Group size adjustment to ecological demand in a cooperative breeder.

ABSTRACT: Environmental factors can determine which group size will maximize the fitness of group members. This is particularly important in cooperative breeders, where group members often serve different purposes. Experimental studies are yet lacking to check whether ecologically mediated need for help will change the propensity of dominant group members to accept immigrants. Here, we manipulated the perceived risk of predation for dominant breeders of the cooperatively breeding cichlid fish Neolamprologus pulcher to test their response to unrelated and previously unknown immigrants. Potential immigrants were more readily accepted if groups were exposed to fish predators or egg predators than to herbivorous fish or control situations lacking predation risk. Our data are consistent with both risk di

SUBMITTER: Zottl M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3574370 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature