Effects of mating system, kinship, and environment on complex joint-nesting breeding birds

目前，关于一夫一妻制和相关的亲属关系是否是合作演变的关键因素，存在着巨大的争论。一夫一妻制导致在幼崽扩散延迟时产生高水平的亲属关系(允许为利他行为和合作繁殖进行亲属选择)。然而，延迟分散也会导致与已知群体成员的稳定社会互动(允许有益行为的回报，这可能提供直接的适应)。对合作繁殖者的研究大多集中在一夫一妻制的基于亲缘关系的合作群体，从而混淆了交配制度和合作。我研究了两个物种，在这些物种中，一夫一妻制和基于亲缘关系的合作育种没有相关性。我的研究计划的长期目标是确定亲属关系、交配制度和群体内的社会稳定如何影响群体繁育鸟类的合作和冲突。*我们研究了两种共同筑巢的鸟类--它们以群体繁殖，包括多只繁殖的雄性和雌性，它们共同下蛋，在单一的共享巢中产生联合产卵。光滑喙鳗(Crotophaga ani；葫芦科)生活在一夫一妻制的非亲属群体中。美洲斑羚通常生活在近亲群体中，并以一夫多妻的方式繁殖--多只雄性和雌性繁殖者在没有配对纽带的情况下相互交配。*我将在这笔赠款的过程中回答三个主要问题。第一个问题：公共联合筑巢的健康后果是什么？在与ANIS合作的项目1和2中，我们将研究在非亲缘寄生系统中合作繁殖的直接适应效益。在关于pukeko的项目3中，我们将检验这一假设，即由两个雌性亲属同步下蛋比由一只占主导地位的雌性单独延长下蛋提高包容性适合度。*第二个问题：在共同的亲属群体中，个人是否偏爱他们的后代后代而不是非后代后代，如果是这样的话，是什么适应导致了这种偏爱？在项目4中，我们将检验这一假设，即即使在亲属选择系统中，雌性呕吐物繁育者也会对自己的后代表现出母性偏爱。*第三个问题：在合作繁殖物种中，优势雌性如何调节从属雌性生殖？北岛(新西兰)普克科种群常年生活在稳定的近亲群体中，从属雌性种群的繁殖率下降。相比之下，南岛非亲属群体生活在季节性领地(一年中有部分时间举行；不太稳定)，下属女性的生殖水平没有下降。在项目5中，我们将使用雌性移出实验来检验这一假设，即在永久领土上稳定的联合筑巢群中，优势雌性通过下属来调节生殖。**

Currently there is great debate about whether monogamy and associated kinship is a key element in the evolution of cooperation. Monogamy leads to high levels of kinship when dispersal of young is delayed (allowing kin selection for altruistic behaviour and cooperative breeding). However, delayed dispersal also leads to stable social interactions with known group members (allowing reciprocation of helpful behaviours which may provide direct fitness). Most studies of cooperative breeders focus on monogamous kin-based cooperative groups, thus confounding mating system and cooperation. I study two species in which monogamy and kin-based cooperative breeding are not correlated. The long-term goal of my research program is to determine how kinship, mating system, and social stability within groups affect cooperation and conflict in group breeding birds.******We study two species of communal joint-nesting birds – birds that breed in groups including multiple breeding males and females that collectively lay eggs to produce a joint-clutch in single shared nest. Smooth-billed anis (Crotophaga ani; Cuculidae) live in non-kin groups of monogamous pairs. Pukeko (Porphyrio melanotus melanotus; Rallidae) usually live in close kin groups and breed polygynandrously – multiple male and female breeders mate with each other without pair bonds. ******I will address three main questions over the course of this grant. First Question: What are the fitness consequences of communal joint-nesting? In projects 1 and 2 with anis we will examine direct fitness benefits of cooperative breeding in a non-kin parasitic system. In project 3 with pukeko, we will test the hypothesis that the laying of synchronized joint clutches by two female kin improves inclusive fitness compared with extended laying by a dominant female alone. ******Second Question: Do individuals favour their descendent young over non-descendent young in communal kin groups, and if so what adaptations underlie such favoritism? In project 4 we will test the hypothesis that female pukeko breeders show maternal favouritism towards their own young even within a kin selected system. ******Third Question: How is subordinate female reproduction modulated by dominant females in cooperative breeding species? North Island (New Zealand) populations of pukeko live in stable kin groups on year-round territories and subordinate females show reduced levels of reproduction. In contrast, South Island non-kin groups live in seasonal territories (held part of the year; less stable) and subordinate females do not show reduced levels of reproduction. In project 5 we will use female removal experiments to test the hypothesis that dominant females in stable joint-nesting groups on permanent territories modulate reproduction by subordinates. **