Local environment but not genetic differentiation influences biparental care in ten plover populations.

ABSTRACT: Social behaviours are highly variable between species, populations and individuals. However, it is contentious whether behavioural variations are primarily moulded by the environment, caused by genetic differences, or a combination of both. Here we establish that biparental care, a complex social behaviour that involves rearing of young by both parents, differs between closely related populations, and then test two potential sources of variation in parental behaviour between populations: ambient environment and genetic differentiation. We use 2904 hours behavioural data from 10 geographically distinct Kentish (Charadrius alexandrinus) and snowy plover (C. nivosus) populations in America, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa to test these two sources of behavioural variation. We show th

SUBMITTER: Vincze O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3629256 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature