The Evolution of Begging: Competition, Cooperation and Communication

✍ Scribed by Rufus A. Johnstone, H. Charles J. Godfray (auth.), Jonathan Wright, Marty L. Leonard (eds.)

• Publisher: Springer Netherlands
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 512
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Begging by nestling birds has become the model system for investigating evolutionary conflicts of interest within families and their theoretical resolution provided by honest signals of offspring need. In response to the recent explosions of scientific papers on the revolution of begging; we have brought together twenty-four original contributions from major researchers in all areas of this dynamic field.

Organised into six sections: I: Theoretical approaches; II: Begging as a signal; III: Nestling physiology; IV: Sibling competition; V: Brood parasitism; and VI: Statistical approaches; this book is primarily aimed at research scientists and those at the graduate student level. For the first time, the theoretical and empirical literature on begging is fully reviewed. New ideas and data are also presented from a wide range of natural systems, and each chapter ends with suggestions for future study.

✦ Table of Contents

Models of Begging as a Signal of Need....Pages 1-20
State-Dependent Begging with Asymmetries and Costs: A Genetic Algorithm Approach....Pages 21-42
Begging and Cooperation: An Exploratory Flight....Pages 43-64
Parental Investment in Relation to Offspring Sex....Pages 65-85
The Evolution of Complex Begging Displays....Pages 87-106
The Sibling Negotiation Hypothesis....Pages 107-126
Efficacy and the Design of Begging Signals....Pages 127-141
Energetic Costs of Begging Behaviour....Pages 143-162
Begging Behaviour and Nest Predation....Pages 163-172
Appetite and the Subjectivity of Nestling Hunger....Pages 173-198
Nestling Digestive Physiology and Begging....Pages 199-219
Hormonal Regulation of Begging Behaviour....Pages 221-244
Immunity and Begging....Pages 245-267
Begging and Asymmetric Nestling Competition....Pages 269-281
Sibling Competition and the Evolution of Brood Size and Development Rate in Birds....Pages 283-301
Feeding Chases in Penguins: Begging Competition on the Run?....Pages 303-318
Sibling Competition and Parental Control: Patterns of Begging in Parrots....Pages 319-336
Begging Versus Aggression in Avian Broodmate Competition....Pages 337-360
Begging Behaviour and Host Exploitation in Parasitic Cowbirds....Pages 361-387
Dishonest Begging and Host Manipulation by Clamator Cuckoos....Pages 389-412
Breeding Strategy and Begging Intensity: Influences on Food Delivery by Parents and Host Selection by Parasitic Cuckoos....Pages 413-427
Begging for Parental Care from Another Species: Specialization and Generalization in Brood-Parasitic Finches....Pages 429-449
Logistic Regression and the Analysis of Begging and Parental Provisioning....Pages 451-471
Statistical Challenges in the Study of Nestling Begging....Pages 473-491

✦ Subjects

Evolutionary Biology; Ecology; Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Zoology