Chapter 14

Question 1

Polygamy

Answer 1

• any mating system that includes multiple mates of the opposite sex

Question 2

Polygyny

Answer 2

males mate with multiple females
examples: Indigo bunting, red winged blackbird, house wren

Question 3

2 kinds of polygyny

Answer 3

• resource defense
• female defense

Question 4

Resource-defense polygny

Answer 4

• Male defends a territory that makes him polygynous if the resources females need are clumped spatially, permitting economical defense of a resource-based territory
• example: red winged blackbird

Question 5

Female defense polygyny

Answer 5

• When females aggregate, males will compete amongst each other for the right to mate with them
  example: Montezuma Oropendola, nest colonially in large hanging basket like nests; males larger than females

Question 6

Polyandry

Answer 6

• one female multiple males
  rare

Question 7

2 kinds of polyandry

Answer 7

• serial polyandry
• territorial polyandry

Question 8

Serial polyandry

Answer 8

• females lay a clutch of eggs for a series of
  different males over the breeding season

Question 9

Territorial polyandry

Answer 9

• the female defends a territory that
  contains sufficient resources to attract multiple males, each of which cares for his own clutch

Question 10

Example of polyandry

Answer 10

• Galapagos hawk: Cooperative polyandry
• Males are entirely monogamous, the females can mate with up to seven males throughout the nesting period
• Males then help to raise the chicks

Question 11

More examples of polyandry

Answer 11

• spotted sandpiper: perform alot, if not all parental care
• Northern Jacana: mates with 3-4 males, males protect over eggs

Question 12

Polygynandry

Answer 12

• a female mates with several males, each of which also mate with several females
• example: ostrich, single male will tend to clutch of many eggs laid by several females
• Dunnock example

Question 13

Promiscuity

Answer 13

• no prolonged pair bonds formed
• example: Hummingbirds, male hovering displays to attract female, bright pink/purple on mantle

Question 14

Brood Parasites

Answer 14

• lay their eggs in the nests of other birds and do not provide any parental care for their
  own offspring

Question 15

2 types of brood parasites

Answer 15

• Non-obligate(faculative, intraspecific): lay eggs in the nest of same species and in their own nests
• Obligate: Lay eggs in nests of other species.
  Have completely lost the ability to construct nests and incubate eggs

Question 16

Obligate examples:

Answer 16

• Cuckoo: raid another nest egg to lay her own, so similar to reed warbler nest eggs, not noticeable at first
• African greater honeyguide attacks smaller nestlings
• Cowbirds: attempts to lay in mother vireo nest, fails

Question 17

What aspect of their host species do some obligate brood parasites mimic?

Answer 17

• egg size and coloration, coevolution of mouth markings and begging calls
  ex: mouth markings of Common waxbill and Pin-tailed whydah almost the same

Question 18

Strategies of Broad parasites to be successful

Answer 18

• Cryptic movements
• May eat or discard host’s egg
• Have very high egg-laying
  abilities
• Lay eggs fast
• Short incubation, rapid growth
  for size

Question 19

Strategies of Host species to be successful with parasites conflict

Answer 19

• shift breeding season so it
  does not correspond to that
  of the parasite
• outright attack of the parasite
• warning calls
• nest concealment
• egg discrimination
• young discrimination
• removal of the parasitic egg
  or young

Question 20

Cooperative breeding

Answer 20

Hypothesis: ecological constraints limit successful dispersal and
reproduction of young birds entering the breeding population

Unpredictable or difficult breeding conditions and long-term territoriality favor
cooperative breeding in some birds

Cooperative breeding is much more frequent in geographic regions and
habitats that have low annual rainfall, high mean temperature, and high
climatic variance among years

Question 21

Florida Scrub Jay

Answer 21

• cooperative breeding
• one pair bonded couple, one to six helpers
• permanent, group-defended territories
• Levels of testosterone in the blood are higher in breeding males than in helper males; Testosterone levels increase in both groups during the early stages of the nest cycle but then drop to low levels during incubation and care of the nestlings
• Levels of the estrogen estradiol drop steadily in breeding females but increase in helper females during the
  later stages of the nest cycle, when helper females tend to disperse in search of their own territory

Question 22

Mexican jay

Answer 22

• permanent group-defended territories, and breeding adults are monogamous
• multiple breeding pairs
• multiple generations of helpers

Question 23

Groove billed Ani

Answer 23

• 1-4 breeding pairs
• Communal nest
• permanent, group defended territories

Question 24

Acorn Woodpecker

Answer 24

• 1-2 breeding females
• 1-4 breeding males
• extended family groups
  -Communal nest
• territories based on the defense and maintenance of granaries

Question 25

Florida Scrub Jay + Gray crowned Babbler

Answer 25

• Groups of Florida Scrub Jays with helpers produce more fledglings per nest than do pairs
  without helpers
• The experimental removal of helpers from breeding groups of Gray-crowned Babblers
  reduces the average number of young fledged per nest

Question 26

Siberian Jay

Answer 26

• Offspring remain with the parents up to 5 years beyond independence, are NOT helpers
• Dominant brood members evict subordinate brood mates (they join other groups)
• Live in family groups of up to seven members who share a territory, only the breeding
  pair is reproductively active
• Non-breeders: offspring that stayed behind or birds that immigrated early
• Cooperative behavior: several groups can gather at the carcasses of large herbivores
  Tolerate unrelated members of the group

Question 27

White fronted Bee-eater

Answer 27

• forms stable colonies; clains have 2-3 pairs, helpers, and offspring
• defend feeding territories
• males alternate with guarding their mate and attempting to make forced copulations with other females
• females attempt to lay eggs in neighbor nests
• can move to another clan as visitor, for breeding attempts, for growth etc.

Question 28

Non breeders for Bee-eaters

Answer 28

• Non-breeders are most likely to become helpers when breeding pairs are close genetic
  relatives
• When faced with a choice helpers preferential help the breeding pair to who they are
  most closely related
• behaviour may serve to increase the helper’s inclusive fitness