Fitness increases with partner and neighbour allopreening
Altruism and selfishness are fundamental characteristics of human and animal societies. Among colonial biparental species, breeding outcome depends on interactions between mates and neighbours. However, the relationships between cooperation within and among partnerships and fitness have not been ful...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0258 http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2809856 |
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ftnapieruniv:oai:repository@napier.ac.uk:2809856 2023-05-15T15:56:00+02:00 Fitness increases with partner and neighbour allopreening Lewis, Sue Roberts, Gilbert Harris, Mike P Prigmore, Carina Wanless, Sarah 2007-06-05 https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0258 http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2809856 unknown Royal Society http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2809856 doi:https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0258 1744-9561 10.1098/rsbl.2007.0258 altruism parental care neighbours allopreening conflict Journal Article 2007 ftnapieruniv https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0258 2022-06-13T18:46:53Z Altruism and selfishness are fundamental characteristics of human and animal societies. Among colonial biparental species, breeding outcome depends on interactions between mates and neighbours. However, the relationships between cooperation within and among partnerships and fitness have not been fully investigated. We show that in the highly colonial common guillemot (Uria aalge), altruistic behaviour (allopreening) towards a mate was positively related to long-term fitness, whereas allopreening a neighbour was related to current fitness. Turnover is much lower within than between pairs, so our results suggest that allopreening within pairs generates fitness returns at longer timescales than between pairs. Allopreening not only removes ectoparasites and maintains plumage condition, but may also have important social functions. We found a negative relationship between fight rate and allopreen rate between breeding neighbours, with nests exhibiting low breeding success having a higher frequency of fights with neighbours. We also found evidence for reciprocity in allopreening. Thus, allopreening may function as a reciprocal stress reducer, to decrease the likelihood of fights and associated breeding failure. We suggest that altruistic behaviour has long-term benefits for the survival of the offspring when living in a crowded neighbourhood. Article in Journal/Newspaper common guillemot Uria aalge uria Edinburgh Napier Repository (Napier University Edinburgh) Biology Letters 3 4 386 389 |
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Edinburgh Napier Repository (Napier University Edinburgh) |
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unknown |
topic |
altruism parental care neighbours allopreening conflict |
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altruism parental care neighbours allopreening conflict Lewis, Sue Roberts, Gilbert Harris, Mike P Prigmore, Carina Wanless, Sarah Fitness increases with partner and neighbour allopreening |
topic_facet |
altruism parental care neighbours allopreening conflict |
description |
Altruism and selfishness are fundamental characteristics of human and animal societies. Among colonial biparental species, breeding outcome depends on interactions between mates and neighbours. However, the relationships between cooperation within and among partnerships and fitness have not been fully investigated. We show that in the highly colonial common guillemot (Uria aalge), altruistic behaviour (allopreening) towards a mate was positively related to long-term fitness, whereas allopreening a neighbour was related to current fitness. Turnover is much lower within than between pairs, so our results suggest that allopreening within pairs generates fitness returns at longer timescales than between pairs. Allopreening not only removes ectoparasites and maintains plumage condition, but may also have important social functions. We found a negative relationship between fight rate and allopreen rate between breeding neighbours, with nests exhibiting low breeding success having a higher frequency of fights with neighbours. We also found evidence for reciprocity in allopreening. Thus, allopreening may function as a reciprocal stress reducer, to decrease the likelihood of fights and associated breeding failure. We suggest that altruistic behaviour has long-term benefits for the survival of the offspring when living in a crowded neighbourhood. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lewis, Sue Roberts, Gilbert Harris, Mike P Prigmore, Carina Wanless, Sarah |
author_facet |
Lewis, Sue Roberts, Gilbert Harris, Mike P Prigmore, Carina Wanless, Sarah |
author_sort |
Lewis, Sue |
title |
Fitness increases with partner and neighbour allopreening |
title_short |
Fitness increases with partner and neighbour allopreening |
title_full |
Fitness increases with partner and neighbour allopreening |
title_fullStr |
Fitness increases with partner and neighbour allopreening |
title_full_unstemmed |
Fitness increases with partner and neighbour allopreening |
title_sort |
fitness increases with partner and neighbour allopreening |
publisher |
Royal Society |
publishDate |
2007 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0258 http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2809856 |
genre |
common guillemot Uria aalge uria |
genre_facet |
common guillemot Uria aalge uria |
op_relation |
http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2809856 doi:https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0258 1744-9561 10.1098/rsbl.2007.0258 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0258 |
container_title |
Biology Letters |
container_volume |
3 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
386 |
op_container_end_page |
389 |
_version_ |
1766391484409446400 |