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Vági B, Katona G, Miranda OG, Mándi MG, Hofmann HA, Plagányi É, Végvári Z, Liker A, Freckleton RP, Székely T. The evolution of exceptional diversity in parental care and fertilization modes in ray-finned fishes. Evolution 2024; 78:1673-1684. [PMID: 38934588 DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpae100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Among vertebrates, ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii) display the highest diversity in parental care, and their diversification has been hypothesized to be related to phylogenetic changes in fertilization modes. Using the most comprehensive, sex-specific data from 7,600 species of 62 extant orders of ray-finned fishes, we inferred ancestral states and transitions among care types and caring episodes (i.e., the stage of offspring development). Our work has uncovered 3 novel findings. First, transitions among different care types (i.e., male-only care, female-only care, biparental care, and no care) are common, and the frequencies of these transitions show unusually diverse patterns concerning fertilization modes (external, or internal via oviduct, mouth, or brood pouch). Second, both oviduct and mouth fertilization are selected for female-biased care, whereas fertilization in a brood pouch is selected for male-biased care. Importantly, internal fertilization without parental care is extremely unstable phylogenetically. Third, we show that egg care in both sexes is associated with nest building (which is male-biased) and fry care (which is female-biased). Taken together, the aquatic environment, which supports considerable flexibility in care, facilitated the diversification of parenting behavior, creating the evolutionary bases for more comprehensive parenting to protect offspring in semiterrestrial or terrestrial environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balázs Vági
- HUN-REN-UD Evolution of Reproductive Strategies Research Group, Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Biodiversity, Climate Change and Water Management Coordination Research Centre, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Gergely Katona
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Oscar G Miranda
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Mihály Gábor Mándi
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Hans A Hofmann
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States
| | - Éva Plagányi
- CSIRO Environment, Queensland Bioscience Precinct (QBP), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Zsolt Végvári
- HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, 1113 Budapest, Karolina út 29, Hungary
- Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut, D-15374, Müncheberg, Germany
| | - András Liker
- HUN-REN-PE Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, University of Pannonia, Pf. 1158, H-8210 Veszprém, Hungary
- Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Center for Natural Sciences, University of Pannonia, Pf. 1158, H-8210 Veszprém, Hungary
| | - Robert P Freckleton
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom
| | - Tamás Székely
- HUN-REN-UD Evolution of Reproductive Strategies Research Group, Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Biodiversity, Climate Change and Water Management Coordination Research Centre, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
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2
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Székely T. Evolution of reproductive strategies: sex roles, sex ratios and phylogenies. Biol Futur 2023; 74:351-357. [PMID: 37723361 DOI: 10.1007/s42977-023-00177-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Behavioural variations associated with breeding-termed reproductive strategies-are some of the striking behaviours that have occupied naturalists for 1000s of years. How an animal seeks, competes for and/or chooses a mate? Do they breed with a single partner, or do they change partners between breeding events? How and when do they look after their young? Behavioural biologists, ecologists and evolutionary biologists have investigated these questions using quantitative methods since 1970s. In Debrecen, with the support and mentoring of Prof Zoltán Varga, we are investigating the causes and implications of reproductive strategies since 1988. This article reviews some of the core ideas in reproductive strategies research and explains the influence of Prof Varga on the development of these ideas. My main thesis here is that both integrative thinking and adopting a multi-pronged research approach using an explicit phylogenetic framework-both of these have been spearheaded by Prof Varga throughout his lifetime-can reveal novel aspects of reproductive strategies. Importantly, some of these academic insights have direct implications for preserving species and their habitats in the wild, and thus benefit biodiversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamás Székely
- Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
- ELKH - DE Reproductive strategies Research Group, Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem Tér 1, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary.
- Debrecen Biodiversity Centre, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary.
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3
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Wang D, Zhang W, Yang S, Richter XYL. Sex differences in avian parental care patterns vary across the breeding cycle. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6980. [PMID: 37914691 PMCID: PMC10620184 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42767-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Parental care in birds consists of elaborate forms across stages, including nest building, incubation, and offspring provision. Despite their evolutionary importance, knowledge gaps exist in the extent to which parents contribute disproportionately to these forms and factors that are associated with variations in care patterns between sexes. Here, we analyzed 1533 bird species and discovered remarkable variability in care patterns. We show that parental care should not be viewed as a unitary trait but rather as a set of integrated features that exhibit considerable temporal and sex-specific variation. Our analyses also reveal moderate consistency in care patterns between breeding stages, pointing towards shared intrinsic factors driving sex-specific care. Notably, we found that species experiencing strong sexual selection on males or species facing paternity uncertainty display a tendency towards female-biased care. This work advances our understanding of the temporal variations in sex-specific contributions to avian parental care and their potential evolutionary drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang, 100101, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China.
| | - Wenyuan Zhang
- Edward Grey Institute, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
- Department of Biology, Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada
| | - Shuai Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang, 100101, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang-Yi Li Richter
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.
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Ding P, Song Z, Liu Y, Halimubieke N, Székely T, Shi L. Nesting Habitat Suitability of the Kentish Plover in the Arid Lands of Xinjiang, China. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3369. [PMID: 37958123 PMCID: PMC10648522 DOI: 10.3390/ani13213369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the main ecological factors of the nesting habitat of shorebirds is of great significance in relation to their protection and habitat management. Habitat loss and change due to a lack of water threaten the biodiversity of shorebirds, with impacts likely to be most pronounced in arid lands. We collected the data of 144 nesting sites and 10 ecological factors during the breeding season from April to July each year in 2019 and 2020 in nine river districts in Xinjiang. The MaxEnt model was applied to assess the suitability of nesting habitats for Kentish plovers (Charadrius alexandrinus) in the study area to examine the main factors affecting their nesting habitat. The most suitable nesting habitats are mostly distributed in plain reservoirs in the middle part of the Northern Slope of the Tianshan Mountains, Ebinur Lake and its eastern position in the southwestern Junggar Basin, near Ulungur Lake of the Ulungur river area and the southern Irtysh river area. The distance from water, normalized difference vegetation index, mean temperature of the breeding season, slope, and land use were the main factors affecting the nesting habitat selection of Kentish plovers. It was found that the proportion of suitable nesting habitat protected for the Kentish plovers in the study area was low (851.66 km2), accounting for only 11.02% of the total suitable nesting habitat area. In view of the scarcity and importance of water bodies in arid lands and the lack of protection for Kentish plovers at present, it is suggested to strengthen the conservation and management of the regional shorebirds and their habitats by regulating and optimizing the allocation of water resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Ding
- College of Animal Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China;
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory for Ecological Adaptation and Evolution of Extreme Environment Biology, College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| | - Zitan Song
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China; (Z.S.); (Y.L.)
- Comparative Socioecology Group, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78467 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China; (Z.S.); (Y.L.)
| | - Naerhulan Halimubieke
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA1 7AY, UK; (N.H.); (T.S.)
| | - Tamás Székely
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA1 7AY, UK; (N.H.); (T.S.)
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Lei Shi
- College of Animal Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China;
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory for Ecological Adaptation and Evolution of Extreme Environment Biology, College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
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5
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Ding P, Song Z, Liu Y, Székely T, Shi L, Turghan MA. Variations in the Reproductive Strategies of Different Charadrius alexandrinus Populations in Xinjiang, China. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2260. [PMID: 37508039 PMCID: PMC10376040 DOI: 10.3390/ani13142260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the influence of bio-geographical and environmental factors, as well as anthropogenic landscape features, organisms show different reproductive strategies among different populations. There is a lack of detailed information on the reproductive biology of Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus in arid lands in Central Asia. In this study, we summarized the characteristics of the reproductive biology of three geographically distinct plover populations in Aibi Lake in northwestern Xinjiang, Taitema Lake in southern Xinjiang and artificial reservoirs around Urumqi City in northern Xinjiang, based on 440 eggs from 158 nests observed and analyzed from April to July of 2019 and 2020. We found that there was no significant difference in clutch size among the three populations. However, the egg size of the Taitema Lake population was significantly larger than those of the other two populations, whilst the egg volume and clutch volume of the artificial reservoirs' populations were significantly larger than that of Aibi Lake. With the postponement of laying dates, the northern and northwestern populations showed the characteristics of a small clutch size and a relatively small egg size, respectively, and a decrease in reproductive output. The heavier female plovers in Taitema Lake laid eggs earlier, and there was a significantly positive correlation between female body mass and clutch size and egg size. The tarsometatarsus length of the female plovers was significantly positively correlated with the reproductive output in all three populations. The model selection results show that female body size and ambient temperature restrict the egg size and reproductive output of Kentish plovers, which is consistent with the upper limit hypothesis of the maternal condition and maternal constraint. Our data support the hypothesis that Kentish plovers show distinct flexibility in their breeding strategies to cope with the harsh natural environment in the arid lands of Xinjiang, China. The results of a relatively high average clutch size and average egg size imply that the saline wetlands of Western China are important breeding habitats for Kentish plovers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Ding
- College of Animal Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| | - Zitan Song
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Tamás Székely
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA1 7AY, UK
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Lei Shi
- College of Animal Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| | - Mardan Aghabey Turghan
- State Key Laboratory of Oasis and Desert Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
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6
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Does ecology and life history predict parental cooperation in birds? A comparative analysis. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03195-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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7
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Gonzalez-Voyer A, Thomas GH, Liker A, Krüger O, Komdeur J, Székely T. Sex roles in birds: Phylogenetic analyses of the influence of climate, life histories and social environment. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:647-660. [PMID: 35199926 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Sex roles describe sex differences in courtship, mate competition, social pair-bonds and parental care. A key challenge is to identify associations among the components and the drivers of sex roles. Here, we investigate sex roles using data from over 1800 bird species. We found extensive variation and lability in proxies of sex roles, indicating remarkably independent evolution among sex role components. Climate and life history showed weak associations with sex roles. However, adult sex ratio is associated with sexual dimorphism, mating system and parental care, suggesting that social environment is central to explaining variation in sex roles among birds. Our results suggest that sex differences in reproductive behaviour are the result of diverse and idiosyncratic responses to selection. Further understanding of sex roles requires studies at the population level to test how local responses to ecology, life histories and mating opportunities drive processes that shape sex role variation among higher taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Gonzalez-Voyer
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Gavin H Thomas
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - András Liker
- MTA-PE Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary.,Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Center for Natural Sciences, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary
| | - Oliver Krüger
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jan Komdeur
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tamás Székely
- Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, UK.,Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Behaviour, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
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8
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OUP accepted manuscript. Behav Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arac051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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9
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Degree of anisogamy is unrelated to the intensity of sexual selection. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19424. [PMID: 34593863 PMCID: PMC8484679 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98616-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Males and females often display different behaviours and, in the context of reproduction, these behaviours are labelled sex roles. The Darwin–Bateman paradigm argues that the root of these differences is anisogamy (i.e., differences in size and/or function of gametes between the sexes) that leads to biased sexual selection, and sex differences in parental care and body size. This evolutionary cascade, however, is contentious since some of the underpinning assumptions have been questioned. Here we investigate the relationships between anisogamy, sexual size dimorphism, sex difference in parental care and intensity of sexual selection using phylogenetic comparative analyses of 64 species from a wide range of animal taxa. The results question the first step of the Darwin–Bateman paradigm, as the extent of anisogamy does not appear to predict the intensity of sexual selection. The only significant predictor of sexual selection is the relative inputs of males and females into the care of offspring. We propose that ecological factors, life-history and demography have more substantial impacts on contemporary sex roles than the differences of gametic investments between the sexes.
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10
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Moss JB, While GM. The thermal environment as a moderator of social evolution. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:2890-2910. [PMID: 34309173 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Animal sociality plays a crucial organisational role in evolution. As a result, understanding the factors that promote the emergence, maintenance, and diversification of animal societies is of great interest to biologists. Climate is among the foremost ecological factors implicated in evolutionary transitions in social organisation, but we are only beginning to unravel the possible mechanisms and specific climatic variables that underlie these associations. Ambient temperature is a key abiotic factor shaping the spatio-temporal distribution of individuals and has a particularly strong influence on behaviour. Whether such effects play a broader role in social evolution remains to be seen. In this review, we develop a conceptual framework for understanding how thermal effects integrate into pathways that mediate the opportunities, nature, and context of social interactions. We then implement this framework to discuss the capacity for temperature to initiate organisational changes across three broad categories of social evolution: group formation, group maintenance, and group elaboration. For each category, we focus on pivotal traits likely to have underpinned key social transitions and explore the potential for temperature to affect changes in these traits by leveraging empirical examples from the literature on thermal and behavioural ecology. Finally, we discuss research directions that should be prioritised to understand the potentially constructive and/or destructive effects of future warming on the origins, maintenance, and diversification of animal societies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanette B Moss
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, TAS, 7005, Australia
| | - Geoffrey M While
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, TAS, 7005, Australia
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11
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Moss JB, Moore AJ. Constrained flexibility of parental cooperation limits adaptive responses to harsh conditions. Evolution 2021; 75:1835-1849. [PMID: 34153114 PMCID: PMC8362138 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Parental care is predicted to evolve to mitigate harsh environments, thus adaptive plasticity of care may be an important response to our climate crisis. In biparental species, fitness costs may be reduced by resolving conflict and enhancing cooperation among partners. We investigated this prediction with the burying beetle, Nicrophorus orbicollis, by exposing them to contrasting benign and harsh thermal environments. Despite measurable fitness costs under the harsh environment, sexual conflict persisted in the form of sex-specific social plasticity. That is, females provided equivalent care with or without males, whereas males with partners deserted earlier and reduced provisioning effort. The interaction of social condition and thermal environment did not explain variation in individual behavior, failing to support a temperature-mediated shift from conflict to cooperation. Examining selection gradients and splines on cumulative care revealed a likely explanation for these patterns. Contrary to predictions, increased care did not enhance offspring performance under stress. Rather, different components of care were under different selection regimes, with optimization constrained due to lack of coordination between parents. We suggest that the potential for parenting to ameliorate the effects of our climate crisis may depend on the sex-specific evolutionary drivers of parental care, and that this may be best reflected in components of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanette B Moss
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA.,Current Address: Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, 61801, USA
| | - Allen J Moore
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA
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Almalki M. Breeding biology of Saunders's tern ( Sterna saundersi) in the Farasan Islands, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi J Biol Sci 2021; 28:1931-1937. [PMID: 33732079 PMCID: PMC7938151 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.12.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Saunders’s terns (Sternula saundersi) are a small, ground-nesting marine bird species that have a massive rearing range, including the shores and islands of Asia and Africa adjacent to the north Indian Ocean. Despite occupying a large breeding range, little is known about the breeding ecology of this species. This research explored aspects of Saunders’s terns’ breeding ecology and predation rate in 2013 on the Farasan Islands of Saudi Arabia. The outcomes confirm that the mean clutch size of a Saunders’s tern was 1.77 ± 0.08 (n = 31) eggs per clutch and the mean egg size was 31.05 × 23.15 mm. The results of this study show a remarkable relationship between clutch size and egg volume and length (p = .002, p = .004, respectively). Predation was the major reason for nest damage (62.5%). Evidence from cameras at nests showed that the predators of Saunders’s tern nests on the Farasan Islands were white-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda) and Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus). This is the first study on the breeding ecology of Saunders’s terns, and it shows that predator control is essential to the existence of the species. The results of this study suggest that fencing some breeding sites may help to minimize human disturbance and decrease the risk of nest predation from mammalian predators. Further research is needed to compare the predation rates on the mainland and islands and to develop efficient strategies to conserve this ground-nesting species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Almalki
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
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13
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AlRashidi M. Aspects of the breeding ecology and behaviors of the Bar-tailed Lark ( Ammomanes cinctura) from Ha'il region in north of Saudi Arabia. Saudi J Biol Sci 2021; 28:587-591. [PMID: 33424344 PMCID: PMC7783797 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.10.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The Bar-tailed Lark (Ammomanes cinctura) breeds in desert and semi-desert areas of the Saharo-Sindian region, from north-west Africa through the arid plains of the Arabian Peninsula to the Sind. Despite having a wide distribution, little information is available on the breeding ecology of this species. This study was conducted in a desert in the north of Saudi Arabia, where the daytime ambient temperature may exceed 40 °C. In contrast, the night ambient temperature may reach less than 10 °C in late spring and early summer. The objectives of this study were to collect some baseline data on some aspects of the breeding ecology of this species and to record the nest attendance behavior. The study found that Bar-tailed Larks preferred to nest under shrub trunks, which may camouflage both nests and incubating parents against predators and protect eggs, nestlings and incubating parents from hostile weather conditions. Moreover, nest attendance was high, as Bar-tailed Lark parents incubated their eggs 95.97 ± 2.62% over the entire day, and they seemed to maintain the eggs at temperatures around 23–33 °C. In addition, they incubated more at night than during the daytime. Temperatures under the shrubs at night fell below 21 °C, thus parents increased the nest attendance to warm the eggs and prevent the embryos from exposure to lethal temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monif AlRashidi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Ha'il, PO Box 2440, Hail, Saudi Arabia
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14
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Bourne AR, Ridley AR, McKechnie AE, Spottiswoode CN, Cunningham SJ. Dehydration risk is associated with reduced nest attendance and hatching success in a cooperatively breeding bird, the southern pied babbler Turdoides bicolor. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coab043. [PMID: 34150211 PMCID: PMC8208672 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
High air temperatures have measurable negative impacts on reproduction in wild animal populations, including during incubation in birds. Understanding the mechanisms driving these impacts requires comprehensive knowledge of animal physiology and behaviour under natural conditions. We used a novel combination of a non-invasive doubly labelled water (DLW) technique, nest temperature data and field-based behaviour observations to test effects of temperature, rainfall and group size on physiology and behaviour during incubation in southern pied babblers Turdoides bicolor, a cooperatively breeding passerine endemic to the arid savanna regions of southern Africa. The proportion of time that clutches were incubated declined as air temperatures increased, a behavioural pattern traditionally interpreted as a benefit of ambient incubation. However, we show that (i) clutches had a <50% chance of hatching when exposed to daily maximum air temperatures of >35.3°C; (ii) pied babbler groups incubated their nests almost constantly (99% of daylight hours) except on hot days; (iii) operative temperatures in unattended nests frequently exceeded 40.5°C, above which bird embryos are at risk of death; (iv) pied babblers incubating for long periods of time failed to maintain water balance on hot days; and (v) pied babblers from incubating groups lost mass on hot days. These results suggest that pied babblers might leave their nests during hot periods to lower the risk of dehydration associated with prolonged incubation at high operative temperatures. As mean air temperatures increase and extreme heat events become more frequent under climate change, birds will likely incur ever greater thermoregulatory costs of incubation, leading to compromised nest attendance and increased potential for eggs to overheat, with implications for nest success and, ultimately, population persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda R Bourne
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- Corresponding author: FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.
| | - Amanda R Ridley
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia
| | - Andrew E McKechnie
- South African Research Chair in Conservation Physiology, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria 0184, South Africa
- DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence at the FitzPatrick Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0002, South Africa
| | - Claire N Spottiswoode
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Susan J Cunningham
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
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15
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McDonald GC, Engel N, Ratão SS, Székely T, Kosztolányi A. The impact of social structure on breeding strategies in an island bird. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13872. [PMID: 32807811 PMCID: PMC7431420 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70595-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The social environment is a key factor determining fitness by influencing multiple stages of reproduction, including pair formation, mating behavior and parenting. However, the influence of social structure across different aspects of breeding is rarely examined simultaneously in wild populations. We therefore lack a consolidation of the mechanisms by which sociality impacts reproduction. Here we investigate the implications of the social environment before and during breeding on multiple stages of reproduction in an island population of the ground nesting shorebird, the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus). We utilise information on mating decisions, nest locations and nesting success across multiple years in combination with social network analysis. Sociality before breeding was connected with patterns of pair formation. In addition, site fidelity and personal breeding experience was associated with the spatial organisation of breeding pairs. Our results provide evidence that, while differential social interactions at localised scales influence patterns of reproductive pairing, site fidelity and personal breeding experience influence the structure of populations at the landscape scale. Our results underline the tight link between the social structure of populations and patterns of mating, while revealing that the relative influence of sociality, breeding experience and local ecology are dynamic across different facets of reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant C McDonald
- Department of Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.
- Department of Zoology, Edward Grey Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Noémie Engel
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Sara S Ratão
- FMB, Fundação Maio Biodiversidade, Cidade do Porto Inglês, Maio, 6110, Cabo Verde
| | - Tamás Székely
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, UK
- FMB, Fundação Maio Biodiversidade, Cidade do Porto Inglês, Maio, 6110, Cabo Verde
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - András Kosztolányi
- Department of Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
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16
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Parental Effects and Climate Change: Will Avian Incubation Behavior Shield Embryos from Increasing Environmental Temperatures? Integr Comp Biol 2019; 59:1068-1080. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icz083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
A major driver of wildlife responses to climate change will include non-genomic effects, like those mediated through parental behavior and physiology (i.e., parental effects). Parental effects can influence lifetime reproductive success and survival, and thus population-level processes. However, the extent to which parental effects will contribute to population persistence or declines in response to climate change is not well understood. These effects may be substantial for species that exhibit extensive parental care behaviors, like birds. Environmental temperature is important in shaping avian incubation behavior, and these factors interact to determine the thermal conditions embryos are exposed to during development, and subsequently avian phenotypes and secondary sex ratios. In this article, we argue that incubation behavior may be an important mediator of avian responses to climate change, we compare incubation strategies of two species adapted to different thermal environments nesting in extreme heat, and we present a simple model that estimates changes in egg temperature based on these incubation patterns and predicted increases in maximum daily air temperature. We demonstrate that the predicted increase in air temperature by 2100 in the central USA will increase temperatures that eggs experience during afternoon off-bouts and the proportion of nests exposed to lethal temperatures. To better understand how species and local adaptations and behavioral-plasticity of incubation behavior will contribute to population responses to climate change comparisons are needed across more avian populations, species, and thermal landscapes.
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17
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Bulla M, Valcu M, Rutten AL, Kempenaers B. Temporary Mate Removal During Incubation Leads to Variable Compensation in a Biparental Shorebird. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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18
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Leniowski K, Węgrzyn E. Equal division of parental care enhances nestling development in the Blackcap. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207757. [PMID: 30481200 PMCID: PMC6258531 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Because parental care is costly, conflict between mates over their roles in reproduction seems unavoidable unless they both benefit from parental labour split equally between partners. In the current paper we analyse the division of parental investment in the Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), a species that experiences high nest predation. We show that both sexes invest in the incubation of eggs as well as feeding and brooding nestlings at a similar level. We also found that pairs which divided feeding duties more equally produced nestlings that grew faster. Faster nestling development enables earlier fledging in case of predation attempts at the end of nesting period. Thus parents who more evenly participate in provisioning may benefit from higher breeding success. Our findings suggest that in species under high risk of nest predation disparity in parental investment may not provide much benefit to parent's residual reproductive value and that equality in parental duties constitutes a winning strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konrad Leniowski
- Laboratory of Bioacoustics and Spectrophotometry, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Ewa Węgrzyn
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland
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19
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Matysioková B, Remeš V. Evolution of parental activity at the nest is shaped by the risk of nest predation and ambient temperature across bird species. Evolution 2018; 72:2214-2224. [PMID: 30192387 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Incubation is an important component of parental care in birds, and species differ widely in their incubation rhythm. In this comparative study, we focused on factors responsible for those differences. As hypothesized by A. Skutch, increased parental activity at the nest increases the probability of nest depredation. High risk of nest predation should therefore lead to the evolution of lower frequency of parental activity at the nest. We thus expected to find a negative relationship between frequency of nest visits and the risk of nest depredation. Using a large dataset of 256 species of passerines breeding worldwide, we found that the frequency of nest visits decreased as the risk of nest depredation increased and that this effect was strongest in tropical species. Further, foraging bouts were longer in species experiencing warmer ambient temperatures during incubation and those with domed nests. Incubation bouts were longer and frequency of nest visits was lower in species with higher body mass. Our results support the view that natural selection favors lower frequency of nests visits in species under higher risk of nest predation and demonstrate the importance of other factors (temperature, geographic space, nest type, and body mass) in shaping the evolution of incubation rhythm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beata Matysioková
- Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 50, 77146, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimír Remeš
- Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 50, 77146, Olomouc, Czech Republic
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20
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AlRashidi M. Breeding biology of the Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus in the Sabkhat Al-Fasl Lagoons, Saudi Arabia (Aves: Charadriiformes). ZOOLOGY IN THE MIDDLE EAST 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/09397140.2016.1182771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Monif AlRashidi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, Saudi Arabia
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21
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Shobrak MY, Aloufi AA. Status of breeding seabirds on the Northern Islands of the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia. Saudi J Biol Sci 2014; 21:238-49. [PMID: 24955009 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2013.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2013] [Revised: 11/01/2013] [Accepted: 11/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
We undertook breeding surveys between 2010 and 2011 to assess the status of breeding birds on 16 islands in the northern Saudi Arabia. Sixteen bird species were found breeding at three different seasons; i.e. winter (Osprey), spring (Caspian and Saunder's Terns), and summer (Lesser Crested, White-cheeked, Bridled Terns). It is postulated that food availability is an important factor influencing the breeding of seabirds in the northern Saudi Arabian Red Sea. Several species laid eggs earlier in northern parts of the Red Sea than in southern parts. The predicted increases in temperatures (Ta ) could have a negative effect on species survival in the future, especially on those whose nests that are in the open. Finally, disturbance, predation and egg collection were probably the main immediate threats affecting the breeding seabird species in the northern Red Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Y Shobrak
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 888, Zip Code 21974 Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulhadi A Aloufi
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Tabuk University, P.O. Box 741, 7149 Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
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22
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Poo S, Bickford DP. The Adaptive Significance of Egg Attendance in a South-East Asian Tree Frog. Ethology 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sinlan Poo
- Department of Biological Sciences; National University of Singapore; Singapore
| | - David P. Bickford
- Department of Biological Sciences; National University of Singapore; Singapore
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23
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Székely T, Remeš V, Freckleton RP, Liker A. Why care? Inferring the evolution of complex social behaviour. J Evol Biol 2013; 26:1381-91. [PMID: 23663057 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2012] [Revised: 12/21/2012] [Accepted: 02/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Phylogenetic comparative analyses of complex traits often reduce the traits of interests into a single (or a few) component variables. Here, we show that this may be an over-simplification, because components of a complex trait may evolve independently from each other. Using eight components of parental care in 400 bird species from 89 avian families that represent the relative contribution of male vs. female to a particular type of care, we show that some components evolve in a highly correlated manner, whereas others exhibit low (or no) phylogenetic correlation. Correlations were stronger within types of parental activity (brooding, feeding, guarding) than within stages of the breeding cycle (incubation, prefledging care, post-fledging care). A phylogenetically corrected cluster analysis identified two groups of parental care components that evolved in a correlated fashion: one group included incubation and brooding, whereas the other group comprised of the remaining components. The two groups of components provide working hypotheses for follow-up studies to test the underlying genetic, developmental and ecological co-evolutionary mechanism between male and female care. Furthermore, the components within each group are expected to respond consistently to different ambient and social environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Székely
- Biodiversity Laboratory, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
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24
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Local environment but not genetic differentiation influences biparental care in ten plover populations. PLoS One 2013; 8:e60998. [PMID: 23613768 PMCID: PMC3629256 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2013] [Accepted: 03/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Social behaviours are highly variable between species, populations and individuals. However, it is contentious whether behavioural variations are primarily moulded by the environment, caused by genetic differences, or a combination of both. Here we establish that biparental care, a complex social behaviour that involves rearing of young by both parents, differs between closely related populations, and then test two potential sources of variation in parental behaviour between populations: ambient environment and genetic differentiation. We use 2904 hours behavioural data from 10 geographically distinct Kentish (Charadrius alexandrinus) and snowy plover (C. nivosus) populations in America, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa to test these two sources of behavioural variation. We show that local ambient temperature has a significant influence on parental care: with extreme heat (above 40°C) total incubation (i.e. % of time the male or female incubated the nest) increased, and female share (% female share of incubation) decreased. By contrast, neither genetic differences between populations, nor geographic distances predicted total incubation or female's share of incubation. These results suggest that the local environment has a stronger influence on a social behaviour than genetic differentiation, at least between populations of closely related species.
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25
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Moghadam HK, Harrison PW, Zachar G, Székely T, Mank JE. The plover neurotranscriptome assembly: transcriptomic analysis in an ecological model species without a reference genome. Mol Ecol Resour 2013; 13:696-705. [DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2012] [Revised: 02/24/2013] [Accepted: 02/25/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hooman K. Moghadam
- Institute of Marine Biology Biotechnology & Aquaculture (IMBBC) Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) PO Box 2214 71500 Heraklion Crete Greece
| | - Peter W. Harrison
- Department of Genetics Evolution and Environment University College London The Darwin Building Gower Street London WC1E 6BT UK
| | - Gergely Zachar
- Department of Anatomy Histology and Embryology Semmelweis University Budapest H‐1094 Hungary
| | - Tamás Székely
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry University of Bath Claverton Down Bath BA2 7AY UK
| | - Judith E. Mank
- Department of Genetics Evolution and Environment University College London The Darwin Building Gower Street London WC1E 6BT UK
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