Risk taking during parental care: a test of the harm-to-offspring hypothesis |
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Authors: | Listoen Camilla; Karlsen Robin Fjeld; Slagsvold Tore |
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Institution: | Department of Biology, University of Oslo, PO Box 1050 Blindern, N-0316
Oslo, Norway |
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Abstract: | Amount of risk taking during parental care is often explainedin relation
to the reproductive value of the offspring. The"harm-to-offspring
hypothesis" focuses on the relative harma period of no parental care
can do to the offspring. Accordingto this hypothesis, parents should take
greater risks for offspringin poor condition than for offspring in good
condition. We manipulatedoffspring condition in the pied flycatcher
(Ficedula hypoleuca)and tested the harm-to-offspring hypothesis by
exposing parentsto a predator model (a sparrowhawk, Accipiter
nisus). Time elapseduntil a parent first entered the nest-box was used
as a risk-takingmeasure. Parents spent significantly shorter time until first
nestvisit for offspring in poor condition than for offspring ingood
condition. Hence, the harm-to-offspring hypothesis wassupported. |
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Keywords: | Ficedula hypoleuca offspring condition parental care predation risk reproductive value |
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