevant selection pressure for avoidance of inbreeding depression in wild-type individuals of this short-lived species. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-017-0887-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trinh T X Nguyen
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Amanda J Moehring
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada.
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Ruuskanen S. Hormonally-mediated maternal effects in birds: Lessons from the flycatcher model system. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2015; 224:283-93. [PMID: 26393309 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Revised: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Maternal effects are a crucial mechanism in many taxa in generating phenotypic variation, affecting offspring development and fitness and thereby potentially adapting them to their expected environments. Androgen hormones in bird eggs have attracted considerable interest in past years, and it is frequently assumed that their concentrations in eggs are shaped by Darwinian selection. Currently, however, the data is scattered over species with very different life-history strategies, environments and selection pressures, making it difficult to draw any firm conclusions as to their functional significance for a given system. I review the evidence available as to the function, variation and potential adaptive value of yolk androgens (testosterone, T and androstenedione, A4) using one well-studied wild bird model system, the European flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca and Ficedula albicollis. These species both show genetic and environmental variation in yolk androgen levels, along with fitness correlations for the female, suggesting the potential for selection. However, variation in yolk T and A4 seem to be differentially affected, suggesting that maternal constraints/costs shape the transfer of the yolk steroids differently. Most of the environmental variation is consistent with the idea of high yolk androgen levels under poor rearing conditions, although the effect sizes in relation to environmental variation are rather small in relation to genetic among-female variation. Importantly, within-clutch patterns too vary in relation to environmental conditions. Yolk androgens seem to have multiple short- and long-term effects on phenotype and behavior; importantly, they are also correlated with the fitness of offspring and mothers. However, the effects are often sex-dependent, and not universally beneficial for the offspring. Unfortunately, conclusive data as to the adaptive benefits of clutch mean androgen levels or within clutch-patterns in different environmental conditions is still lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suvi Ruuskanen
- Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, Finland.
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Abstract
Parents and children have converging as well as diverging interests with respect to the latter's mate choices. Diverging interests frequently result in children choosing mates who do not gain the approval of their parents. Manipulation then arises wherein parents try to drive away undesirable prospective sons- and daughters-in-law, and the latter employ counter manipulation to make the former to change their minds. The present research aims to identify and measure the effectiveness of manipulation tactics that individuals employ to influence their partners' parents to accept them as mates for their daughters and sons. Study 1 recruited a sample of 106 Greek-Cypriots and, using open-ended questionnaires, identified 41 acts that individuals employ on their partners' parents. Using principal-components analysis, in a sample of 738 Greek-Cypriots, Study 2 classified these acts into seven broader manipulation tactics and identified the ones that are more and the ones that are less likely to be employed. Study 3 examined in a sample of 414 Greek-Cypriots the effectiveness of these tactics in altering parents' minds and finds a moderate effectiveness, with some tactics being more effective than others. The implications of these findings are discussed.
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Takata M, Hayashi S, Thomas CE, Koyama S, Satoh T, Fugo H. Asynchronous hatching in the burying beetle, Nicrophorus quadripunctatus, maxmizes parental fitness. J Evol Biol 2014; 27:1830-6. [PMID: 24898472 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2014] [Revised: 04/14/2014] [Accepted: 05/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Life history theory predicts that natural selection favours parents who balance investment across offspring to maximize fitness. Theoretical studies have shown that the optimal level of parental investment from the offspring's perspective exceeds that of its parents, and the disparity between the two generates evolutionary conflict for the allocation of parental investment. In various species, the offspring hatch asynchronously. The age hierarchy of the offspring usually establishes competitive asymmetries within the brood and determines the allocation of parental investment among offspring. However, it is not clear whether the allocation of parental investment determined by hatching pattern is optimal for parent or offspring. Here, we manipulated the hatching pattern of the burying beetle Nicrophorus quadripunctatus to demonstrate the influence of hatching pattern on the allocation of parental investment. We found that the total weight of a brood was largest in the group that mimicked the natural hatching pattern, with the offspring skewed towards early hatchers. This increases parental fitness. However, hatching patterns with more later hatchers had heavier individual offspring weights, which increases offspring fitness, but this hatching pattern is not observed in the wild. Thus, our study suggests that the natural hatching pattern optimizes parental fitness, rather than offspring fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Takata
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan
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Paul M, Sen Majumder S, Bhadra A. Selfish mothers? An empirical test of parent-offspring conflict over extended parental care. Behav Processes 2013; 103:17-22. [PMID: 24216083 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2013.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2013] [Revised: 10/28/2013] [Accepted: 10/28/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Parent-offspring conflict (POC) theory is an interesting conceptual framework for understanding the dynamics of parental care. However, this theory is not easy to test empirically, as exact measures of parental investment in an experimental set-up are difficult to obtain. We have used free-ranging dogs Canis familiaris in India, to study POC in the context of extended parental care. We observed females and their pups in their natural habitat for the mother's tendency to share food given by humans with her pups in the weaning and post-weaning stages. Since these dogs are scavengers, and depend largely on human provided food for their sustenance, voluntary sharing of food by the mother with her pups is a good surrogate for extended parental care. Our behavioural observations convincingly demonstrate an increase of conflict and decrease of cooperation by the mother with her offspring over given food within a span of 4-6 weeks. We also demonstrate that the competition among the pups in a litter scales with litter size, an indicator of sib-sib competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manabi Paul
- Behaviour and Ecology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research - Kolkata, India
| | - Sreejani Sen Majumder
- Behaviour and Ecology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research - Kolkata, India
| | - Anindita Bhadra
- Behaviour and Ecology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research - Kolkata, India.
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