Female sociality in the common eider duck during brood rearing
This study investigates the potential adaptive significance of the behavior of female common eider ducks (Somateria mollissima) which have no young of their own ("aunts") but accompany other females and young. "Aunts" exhibited ambivalent aggression and protection toward duckling...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
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Language: | English |
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Canadian Science Publishing
1982
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z82-421 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z82-421 |
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z82-421 2023-12-17T10:28:54+01:00 Female sociality in the common eider duck during brood rearing Schmutz, J. K. Robertson, R. J. Cooke, F. 1982 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z82-421 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z82-421 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 60, issue 12, page 3326-3331 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 1982 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z82-421 2023-11-19T13:38:49Z This study investigates the potential adaptive significance of the behavior of female common eider ducks (Somateria mollissima) which have no young of their own ("aunts") but accompany other females and young. "Aunts" exhibited ambivalent aggression and protection toward ducklings. There was no evidence that the presence of "aunts" enhanced the survival of the ducklings they accompanied. Both females which had their clutch removed and females which had not laid eggs behaved as "aunts." The level of circulating prolactin hormone in "aunts" was lower than in incubating females and similar to the basal level of males. We therefore rejected the hypothesis that maternal care was misdirected during hormonal adjustment from breeding to nonbreeding. We suggest that "aunts" which have lost a clutch or brood, spend some time feeding away from the colony, and then return to the nesting grounds after replenishing their nutrient reserves. Upon returning, "aunts" may select sites for nesting in future years. During this time, they are temporarily attracted to broods. We propose that "aunts" flock and fend off predators during an attack in an attempt to seek safety in a flock rather than to protect ducklings of other females. Article in Journal/Newspaper Common Eider Somateria mollissima Canadian Science Publishing (via Crossref) Canadian Journal of Zoology 60 12 3326 3331 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Canadian Science Publishing (via Crossref) |
op_collection_id |
crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
topic |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
spellingShingle |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Schmutz, J. K. Robertson, R. J. Cooke, F. Female sociality in the common eider duck during brood rearing |
topic_facet |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
This study investigates the potential adaptive significance of the behavior of female common eider ducks (Somateria mollissima) which have no young of their own ("aunts") but accompany other females and young. "Aunts" exhibited ambivalent aggression and protection toward ducklings. There was no evidence that the presence of "aunts" enhanced the survival of the ducklings they accompanied. Both females which had their clutch removed and females which had not laid eggs behaved as "aunts." The level of circulating prolactin hormone in "aunts" was lower than in incubating females and similar to the basal level of males. We therefore rejected the hypothesis that maternal care was misdirected during hormonal adjustment from breeding to nonbreeding. We suggest that "aunts" which have lost a clutch or brood, spend some time feeding away from the colony, and then return to the nesting grounds after replenishing their nutrient reserves. Upon returning, "aunts" may select sites for nesting in future years. During this time, they are temporarily attracted to broods. We propose that "aunts" flock and fend off predators during an attack in an attempt to seek safety in a flock rather than to protect ducklings of other females. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Schmutz, J. K. Robertson, R. J. Cooke, F. |
author_facet |
Schmutz, J. K. Robertson, R. J. Cooke, F. |
author_sort |
Schmutz, J. K. |
title |
Female sociality in the common eider duck during brood rearing |
title_short |
Female sociality in the common eider duck during brood rearing |
title_full |
Female sociality in the common eider duck during brood rearing |
title_fullStr |
Female sociality in the common eider duck during brood rearing |
title_full_unstemmed |
Female sociality in the common eider duck during brood rearing |
title_sort |
female sociality in the common eider duck during brood rearing |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
1982 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z82-421 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z82-421 |
genre |
Common Eider Somateria mollissima |
genre_facet |
Common Eider Somateria mollissima |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 60, issue 12, page 3326-3331 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z82-421 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
60 |
container_issue |
12 |
container_start_page |
3326 |
op_container_end_page |
3331 |
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1785581132351275008 |