Open AccessFactors related to aggressive nest protection behaviour: a comparative study of Holarctic waders
Author(s) -
Larsen Tore,
Sordahl Tex A.,
Byrkjedal Ingvar
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
biological journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.906
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1095-8312
pISSN - 0024-4066
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8312.1996.tb01444.x
Subject(s) - wader , biology , predation , nest (protein structural motif) , ecology , holarctic , predator , range (aeronautics) , paternal care , zoology , pregnancy , biochemistry , materials science , genetics , composite material , offspring , genus
Data on 12 factors presumed to influence the distribution of aggressive nest defence in 111 species of waders (incubation‐sharing by the parents, number of parents present near the nest, incubation time, nest habitat, breeding latitude, body mass, wing loading, wing structure, detectability on the nest, predator regime, coloniality and alternative prey) were collected from literature and field researchers. Body mass and number of parents present on the nest territory (within response range when avian predators appear) explain 50% of the variation in aggressive defence behaviour. The results support the notion that ecological conditions like predation pressure are important in shaping wader parental care systems, with implications for mating systems. Altogether, the investigated factors explain around 70% of the variation in the samples. Future research on the level of individuals is suggested in order to explain the remaining variation.