Female begging calls reflect nutritional need of nestlings in the hen harrier Circus cyaneus

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dc.contributor.authorRedpath, Steve
dc.contributor.authorThompson, Alex
dc.contributor.authorAMAR, ARJUN
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T06:20:21Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T06:20:21Z
dc.date.issued2017
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND: Most birds exhibit bi-parental care with both sexes providing food for their young. Nestling signal food needs through begging. However, for some species, males rarely visit the nest, so have limited opportunity for gaining information directly from the chicks. Instead, females beg when males deliver food. We tested whether this calling signalled nutritional need and specifically the needs of the female (Breeder Need hypothesis) or that of their chicks (Offspring Need hypothesis). RESULTS: We observed begging and provisioning rates at 42 nests of hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) in Scotland, explored the factors associated with variation in begging rate and the relationship between begging and provisioning. We also tested the impact of food on begging and provisioning through a feeding experiment. Female begging rate increased up to a chick age of 3 weeks and then tailed off. In addition, begging increased when broods were large. CONCLUSIONS: Our data provided support for the Offspring Need hypothesis. At nests where adlib food was provided females reduced their begging rate. These patterns suggested that female begging was an honest signal of need. However, begging continued even with adlib food and was only weakly associated with greater provisioning by males, suggesting that these calls may also play an additional role, possibly reflecting sexual or parent-offspring conflict.
dc.identifier.apacitationRedpath, S., Thompson, A., & AMAR, A. (2017). Female begging calls reflect nutritional need of nestlings in the hen harrier Circus cyaneus. <i>BMC Evolutionary Biology</i>, 17(1), 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34258en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationRedpath, Steve, Alex Thompson, and ARJUN AMAR "Female begging calls reflect nutritional need of nestlings in the hen harrier Circus cyaneus." <i>BMC Evolutionary Biology</i> 17, 1. (2017): 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34258en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationRedpath, S., Thompson, A. & AMAR, A. 2017. Female begging calls reflect nutritional need of nestlings in the hen harrier Circus cyaneus. <i>BMC Evolutionary Biology.</i> 17(1):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34258en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1471-2148
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Redpath, Steve AU - Thompson, Alex AU - AMAR, ARJUN AB - BACKGROUND: Most birds exhibit bi-parental care with both sexes providing food for their young. Nestling signal food needs through begging. However, for some species, males rarely visit the nest, so have limited opportunity for gaining information directly from the chicks. Instead, females beg when males deliver food. We tested whether this calling signalled nutritional need and specifically the needs of the female (Breeder Need hypothesis) or that of their chicks (Offspring Need hypothesis). RESULTS: We observed begging and provisioning rates at 42 nests of hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) in Scotland, explored the factors associated with variation in begging rate and the relationship between begging and provisioning. We also tested the impact of food on begging and provisioning through a feeding experiment. Female begging rate increased up to a chick age of 3 weeks and then tailed off. In addition, begging increased when broods were large. CONCLUSIONS: Our data provided support for the Offspring Need hypothesis. At nests where adlib food was provided females reduced their begging rate. These patterns suggested that female begging was an honest signal of need. However, begging continued even with adlib food and was only weakly associated with greater provisioning by males, suggesting that these calls may also play an additional role, possibly reflecting sexual or parent-offspring conflict. DA - 2017 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 1 J1 - BMC Evolutionary Biology LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2017 SM - 1471-2148 T1 - Female begging calls reflect nutritional need of nestlings in the hen harrier Circus cyaneus TI - Female begging calls reflect nutritional need of nestlings in the hen harrier Circus cyaneus UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34258 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34258
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationRedpath S, Thompson A, AMAR A. Female begging calls reflect nutritional need of nestlings in the hen harrier Circus cyaneus. BMC Evolutionary Biology. 2017;17(1):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34258.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentFitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.sourceBMC Evolutionary Biology
dc.source.journalissue1
dc.source.journalvolume17
dc.source.pagination174 - 177
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12862-017-0986-z
dc.subject.otherBegging behaviour
dc.subject.otherBreeder need
dc.subject.otherHen harrier
dc.subject.otherNestlings
dc.subject.otherOffspring need
dc.subject.otherProvisioning behaviour
dc.subject.otherRaptors
dc.subject.otherSexual conflict
dc.subject.otherAnimals
dc.subject.otherFalconiformes
dc.subject.otherFeeding Behavior
dc.subject.otherFemale
dc.subject.otherMale
dc.subject.otherNesting Behavior
dc.subject.otherScotland
dc.titleFemale begging calls reflect nutritional need of nestlings in the hen harrier Circus cyaneus
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
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