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The Communal Way of Life in the Splendid Wren, Malurus splendens
Author(s) -
ROWLEY IAN
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
zeitschrift für tierpsychologie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.739
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-0310
pISSN - 0044-3573
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1981.tb01271.x
Subject(s) - inbreeding , biology , population , demography , cooperative breeding , ecology , zoology , sociology
Splendid Wrens were studied over 7 breeding seasons in Western Australia. A colourbanded population (54 adults and 160 nestlings) of these small dimorphic passerines occupied a saturated habitat and dispersed little. Annual mortality of ♀♀ was 57% compared to ♂♂ at 29%; this high rate of turnover of ♀♀ reduces the chances of inbreeding. 2/3 of the territorial groups contained one or more helpers; groups with helpers did not produce more young than those without, but the helping role ensured priority of opportunity to inherit their own group‐territory or to succeed to a neighbouring one, wheresoever breeding vacancies occurred. Helpers reduced the stress on breeding ♀♀ in many ways.