Relatedness and chick-feeding effort in the cooperatively breeding Arabian babbler

Article Abstract:

Kin selection has been seen as an explanation for levels of effort invested by individual birds in feeding chicks. This hypothesis has been examined using the Arabian babbler, a cooperatively breeding bird, as a subject. Babblers do not appear to regulate their load sizes or visit rates according to measures of relatedness. Individual birds do not appear to have enough information on whether they are related to broods. They may best help relatives by just feeding any nestlings that they find on their territory.

Analysis, Ornithological research, Familial behavior in animals, Animal familial behavior

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Helping-at-the-nest in Arabian babblers: signalling social status or sensible investment in chicks

Article Abstract:

Helping-at-the-nest behaviour in communally breeding birds has been attributed to kin selection benefits, although many other theories have been suggested. A new study investigates provisioning patterns in Arabian babblers and assesses whether they are a signal of social status or adaptive investment. The study shows no evidence that helping-at-the-nest behaviour in Arabian warblers is a means of gaining social prestige but suggests that chick-feeding effort is an investment in the brood.

Observations, Social behavior in animals, Animal social behavior

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Parents and helpers compensate for experimental changes in the provisioning effort of others in the Arabian babbler

Article Abstract:

Optimum levels of parental investment in birds require a balance between fitness returns from current versus future reproduction and also upon collaborator work rates. Such cooperation is evolutionary stable and can also be applied to systems of multiparental care. A new study of the cooperatively breeding Arabian dabbler explores nestling feeding with helpers-at-nest. Details of the study are presented.

Bird populations

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