Breeder aggression does not predict current or future cooperative group formation in a cooperatively breeding bird.

ABSTRACT: In cooperatively breeding species, subordinates forgo reproduction to assist breeders in raising offspring. When cooperative breeding is facultative, breeders from the same population may differ in whether they are assisted by non-breeding helpers. Predation risk is a major source of nest failure and assistance during nest defense is often an overlooked, yet important, way helpers assist breeders. A breeder's aggressive response to a nest predator could have important implications for whether they form cooperatively breeding groups. We investigated the hypothesis that breeder aggression towards a nest predator is related to current and future helper recruitment. We tested the prediction that less aggressive breeders were more likely to form cooperative groups, which could occur if these br

SUBMITTER: Cusick JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8386499 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature