Condition and coalition formation by brood-rearing common eider females
Partner choice is important in nature, and partnerships or coalitions within which reproduction is shared are the subject of growing interest. However, little attention has been given to questions of which individuals are suitable partners and why. Common eider (Somateria mollissima) females sometim...
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ftciteseerx:oai:CiteSeerX.psu:10.1.1.516.6185 2023-05-15T15:55:55+02:00 Condition and coalition formation by brood-rearing common eider females A Ron Ydenberg B Mikael Kilpi The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives 2003 application/pdf http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.516.6185 http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/content/14/3/311.full.pdf en eng http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.516.6185 http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/content/14/3/311.full.pdf Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/content/14/3/311.full.pdf text 2003 ftciteseerx 2016-01-08T09:54:08Z Partner choice is important in nature, and partnerships or coalitions within which reproduction is shared are the subject of growing interest. However, little attention has been given to questions of which individuals are suitable partners and why. Common eider (Somateria mollissima) females sometimes pool their broods and share brood-rearing duties, and body condition affects care decisions. We constructed a model in which females, based on their body condition and the structure of the joint brood, assess the fitness consequences of joining a coalition versus tending for young alone. We tested the model’s predictions by comparing data on the condition of females in enduring and transient coalitions. Our model showed that the range of acceptable brood arrays in a female coalition decreases with increasing condition of the female, so females tending alone should be in better condition than multifemale tenders. This prediction is in agreement with previous data. The model also predicts that females in good condition should join coalitions with females in poor condition and not with other females in good condition. This prediction was also supported by data: in enduring two-female coalitions, the positive correlation between the better female’s condition and the difference in condition between the two females was stronger than would be expected by random grouping of females. In contrast, in transient coalitions of females, this correlation did not differ from the correlation expected under random grouping. Model assumptions seem to fit with eider natural history, and the model may prove to be a useful way to study brood amalgamation behavior of waterfowl in general. Key words: body condition, brood amalgamation, coalitions, common eider, parental care, partner choice, solitary tending, Somateria mollissima. [Behav Ecol 14:311–317 (2003)] Text Common Eider Somateria mollissima Unknown |
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Partner choice is important in nature, and partnerships or coalitions within which reproduction is shared are the subject of growing interest. However, little attention has been given to questions of which individuals are suitable partners and why. Common eider (Somateria mollissima) females sometimes pool their broods and share brood-rearing duties, and body condition affects care decisions. We constructed a model in which females, based on their body condition and the structure of the joint brood, assess the fitness consequences of joining a coalition versus tending for young alone. We tested the model’s predictions by comparing data on the condition of females in enduring and transient coalitions. Our model showed that the range of acceptable brood arrays in a female coalition decreases with increasing condition of the female, so females tending alone should be in better condition than multifemale tenders. This prediction is in agreement with previous data. The model also predicts that females in good condition should join coalitions with females in poor condition and not with other females in good condition. This prediction was also supported by data: in enduring two-female coalitions, the positive correlation between the better female’s condition and the difference in condition between the two females was stronger than would be expected by random grouping of females. In contrast, in transient coalitions of females, this correlation did not differ from the correlation expected under random grouping. Model assumptions seem to fit with eider natural history, and the model may prove to be a useful way to study brood amalgamation behavior of waterfowl in general. Key words: body condition, brood amalgamation, coalitions, common eider, parental care, partner choice, solitary tending, Somateria mollissima. [Behav Ecol 14:311–317 (2003)] |
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The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives |
format |
Text |
author |
A Ron Ydenberg B Mikael Kilpi |
spellingShingle |
A Ron Ydenberg B Mikael Kilpi Condition and coalition formation by brood-rearing common eider females |
author_facet |
A Ron Ydenberg B Mikael Kilpi |
author_sort |
A Ron Ydenberg |
title |
Condition and coalition formation by brood-rearing common eider females |
title_short |
Condition and coalition formation by brood-rearing common eider females |
title_full |
Condition and coalition formation by brood-rearing common eider females |
title_fullStr |
Condition and coalition formation by brood-rearing common eider females |
title_full_unstemmed |
Condition and coalition formation by brood-rearing common eider females |
title_sort |
condition and coalition formation by brood-rearing common eider females |
publishDate |
2003 |
url |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.516.6185 http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/content/14/3/311.full.pdf |
genre |
Common Eider Somateria mollissima |
genre_facet |
Common Eider Somateria mollissima |
op_source |
http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/content/14/3/311.full.pdf |
op_relation |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.516.6185 http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/content/14/3/311.full.pdf |
op_rights |
Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. |
_version_ |
1766391398361202688 |