Is provisioning rate of parents and helpers influenced by the simulated presence of novel individuals?

ABSTRACT:

Abstract

Cooperative behaviour is widespread in animals and is likely to be the result of multiple selective pressures. A contentious hypothesis is that helping enhances the probability of obtaining a sexual partner (i.e., confers direct benefits through sexual selection). Under this hypothesis, cooperative behaviours may have evolved into a signal. Consequently, we would expect individuals to enhance cooperation when a potential mate is present, to signal their status and quality. We evaluated this possibility in the cooperatively breeding sociable weaver (Philetairus socius). We simulated the presence of different types of individuals using a playback to test whether the simulated presence of an unknown individual, possibly a potential mate, increases provisioning rate in

SUBMITTER: Pietro DB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11735550 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature