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Why parent birds play favourites

Author

Listed:
  • Scott Forbes

    (Department of Biology
    University of Winnipeg)

  • Suzanne Thornton

    (Department of Biology
    University of Winnipeg)

  • Barb Glassey

    (University of Manitoba)

  • Margaret Forbes

    (University of Oklahoma)

  • Neil J. Buckley

    (University of Oklahoma)

Abstract

Most birds hatch their broods asynchronously, which leads to reduced growth and higher mortality of last-hatched nestlings1,2,3. Why parent birds confer handicaps on some of their progeny, and advantages on others, remains controversial, although a consensus is emerging that there is no single adaptive explanation2,3. Our studies of red-winged blackbirds provide confirmation of an insurance hypothesis4,5,6,7,8,9 where the marginal offspring created by hatching asynchrony serve as replacements for failed earlier-hatched or ‘core’ offspring.

Suggested Citation

  • Scott Forbes & Suzanne Thornton & Barb Glassey & Margaret Forbes & Neil J. Buckley, 1997. "Why parent birds play favourites," Nature, Nature, vol. 390(6658), pages 351-352, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:390:y:1997:i:6658:d:10.1038_37025
    DOI: 10.1038/37025
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    Cited by:

    1. Kat Bebbington & Sjouke A. Kingma & Eleanor A. Fairfield & Lewis G. Spurgin & Jan Komdeur & David S. Richardson, 2017. "Consequences of sibling rivalry vary across life in a passerine bird," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 28(2), pages 407-418.
    2. Scott Forbes, 2012. "Parental preference for investment risk incites family strife," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 14(2), pages 115-128, July.

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