Multilevel selection on offspring size and the maintenance of variation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayley Cameron ◽  
Darren W. Johnson ◽  
Keyne Monro ◽  
Dustin J. Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Multilevel Selection ◽  
Offspring Size

Elevated nest predation risk promotes offspring size variation in birds with prolonged parental care.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gretchen F. Wagner ◽  
Emeline Mourocq ◽  
Michael Griesser
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Reproductive Cycle ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Nest Predation ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Offspring Size ◽  
Natural Predation ◽  
Risk Spreading

Predation of offspring is the main cause of reproductive failure in many species, and the mere fear of offspring predation shapes reproductive strategies. Yet, natural predation risk is ubiquitously variable and can be unpredictable. Consequently, the perceived prospect of predation early in a reproductive cycle may not reflect the actual risk to ensuing offspring. An increased variance in investment across offspring has been linked to breeding in unpredictable environments in several taxa, but has so far been overlooked as a maternal response to temporal variation in predation risk. Here, we experimentally increased the perceived risk of nest predation prior to egg-laying in seven bird species. Species with prolonged parent-offspring associations increased their intra-brood variation in egg, and subsequently offspring, size. High risk to offspring early in a reproductive cycle can favour a risk-spreading strategy particularly in species with the greatest opportunity to even out offspring quality after fledging.

Offspring size as an index of habitat degradation

2004 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian G. WARKENTIN ◽  
J. Michael REED ◽  
Susie M. DUNHAM
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Degradation ◽  
Offspring Size

CONSTRAINTS ON THE ADULT-OFFSPRING SIZE RELATIONSHIP IN PROTISTS

Evolution ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 67 (12) ◽  
pp. 3537-3544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franklin Caval-Holme ◽  
Jonathan Payne ◽  
Jan M. Skotheim
Keyword(s):  
Offspring Size ◽  
Adult Offspring ◽  
Size Relationship

The relationship between offspring size and fitness: integrating theory and empiricism

Ecology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Njal Rollinson ◽  
Jeffrey A. Hutchings
Keyword(s):  
Offspring Size ◽  
The Relationship
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document