Interpatch movement of the red milkweed beetle,Tetraopes tetraophthalmus: individual responses to patch size and isolation

Individual movement patterns and the effects of host plant patch size and isolation on patch occupancy were examined for red milkweed beetles, Tetraopes tetraophthalmus, residing in a heterogeneous landscape. Male beetles were found to move both more often and farther between host plant patches than female beetles, and this difference affected the patterns of patch occupancy observed. Overall, unoccupied milkweed patches were smaller and more isolated than patches occupied by beetles. Patches uninhabited by females tended to be more isolated, but not necessarily smaller, than patches with female beetles, indicating that females may be affected more by patch isolation than patch size. Presence of male beetles on patches showed a stronger response to patch size than to patch isolation. Differences in movement between males and females illustrate the need for demographically based dispersal data. Comparisons of Tetraopes interpatch movement patterns between landscapes composed of patches of different size revealed that landscapes with overall smaller patches may have greater rates of interpatch movement.     

Ecological correlates to social structure in two lemur species in Madagascar

In this study, I tested two hypotheses regarding the relationship of ecological variables (size, density, and distribution of patches) and infant developmental patterns to lemur social structure using two prosimian primates in Ranomafana, Madagascar: the rufous lemur (Eulemur fulvus rufus) and the red-bellied lemur (Eulemur rubriventer). Three predictions regarding the general effects of patch size and subgroup size on lemur feeding rates were supported: (1) Rufous lemurs used large patches; red-bellied lemurs used smaller patches; (2) larger subgroups of rufous lemurs used larger patches; and (3) rufous lemur feeding rates decreased significantly with increases in subgroup size and patch size, whereas size and patch size had no significant effect on red-bellied lemur feeding rates. However, food item size (fruit) had a more significant effect on rufous and red-bellied lemur feeding rates than either patch size or subgroup size. When similar-sized fruits were compared, rufous lemur feeding rates on small fruit were most affected by patch size, yet feeding rates on medium-sized fruit were most affected by subgroup size. Neither lemur species used patches in consistent ways seasonally. During periods of food abundance, rufous lemurs used many small, common, and clumped patches. In food scarcity periods, they used fewer, larger, rarer, and less clumped patches; groups migrated when food became most scarce. Red-bellied lemurs also used patches in variable ways, but these patterns were not linked with food availability. Finally, infant development patterns differed between lemur species; red-bellied lemur males cared for offspring and infants reached developmental landmarks faster than rufous lemur infants. Therefore, red-bellied lemur group size may be constrained by the need for additional infant care by other group members. In contrast, rufous lemur group size may be constrained by patch availability during the most critical period of food scarcity. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Food patch structure and plant resource partitioning in interspecific associations of amazonian tamarins

ávila-Pires’ saddle-back tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis avilapiresi) and red-cap moustached tamarins (S. mystax pileatus), coexisting in highly stable mixed-species groups, overlapped considerably in their use of plant food resources at an Amazonian terra firme forest site. Overlap between food types consumed by the two species was particularly high during periods of lowest fruit availability, when they resorted to a common food supply, primarily the pod exudates of two emergent species of legume trees (Parkia nitida andParkia pendula) and nectar ofSymphonia globulifera. Within-group interspecific competition did not covary with independent measures of resource availability, contrary to predictions based on resource partitioning models. A greater number of both saddle-back and moustached tamarins were able to feed for longer patch residence periods within larger and more productive food patches, whereas small and clumped patches could be monopolized by the socially and numerically dominant moustached tamarins to the physical exclusion of the smaller-bodied saddle-back tamarins. Overall rates of interspecific aggression were extremely low, however, partly because patches that could be monopolized contributed with a minor proportion of either species’ diet. Saddle-backs foraged at lower levels in the understory and encountered smaller food patches more often, whereas moustached tamarins foraged higher and encountered more larger patches in the middle canopy. Although the two species led one another to differently-sized patches, moustached tamarins initiated most feeding bouts and encountered significantly larger and more productive patches that tended to accommodate the entire mixed-species group. Disadvantages of exploitative and interference feeding competition over plant resources, and advantages of shared knowledge of food patches, are but one component of the overall cost-benefit relationship of interspecific associations in tamarins.     

Oviposition site preference inNeacoryphus bicrucis (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae): Responses to the density and dispersion of a single host-plant species

Caged females of Neacoryphus bicrucis(Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) were permitted to settle upon and oviposit within a small or large ragwort patch, each of which contained both maturing (= adult food/water source) and dehisced (=oviposition substrate/resource for nymphs) flower heads. The proportion of females settling in the large patch was significantly greater than for the small patch but not significantly greater than expected based on the proportion of maturing flower heads contained in each patch. Also, the number of egg masses laid in each patch was proportional to the number of females that settled there. However, egg mass size was significantly skewed toward larger numbers of eggs in the larger patch. Within the large patch egg mass size was significantly larger where the number of dehisced flower heads was greater and accounts for the between-patch difference in number of eggs per mass. Thus, female settlement does not demonstrate a resource concentration effect but females do appear to evaluate patches after settlement with regard to suitability for oviposition.     

Sex differences in giraffe foraging behavior at two spatial scales

We test predictions about differences in the foraging behaviors of male and female giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi Matchie) that derive from a hypothesis linking sexual size dimorphism to foraging behavior. This body-size hypothesis predicts that males will exhibit specific behaviors that increase their dry-matter intake rate relative to females. Foraging behavior was examined at two hierarchical levels corresponding to two spatial and temporal scales, within patches and within habitats. Patches are defined as individual trees or shrubs and habitats are defined as collections of patches within plant communities. Males were predicted to increase dry-matter intake rate within patches by taking larger bites, cropping bites more quickly, chewing less, and chewing faster. Within habitats, males were expected to increase intake rate by increasing the proportion of foraging time devoted to food ingestion as opposed to inter-patch travel time and vigilance. The predictions were tested in a free-ranging population of giraffes in Mikumi National Park, Tanzania. Males spent less total time foraging than females but allocated a greater proportion of their foraging time to forage ingestion as opposed to travel between patches. There was no sex difference in rumination time but males spent more time in activities other than foraging and rumination, such as walking. Within patches, males took larger bites than females, but females cropped bites more quickly and chewed faster. Males had longer per-bite handling times than females but had shorter handling times per gram of intake. Within habitats, males had longer average patch residence times but there was no significant sex difference in inter-patch travel times. There was no overall difference between sexes in vigilance while foraging, although there were significant sex by habitat and sex by season interactions. Although not all the predictions were confirmed, overall the results agree qualitatively with the body-size hypothesis. Sex-related differences in foraging behavior led to greater estimated intake rates for males at the within-patch and within-habitat scales. Received: 20 November 1995 / Accepted: 5 November 1996     

Woodland fragmentation affects space use of Eurasian red squirrels

When habitats become fragmented, variation in patch size and quality are expected to impose changes on the spacing pattern and social organization of animal populations. General theory predicts different possible responses including shrinking home ranges (fission response), increasing range overlap (fusion) and incorporation of multiple patches in the home range (expansion response) as fragmentation increases. We studied space use and social organization in a metapopulation of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in 15 woodland fragments differing in size and tree species composition. Home ranges and core areas of males were larger than females, and fragmentation had different and complex effects on the spacing pattern of both sexes. In food-supplemented patches, high densities led to increased intra-sexual overlap. In linear-shaped patches, squirrels used smaller home ranges and core areas and had lower male–male and male–female overlap levels, independent of patch quality or size. Home range and core area size of males increased with patch size, and male core areas overlapped extensively those of other males and females. Hence males seemed to show a fission response only in some patches. In contrast, home range and core area size of females was not related with patch size, but decreased with habitat quality, supporting predictions of a fusion response and intra-sexual defense of food-based core areas. Hence, where patch size and shape strongly affected space use of male red squirrels, social organization of females was only affected in small, food-supplemented patches, suggesting that the basic spatio-social organization of adult females is very resistant to fragmentation.     

Sexual Selection on a Coloured Ornament in King Penguins

Species in which the sexes equally exhibit colourful ornaments are an issue for evolutionary theory. Among several hypotheses, sexual selection for mutual mate choice and social selection for signals of behavioural dominance are most commonly supported. We examined the previously documented sex‐similar size of yellow‐orange ear patches in the king penguin, Aptenodytes patagonicus. This species is monogamous and pairs just before reproduction. Raising a chick requires considerable effort by both parents, as they alternate care of their single offspring with foraging at sea. The size of the ear patches appears to signal aggressive territoriality in the breeding colony for both sexes. However, experiments suggest that females prefer large patch size during mate choice, and males do not prefer this trait. We tested whether the size of the coloured ear patch was influenced by sexual selection for couples that had recently paired. We used analyses of covariance to compare the size of the ear patch to a measure of body size and then tested for the difference between males and females. Males were 6.2% larger in ear patch width and 7.7% larger in ear patch area than females, and the distance between the ear patches over the head was 7.5% smaller in males, with all differences highly significant. Consequently, sexual selection appears to favour larger ear patches in males, possibly because of an excess of males that promotes female choice. Social selection also appears to favour the evolutionary maintenance of ear patches of males, and thus both types of selection may contribute to enlarged ear patches.     

Distribution and reproductive success of the Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca in relation to forest patch size and vegetation characteristics; the effect of scale

We studied habitat choice, distribution and reproductive success in the Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca in relation to the spatial structure of a fragmented forest area. Two hierarchical levels of forest habitat structure were used: (1) forest patch size (macrohabitat) and (2) vegetative structure within forest patches (microhabitat). In spring, both males and females settled preferentially in large and medium-sized forest stands (>1 ha) where breeding density was also higher than in small stands (<1 ha). Stands <5 ha were occupied later, and the proportion of unpaired males was higher there than in large stands (>5 ha). The known age distributions of breeding birds and breeding success were independent of forest patch size. Nest predation rate was not associated with stand size or nest distance from the forest edge. The preference of breeding birds for large forest patches was presumably related to the higher amount of resources (nest sites, mates, food) a large patch can offer for reproduction compared with a small patch. At the microhabitat level, territories of old males were characterized by relatively more deciduous trees that contained more invertebrate food than coniferous tree-dominated territories of yearling males. The reproductive success of old males, as measured by the number of fledged young per male, was higher than that of yearling males. This suggests that the larger body size and blacker plumage of old males possibly contributed to male dominance and that old males excluded younger males from preferred habitats through territorial behaviour. Our results suggest that habitat choice of the Pied Flycatcher was affected by both micro- and macrohabitat. On the basis of settlement pattern, density and reproductive success, the distribution of Pied Flycatchers across forest stands of different sizes followed the ideal-free distribution model, whereas at the microhabitat level, age-related unequal distribution of males followed the ideal-despotic model of Fretwell and Lucas.     

Population Variation in Patch and Party Size in Muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides)

We examined the relationship between food patch size and feeding party size with comparative data from two populations of muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides) in the 37,797-ha forest at the Parque Estadual de Carlos Botelho (PECB), São Paulo, and the 800-ha forest at the Estação Biológica de Caratinga (EBC), Minas Gerais. Precipitation was more abundant and less seasonal at PECB than EBC, and the density of large trees (>25.0 cm) was higher at PECB (206 ha ^–1 ) than at EBC (132 ha ^–1 ). At both sites, the size of feeding parties is positively related to the size of food patches. As predicted, food patches at PECB are significantly larger than those at EBC for both fruit and leaf sources. Contrary to expectations, feeding parties were larger at EBC than PECB. The higher population density of muriquis and sympatric primates at EBC may make large associations more advantageous to these muriquis than to muriquis living at lower population densities in PECB.     

Space use of the Siberian flying squirrel Ptevomys volans in fragmented forest landscapes

We studied the space use of the Siberian flying squirrel in fragmented forest landscapes in southern Finland in 1996- 1999. Twenty-four adult males and 23 adult females were radio trucked in three different study areas. The use of different landscape elements by flying squirrels was compared to their availability using compositional analysis. Effects of fragmentation on flying squirrels were studied by comparing the use of different habitat types, number of used patches, and size of home range to the principal components formed from the landscape variables patch size, patch isolation, area of spruce-dominated forests, and area of other habitats with trees.
Flying squirrels preferred spruce- and deciduous-dominated forests, but other habitats with trees were also used for moving and foraging. These less preferred habitats connected spruce and deciduous forest patches in a matrix of open areas. Males used several separate patches of preferred habitat, but females usually stayed in one patch. The spacing behaviour of males was affected by the structure of the landscape in a way that home ranges were larger and males used more spruce patches in the more highly fragmented landscape. Home-range size of females was not affected by the landscape structure. Basically, the space use of males seemed lo be reflected by the location and number of female home ranges. In the study area where female density was high, the home ranges of males were small. Our results give empirical evidence of the effects of habitat loss and landscape connectivity for the Siberian flying squirrel and the implications of these for the conservation of the species.     

Spatial sex segregation in the dioecious grass Poa ligularis in northern Patagonia: the role of environmental patchiness

We examined the effect of environmental patchiness on the spatial segregation of the sexes in the dioecious anemophilus grass Poa ligularis. Because the species is sensitive to grazing, a better understanding of environmental factors that control its spatial distribution and abundance could improve conservation efforts. We hypothesized that (i) males and females are spatially segregated in the microenvironments created by plant patches as the result of sexual specialization in habitat and/or resources use, (ii) sexual specialization is related to different tolerance to competition and reproductive costs of males and females, and (iii) changes in patch structure affect the microenvironment and the intensity of spatial segregation of the sexes. We analyzed the spatial distribution of sexes at three sites with different plant and micro-environmental patchiness and performed a controlled competition experiment with different substitution of males and females. Our results showed that large plant patches created larger sheltered soil fertility islands than small patches. As patch size and their area of influence increased, the density and the spatial segregation of the sexes of P. ligularis also increased, resulting in biased habitat-specific sex ratios. In accordance with their higher reproductive costs, females were more frequent in sheltered (low air evaporative demand) and nitrogen-rich areas inside patch perimeters than males. Females were also better able to tolerate inter-sexual competition than males. In contrast, males tolerated low nitrogen concentration in soil and low sheltering, probably gaining advantage in pollen dispersal. Inter- and intra-sexual competition, however, affected the reproductive output of both sexes. From the point of view of conservation, environmental patchiness is important to the status of P. ligularis populations. The reduction of patch size limits the available microsites, biases the sex ratio towards males inside patches, increases inter- and intra-sexual competition, and it might be expected to decrease overall seed and pollen production and consequently potential recruitment.     

Sexual variations in food quality and gastrointestinal features of sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Japan during winter: implications for feeding strategy

We assessed sexual variation in food quality and gut macrostructure in adult male and pregnant female sika deer, Cervus nippon (Temminck, 1838), in Japan during winter. These variations might have important implications relative to sexual differences in habitat use, forage acquisition, and digestive strategy. According to the sexual dimorphism-body size hypothesis the larger males would feed on poorer forage and have heavier stomach contents and heavier intestine contents and longer intestines than smaller females. However, the food quality in rumen contents of males was higher than, or at least similar with, that of pregnant females. In correspondence to food quality, the relative weights of stomach contents and intestines with contents, the relative lengths of intestines to the lengths of body and total intestines in pregnant females were similar to adult males. The relative weights of omasum and abomasum tissues in pregnant females were greater than in males. Our findings suggest sexual differences in feeding strategy in sika deer in Japan during winter. To meet greater nutritional demands of high metabolic rate and gestation, pregnant females seemed to maintain a greater volume of digesta in guts and had more stomach tissues than expected by the sexual dimorphism-body size hypothesis to compensate for poorer forage quality.     

Behavioral differences between hawthorn-origin and apple-originRhagoletis pomonella flies in patches of host trees

We compared patterns of patch residence and oviposition ofRhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae) females that originated as larvae from hawthorn or apple trees and were released into patches of host trees containing hawthorn or apple fruit in an open field. There were no detectable differences between hawthorn-origin females in patches of hawthorns and apple-origin females in patches of apples in numbers of females observed on food, fruit or foliage or in numbers of eggs laid in fruit during the course of the 7-h experimental period. Apple-origin females in patches of hawthorns behaved similarly to hawthorn-origin females in patches of hawthorns. In contrast, hawthorn-origin females in patches of apples differed significantly from apple-origin females in patches of apples. The former were observed on fruit only 40% as often and laid only 20% as many eggs before departing a patch. Our findings support the hypothesis of G. L. Bush thatR. pomonella flies of hawthorn and apple origin represent distinct host races.     

Program of the fifty-sixth annual meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists to be held in New York City Vista International Hotel April 2–5, 1987

Male orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) weigh about twice as much as females. Observations in northern Sumatra of adults of both sexes (one male, three females) feeding in the same trees reveal the effects of body size dimorphism on feeding behavior: The male tended to use larger branches than the females, and to employ above-branch postures (sitting and standing) with greater frequency. The females employed suspensory under-branch postures more often. When feeding techniques were variable, the male tended to pull in branches to detach food with the mouth, whereas the female plucked more fruit by hand. By controlling for postcranial morphology and habitat structure, these results provide the first rigorous quantitative test of predictions about the effects of body size on primate positional behavior, and raise further questions about sexual diethism in feeding postural behavior of primates of varying absolute size.     

POPULATION DIVERGENCE IN SEXUAL ORNAMENTS: THE WHITE FOREHEAD PATCH OF NORWEGIAN PIED FLYCATCHERS IS SMALL AND UNSEXY

Models of sexual selection suggest that populations may easily diverge in male secondary sexual characters. Studies of a Spanish population of the pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca, and a Swedish population of the closely related collared flycatcher, F. albicollis, have indicated that the white forehead patch of males is a sexually selected trait. We studied the white forehead patch of male pied flycatchers (n = 487) in a Norwegian population over seven years. Males with large forehead patches were in general more brightly colored, but patch height was not correlated to body mass, body size, or parasite loads. Conditions during the nestling period did not seem to influence patch height as an adult. Patch height increased slightly from the first to the second year as adults, but then remained relatively constant at higher ages. Patch height was not related to survival. Year-to-year changes showed that males who increased in patch height also increased in body mass, suggesting that expression of the forehead patch may be partly condition dependent. However, changes in body mass explained only a small proportion of the variance in patch height between males. Thus, patch height would not be a good indicator of male quality. Furthermore, patch size was also not related to male ability to feed nestlings, indicating that females would not obtain direct benefits by choosing males with large patches. However, patch height could be a Fisher trait, but this requires heritability and there was no significant father-son resemblance in patch height. Comparisons of the males visited by each female during the mate sampling period indicated that chosen males did not have larger forehead patches than rejected males. Experimental manipulation of patch height did not affect male mating success. These results indicate that females do not use patch size as a mate choice cue. Finally, patch height did not predict the outcome of male contests for nestboxes, suggesting that the forehead patch is not an intrasexually selected cue of status. Norwegian pied flycatchers have smaller forehead patches than both Spanish pied flycatchers and Swedish collared flycatchers. We suggest that this pattern may be explained by the lack of sexual selection on the forehead patch in the Norwegian population as compared to the other populations, where the patch is apparently sexually selected. We discuss possible reasons for these population divergences, such as female choice on an alternative secondary sexual character (general plumage color) and speciation among Ficedula flycatchers.     

The Mating System of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amegilla</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Asarapoda</Emphasis>) <Emphasis Type="Italic">paracalva</Emphasis> Brooks (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Males of the solitary bee Amegilla (Asarapoda) paracalva employ two mate-locating tactics: aggressive defense of sites from which virgin females are emerging and patrolling flower patches that are visited by conspecific females. At one study site, a single male was able to control an entire emergence area for one or more days. Multiple males patrolled one flower patch, interacting aggressively on occasion but no one individual was able to monopolize this resource. Territorial males at the emergence site secured mates by waiting by tunnels for receptive virgin females to emerge after metamorphosis. Males patrolling the flower patch pounced upon flower visiting conspecifics and mated with receptive females there. Territorial males at the emergence site were larger than average individuals, probably because of the advantage larger males have when grappling with opponents. Flower patrolling males were smaller than territorial males at the emergence sites, perhaps because of the advantages gained by these males from rapid, agile flight.     

Partial local mate competition and the sex ratio: A study on non-pollinating fig wasps

In many species, mating takes place in temporary patches where only a small number of females produce offspring. In this situation Local Mate Competition (LMC) theory predicts that the optimal sex ratio (defined as proportion males) should become increasingly female biased as the number of females contributing offspring to a patch decreases. However, in a large number of these species, some mating is also likely to occur away from the natal patch (termed partial LMC). In this case the degree of LMC is reduced, and theory predicts a relatively less female biased sex ratio. We tested these two predictions with field data from 17 species of New World non-pollinating fig wasps representing three genera. We present a model which suggests that the average number of females ovipositing in a fruit (i.e. patch) is positively correlated with the proportion of fruit of a given tree species in which that species of wasp occurs. Across species, the overall sex ratio was positively correlated with the proportion of fruit in which that species occurs. Furthermore, the males of some species are wingless, and in these species all mating must take place before females disperse from their natal fruit. In contrast, the males of other species are winged, and in these species mating may also take place away from the natal fruit. Species with winged males had less female biased sex ratios than species with wingless males that occurred in a similar proportion of fruit. Finally, the correlation between sex ratio and the proportion of fruit in which a species occurs was also observed within species when comparing between the fruit crops of different trees. This suggests that individual females facultatively adjust the sex ratio of their offspring in response to variable LMC.     

Effects of larval diet on development rates and reproductive maturation of male and female Mediterranean fruit flies

Abstract Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) larvae are capable of developing in one of many hosts that may vary greatly in quality. We hypothesized that they will respond to the larval environment in a manner beneficial to their subsequent reproductive performance. Accordingly, we investigated the effects of various larval diets (varying in the amount of protein and sugar they contain) on the size, development time, nutritional status and reproductive maturation (ovarian development and onset of sexual behaviour) of females and males. We found that flies which undergo larval development in artificial host fruit that contain sugar and protein ('protein-fed') were larger, developed faster and emerged with more nutritional reserves than flies that were protein-deprived as larvae. Protein-fed males, regardless of their size, became sexually active before males that developed in hosts with no protein. Protein-fed females produced more mature eggs than protein-deprived ones. Moreover, protein-fed females tended to copulate sooner than females that developed in hosts with no protein. In addition, regardless of female larval diet, females with more mature eggs tended to copulate sooner than females with less mature eggs. In light of these results, the importance of the larval environment for adult reproductive success is discussed.     

Sexual dimorphism and dichromatism in Steere's Liocichla (Liocichla steerii)

ABSTRACT.   Although sexual differences in birds can be extreme, differences between males and females in body size and plumage color are more subtle in many species. We used a genetic-based approach to determine the sex of male and female Steere's Liocichla ( Liocichla steerii ) and examine the degree of size dimorphism and plumage dichromatism in this apparently monomorphic species. We found that males were significantly larger than females. In addition, Steere's Liocichla have a prominent yellow plumage patch on the lores that was significantly larger in males than females for both live birds and museum specimens. We also used reflectance spectrometry to quantify the color of the yellow-green breast feathers of Steere's Liocichla and found no significant differences between males and females in brightness, intensity, saturation, or hue. However, females tended to have brighter breast plumage, particularly at long wavelengths. Collectively, these color variables were useful in discriminating birds according to sex when used in a discriminant function analysis. Our study suggests that sexual selection may be more widespread than once assumed, even among birds considered monomorphic, and emphasizes the need for additional data from tropical and subtropical species.     

Mutual ornamentation and the parental behaviour of male and female Collared Flycatchers Ficedula albicollis during incubation

One of the benefits of mate choice based on sexually selected traits is the greater investment of more ornamented individuals in parental care. The choosy individual can also adjust its parental investment to the sexual signals of its partner. Incubation is an important stage of avian reproduction, but the relationship between behaviour during incubation and mutual ornamentation is unclear. Studying a population of Collared Flycatchers Ficedula albicollis, we monitored the behaviour of both sexes during incubation in relation to their own and their partner's plumage traits, including plumage‐level reflectance attributes and white patch sizes. There was a marginally positive relationship between male feeding rate during incubation and female incubation rate. Female but not male behavioural traits were associated with the laying date of the first egg and clutch size. The behaviour of the two sexes jointly determined the relative hatching speed of clutches and the hatching success of eggs. Females with larger white wing patches spent less time incubating eggs and left the nestbox more frequently. Males with larger white wing patches fed females less frequently, whereas males with brighter white plumage areas visited the nestbox more regularly without feeding. Females tended to leave the nest less often when mated to males with larger wing patches, and females spent less time incubating when males had more UV chromatic plumage. The behaviour of both partners during incubation therefore predicted hatching patterns and was correlated with their own and sometimes with their partner's plumage ornamentation. These results call for further studies of mutual ornamentation and reproductive effort during incubation.