Rapid plastic breeding response to rain matches peak prey abundance in a tropical savanna bird

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 88(11), P. 1799 - 1811

Published: Aug. 12, 2019

Changes in climate are shifting the timing of life cycle events natural world. Compared to northern temperate areas, these effects relatively poorly understood tropical and southern regions, where there is limited information on how breeding food availability affected by climatic factors, patterns activity more unpredictable within between years. Combining a new statistical modelling approach with 5 years continuous individual-based monitoring monsoonal insectivorous bird, we quantified (a) proximate drivers at two trophic levels: abundance arthropod prey; (b) effect variation reproductive output (c) role individual plasticity. Rainfall was identified as main determinant phenology both levels. Throughout year, likelihood egg laying increased very rapidly response even small amounts rain during preceding 0-3 weeks. Adult body mass male sperm storage also after rain, suggesting high preparedness. Additionally, females were flexible, since they likely nest whether their previous attempt longer ago unsuccessful. Arthropod rainfall, but slowly, peak around 10 Therefore, coincided presence dependent fledglings. Fitness benefits nesting appeared be linked offspring quantity rather than quality: attempts following higher rainfall produced larger clutches, showed no improvement nestling or relative fledging success. The clutch size plastic, repeated sampling that laid clutches possibly mediated improved mass. Rapid, individually flexible slower increase might buffer species living seasonal environments from change-induced phenological mismatches.

Language: Английский

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Context-dependent social benefits drive cooperative predator defense in a bird

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 31(18), P. 4120 - 4126.e4

Published: July 23, 2021

Language: Английский

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Long-Term Attachments and Complex Cognition in Birds and Humans are Linked to Pre-Reproductive Prosociality and Cooperation. Constructing a Hypothesis

Annals of Cognitive Science, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 4(1)

Published: July 30, 2020

Human prosociality has often been regarded as an important step towards the capacity for empathy; i.e. to think of others in compassionate and caring ways. This ability, turn, is related social attachment. Many writers have rightly argued that, order understand biology evolution attachment, a comparative approach across many taxa needed.

Language: Английский

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Telomere length declines with age, but relates to immune function independent of age in a wild passerine

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 9(4)

Published: April 1, 2022

Telomere length (TL) shortens with age but telomere dynamics can relate to fitness components independent of age. Immune function often relates such and also interact telomeres. Studying the link between TL immune may therefore help us understand telomere-fitness associations. We assessed relationships erythrocyte four indices (haptoglobin, natural antibodies (NAbs), complement activity (CA) heterophil-lymphocyte (HL) ratio; n = 477-589), from known-aged individuals a wild passerine (Malurus coronatus). As expected, we find that significantly declined To verify whether associations were parallel age-related changes (e.g. immunosenescence), statistically controlled for sampling used within-subject centring separate within or individuals. found positively predicted CA at between-individual level (individuals longer average had higher CA), no other indices. By contrast, levels NAbs HL ratio, allowing inference respective are independent. Any links existing unlikely be strongly mediated by innate function, while appear expressions individual heterogeneity.

Language: Английский

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Persistent low avian malaria in a tropical species despite high community prevalence

International Journal for Parasitology Parasites and Wildlife, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 8, P. 88 - 93

Published: Jan. 11, 2019

Malarial and other haemosporidian parasites are widespread; however, their temporal dynamics ill-understood. Longitudinal sampling of a threatened riparian bird revealed consistently very low prevalence over 13 years (∼5%) despite infections persisting increasing with age. In contrast, three key species within this tropical community were highly infected (∼20-75% prevalence) these differences stable. Although we found novel lineages phylogenetic structure at the local level, there was little geographic structuring Australasia. This study suggests that malarial parasite susceptibility is determined by host factors can maintain levels high prevalence.

Language: Английский

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Nest defence and offspring provisioning in a cooperative bird: individual subordinates vary in total contribution, but no division of tasks among breeders and subordinates

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 74(7)

Published: July 1, 2020

Language: Английский

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Predator defense is shaped by risk, brood value and social group benefits in a cooperative breeder

Behavioral Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 31(3), P. 761 - 771

Published: Feb. 6, 2020

Abstract Predation is a major cause of mortality and nest failure in birds. Cooperative predator defense can enhance success adult survival but, because it inherently risky, dynamic risk assessment theory predicts that individuals modify behavior according to the posed by predator. Parental investment theory, on other hand, reproductive payoffs (brood value) determine defense. We propose that, cooperative breeders, fitness benefits deriving from group members may additionally influence (social theory). tested predictions these theories cooperatively breeding purple-crowned fairy-wren, Malurus coronatus, where brood value higher for but social more important helpers. recorded experimentally induced individual behaviors response models presented near nests, representing differing levels threat nests adults. As predicted, 1) engaged less risky defenses when encountering dangerous (dynamic theory); 2) defended older broods often, breeders than helpers (parental 3) were likely respond adults Our findings highlight complex, shaped combination immediate multiple benefits.

Language: Английский

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Drivers of the Ectoparasite Community and Co-Infection Patterns in Rural and Urban Burrowing Owls

Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 11(8), P. 1141 - 1141

Published: July 29, 2022

Urbanization creates new ecological conditions that can affect biodiversity at all levels, including the diversity and prevalence of parasites species may occupy these environments. However, few studies have compared bird–ectoparasite interactions between urban rural individuals. Here, we analyze ectoparasite community co-infection patterns burrowing owls, Athene cunicularia, to assess influence host traits (i.e., sex, age, weight), environmental factors number conspecifics per nest, habitat type aridity) on its composition. Ectoparasites owls included two lice, one flea, mite. The overall for mites, lice fleas was 1.75%, 8.76% 3.50%, respectively. A clear pattern detected mites and, less extent, lice. Adult harbored fewer ectoparasites than nestlings, adult females more males. Our results also show mite flea numbers were higher when cohabited same burrow, while showed opposite pattern. Rural individuals parasitism lower birds. Moreover, negatively correlated with aridity weight. Although ectoparasitic load appears be influenced by individual characteristics, found among could mediated unexplored such as immune response, which deserves further research.

Language: Английский

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Birds of a feather age together: telomere dynamics and social behavior predict life span in female Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

Frontiers in Endocrinology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15

Published: May 14, 2024

Social support is vital for mental and physical health linked to lower rates of disease early mortality. Conversely, anti-social behavior can increase mortality risks, both the initiator target behavior. Chronic stress, which also mortality, may serve as an important link between social healthy lifespan. There a growing body literature in humans, model organisms, that chronic stress result more rapid telomere shortening, measure biological aging. Here we examine role on physiological markers aging Japanese quail, Coturnix Japonica. Birds were maintained groups their entire lifespan, longitudinal measures antisocial (aggressive agonistic behavior), (affiliative baseline corticosterone, change length, lifespan measured. We found quail affiliative relationships committed less targets aggression compared birds who not these relationships. In addition, displaying had longer telomeres, lifespans. Our work suggests novel pathway by buffer against damage at cellular level resulting protection subsequent

Language: Английский

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Comportamento de galinhas domésticas – percepções de uma revisão narrativa

Revista de Ciências Agroveterinárias, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 21(3), P. 360 - 369

Published: Oct. 19, 2022

A intensificação do sistema de produção avícola trouxe profundas mudanças no ambiente físico e social das aves domésticas. O manejo dessas tem recebido considerável atenção nos últimos anos devido às novas demandas por parte dos consumidores, principalmente aquelas relacionadas ao bem-estar. comportamento é a maneira como os animais respondem aos diferentes estímulos que encontram em seu ambiente. As expressões comportamentais domésticas aplicação desse conhecimento cuidado desempenha um papel importante na maximização da eficiência cadeia avícola. Assim, definir limites éticos diretrizes para fundamental fomentar o desenvolvimento práticas produtivas, assim garantir qualidade produtividade sem colocar risco bem-estar animais. Esta revisão destacará as principais domésticas, dentre elas sociais, alimentares, reprodutivas, além estereotipias, identificará estratégias adaptação social. promovera leitor comunidade científica uma melhor compreensão assuntos pouco discutidos auxiliar análises comportamentais.

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