Register      Login
Emu Emu Society
Journal of BirdLife Australia
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Age, sex and social influences on adult survival in the cooperatively breeding Karoo Scrub-robin

Penn Lloyd A B G , Thomas E. Martin C , Andrew Taylor A D , Anne Braae A E and Res Altwegg F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Percy FitzPatrick Institute, Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa.

B Present address: Biodiversity Assessment and Management Pty Ltd, PO Box 1376, Cleveland, Qld 4163, Australia.

C United States Geological Survey Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA.

D Present address: Endangered Wildlife Trust, Private Bag X11, Modderfontein, 1609, Johannesburg, South Africa.

E Present address: Translational Cell Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.

F Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, Department of Statistical Sciences, and African Climate and Development Initiative, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.

G Corresponding author. Email: penn@baamecology.com

Emu 116(4) 394-401 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU15076
Submitted: 24 July 2015  Accepted: 6 June 2016   Published: 13 July 2016

Abstract

Among cooperatively breeding species, helpers are hypothesised to increase the survival of breeders by reducing breeder workload in offspring care and increased group vigilance against predators. Furthermore, parental nepotism or other benefits of group living may provide a survival benefit to young that delay dispersal to help. We tested these hypotheses in the Karoo Scrub-robin (Cercotrichas coryphaeus), a long-lived, and facultative cooperatively breeding species in which male helpers make substantial contributions to the care of young. We found that annual breeder survival in the presence of helpers did not differ detectably from breeders without helpers or breeders that lost helpers. Furthermore, helpers did not gain a survival benefit from deferred breeding; apparent survival did not differ detectably between male helpers and male breeders followed from one year old. These results are consistent with other studies suggesting a lack of adult survival benefits among species where breeders do not substantially reduce workloads when helpers are present. They are also consistent with the hypothesis that males that delay dispersal make the ‘best of a bad job’ by helping on their natal territory to gain indirect fitness benefits when they are unable to obtain a territory vacancy nearby.

Additional keywords: cost of reproduction, delayed dispersal, juvenile survival, life history.


References

Brouwer, L., Richardson, D. S., Eikenaar, C., and Komdeur, J. (2006). The role of group size and environmental factors on survival in a cooperatively breeding tropical passerine. Journal of Animal Ecology 75, 1321–1329.
The role of group size and environmental factors on survival in a cooperatively breeding tropical passerine.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17032364PubMed |

Charlesworth, B. 1994. ‘Evolution in Age-structured Populations’. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.)

Clobert, J., Perrins, C. M., McCleery, R. H., and Gosler, A. G. (1988). Survival rate in the Great Tit Parus major in relation to sex, age, and immigration status. Journal of Animal Ecology 57, 287–306.
Survival rate in the Great Tit Parus major in relation to sex, age, and immigration status.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cockburn, A. (1998). Evolution of helping behaviour in cooperatively breeding birds. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 29, 141–177.
Evolution of helping behaviour in cooperatively breeding birds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cockburn, A., Sims, R. A., Osmond, H. L., Green, D. J., Double, M. C., and Mulder, R. A. (2008). Can we measure the benefits of help in cooperatively breeding birds: the case of the Superb Fairy-wren, Malurus cyaneus? Journal of Animal Ecology 77, 430–438.
Can we measure the benefits of help in cooperatively breeding birds: the case of the Superb Fairy-wren, Malurus cyaneus? Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18312341PubMed |

Covas, R., and Griesser, M. (2007). Life history and the evolution of family living in birds. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 274, 1349–1357.
Life history and the evolution of family living in birds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17374593PubMed |

Covas, R., Brown, C. R., Anderson, M. D., and Brown, M. B. (2004). Juvenile and adult survival in the Sociable Weaver (Philetairus socius), a southern-temperate colonial cooperative breeder in Africa. The Auk 121, 1199–1207.
Juvenile and adult survival in the Sociable Weaver (Philetairus socius), a southern-temperate colonial cooperative breeder in Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Covas, R., du Plessis, M. A., and Doutrelant, C. (2008). Helpers in colonial cooperatively breeding sociable weavers Philetairus socius contribute to buffer the effects of adverse breeding conditions. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 63, 103–112.
Helpers in colonial cooperatively breeding sociable weavers Philetairus socius contribute to buffer the effects of adverse breeding conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Crick, H. P. Q. (1992). Load-lightening in cooperatively breeding birds and the cost of reproduction. The Ibis 134, 56–61.
Load-lightening in cooperatively breeding birds and the cost of reproduction.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dickinson, J. L., and Hatchwell, B. J. (2004). Fitness consequences of helping. In ‘Ecology and Evolution of Cooperative Breeding in Birds’. (Eds W. D. Koenig and J. L. Dickinson) pp. 48–66. (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.)

Du Plessis, M. A. (1992). Obligate cavity-roosting as a constraint on dispersal of Green Woodhoopoes: consequences for philopatry and the likelihood of inbreeding. Oecologia 90, 205–211.
Obligate cavity-roosting as a constraint on dispersal of Green Woodhoopoes: consequences for philopatry and the likelihood of inbreeding.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ekman, J., Bylin, A., and Tegelström, H. (1999). Increased lifetime reproductive success for Siberian Jay (Perisoreus infaustus) males with delayed dispersal. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 266, 911–915.
Increased lifetime reproductive success for Siberian Jay (Perisoreus infaustus) males with delayed dispersal.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ekman, J., Bylin, A., and Tegelström, H. (2000). Parental nepotism enhances survival of retained offspring in the Siberian Jay. Behavioral Ecology 11, 416–420.
Parental nepotism enhances survival of retained offspring in the Siberian Jay.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Green, D. J., and Cockburn, A. (2001). Post-fledging care, philopatry and recruitment in Brown Thornbills. Journal of Animal Ecology 70, 505–514.
Post-fledging care, philopatry and recruitment in Brown Thornbills.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Griffiths, R., Double, M. C., Orr, K., and Dawson, R. J. (1998). A DNA test to sex most birds. Molecular Ecology 7, 1071–1075.
A DNA test to sex most birds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXlslGmt7c%3D&md5=f39204166fad6fbe9b7270415a8182d3CAS | 9711866PubMed |

Hatchwell, B. J., and Komdeur, J. (2000). Ecological constraints, life history traits and the evolution of cooperative breeding. Animal Behaviour 59, 1079–1086.
Ecological constraints, life history traits and the evolution of cooperative breeding.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 10877885PubMed |

Hollén, L. I., Bell, M. B., and Radford, A. N. (2008). Cooperative sentinel calling? Foragers gain increased biomass intake. Current Biology 18, 576–579.
Cooperative sentinel calling? Foragers gain increased biomass intake.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18424147PubMed |

Holmes, R. T., Marra, P. P., and Sherry, T. W. (1996). Habitat-specific demography of breeding Black-throated Blue Warblers (Dendroica caerulescens): implications for population dynamics. Journal of Animal Ecology 65, 183–195.
Habitat-specific demography of breeding Black-throated Blue Warblers (Dendroica caerulescens): implications for population dynamics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Khan, M. Z., and Walters, J. R. (2002). Effects of helpers on breeder survival in the Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 51, 336–344.
Effects of helpers on breeder survival in the Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kingma, S. A., Hall, M. L., Arriero, E., and Peters, A. (2010). Multiple benefits of cooperative breeding in Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens: a consequence of fidelity? Journal of Animal Ecology 79, 757–768.
| 20443991PubMed |

Koenig, W. D., Pitelka, F. A., Carmen, W. J., Mumme, R. L., and Stanback, M. T. (1992). The evolution of delayed dispersal in cooperative breeders. The Quarterly Review of Biology 67, 111–150.
The evolution of delayed dispersal in cooperative breeders.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK38zkt1OlsA%3D%3D&md5=065e3fc838d81c67122d563ccfd2ce79CAS | 1635976PubMed |

Komdeur, J. (1992). Importance of habitat saturation and territory quality for evolution of cooperative breeding in the Seychelles Warbler. Nature 358, 493–495.
Importance of habitat saturation and territory quality for evolution of cooperative breeding in the Seychelles Warbler.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Law, R. (1979). Optimal life histories under age-specific predation. American Naturalist 114, 399–417.
Optimal life histories under age-specific predation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lebreton, J.-D., and Pradel, R. (2002). Multistate recapture models: modelling incomplete individual histories. Journal of Applied Statistics 29, 353–369.
Multistate recapture models: modelling incomplete individual histories.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lebreton, J.-D., Burnham, K. P., Clobert, J., and Anderson, D. R. (1992). Modelling survival and testing biological hypotheses using marked animals: a unified approach with case studies. Ecological Monographs 62, 67–118.
Modelling survival and testing biological hypotheses using marked animals: a unified approach with case studies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Li, Y., Li, S., Guo, C., Zhang, G., Zhou, Y., and Lu, X. (2015). Nest helpers improve parental survival but not offspring production in a high‐elevation passerine, the Ground Tit (Pseudopodoces humilis). The Ibis 157, 567–574.
Nest helpers improve parental survival but not offspring production in a high‐elevation passerine, the Ground Tit (Pseudopodoces humilis).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lloyd, P., and Martin, T. E. (2016). Fledgling survival increases with development time and adult survival across north and south temperate zones. The Ibis 158, 135–143.
Fledgling survival increases with development time and adult survival across north and south temperate zones.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lloyd, P., Taylor, W. A., du Plessis, M. A., and Martin, T. E. (2009). Females increase reproductive investment in response to helper-mediated improvements in allo-feeding, nest survival, nestling provisioning and post-fledging survival in the Karoo Scrub-robin (Cercotrichas coryphaeus). Journal of Avian Biology 40, 400–411.
Females increase reproductive investment in response to helper-mediated improvements in allo-feeding, nest survival, nestling provisioning and post-fledging survival in the Karoo Scrub-robin (Cercotrichas coryphaeus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lloyd, P., Abadi, F., Altwegg, R., and Martin, T. E. (2014). South temperate birds have higher apparent adult survival than tropical birds in Africa. Journal of Avian Biology 45, 493–500.
South temperate birds have higher apparent adult survival than tropical birds in Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Low, A. B., and Rebelo, A. G. 1996. ‘Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland’. (Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism: Pretoria).

Luck, G. W. (2001). The demography and cooperative breeding behaviour of the Rufous Treecreeper (Climacteris rufa). Australian Journal of Zoology 49, 515–537.
The demography and cooperative breeding behaviour of the Rufous Treecreeper (Climacteris rufa).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Magrath, R. D., and Yezerinac, S. M. (1997). Facultative helping does not influence reproductive success or survival in cooperatively breeding White-browed Scrubwrens. Journal of Animal Ecology 66, 658–670.
Facultative helping does not influence reproductive success or survival in cooperatively breeding White-browed Scrubwrens.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Martin, K. (1995). Patterns and mechanisms for age-dependent reproduction and survival in birds. American Zoologist 35, 340–348.
Patterns and mechanisms for age-dependent reproduction and survival in birds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Martin, T. E. (1996). Life history evolution in tropical and south temperate birds: what do we really know? Journal of Avian Biology 27, 263–272.
Life history evolution in tropical and south temperate birds: what do we really know?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Martin, T. E. (2002). A new view for avian life history evolution tested on an incubation paradox. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 269, 309–316.
A new view for avian life history evolution tested on an incubation paradox.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11839200PubMed |

Martin, T. E. (2014). A conceptual framework for clutch size evolution in songbirds. American Naturalist 183, 313–324.
A conceptual framework for clutch size evolution in songbirds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24561596PubMed |

McGowan, A., Hatchwell, B. J., and Woodburn, R. J. (2003). The effect of helping behaviour on the survival of juvenile and adult Long‐tailed Tits (Aegithalos caudatus). Journal of Animal Ecology 72, 491–499.
The effect of helping behaviour on the survival of juvenile and adult Long‐tailed Tits (Aegithalos caudatus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Michod, R. E. (1979). Evolution of life histories in response to age-specific mortality factors. American Naturalist 113, 531–550.
Evolution of life histories in response to age-specific mortality factors.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Paquet, M., Doutrelant, C., Hatchwell, B. J., Spottiswoode, C. N., and Covas, R. (2015). Antagonistic effect of helpers on breeding male and female survival in a cooperatively breeding bird. Journal of Animal Ecology , .
Antagonistic effect of helpers on breeding male and female survival in a cooperatively breeding bird.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25850564PubMed |

Pulliam, H. R. (1973). On the advantages of flocking. Journal of Theoretical Biology 38, 419–422.
On the advantages of flocking.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaE3s7jt1OjsA%3D%3D&md5=f2078a53abd890f46393994c33a8d8f3CAS | 4734745PubMed |

Ribeiro, A., Lloyd, P., Feldheim, K., and Bowie, R. C. K. (2012). Microgeographic socio-genetic structure of an African cooperative breeding passerine revealed: integrating behavioural and genetic data. Molecular Ecology 21, 662–672.
Microgeographic socio-genetic structure of an African cooperative breeding passerine revealed: integrating behavioural and genetic data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC387jvFWqtg%3D%3D&md5=73ef6412e739d6e0e3d2d4cc313e15a2CAS | 21883586PubMed |

Ridley, A. R., and Raihani, N. J. (2007a). Facultative response to a kleptoparasite by the cooperatively breeding pied babbler. Behavioral Ecology 18, 324–330.
Facultative response to a kleptoparasite by the cooperatively breeding pied babbler.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ridley, A. R., and Raihani, N. J. (2007b). Variable postfledging care in a cooperative bird: causes and consequences. Behavioral Ecology 18, 994–1000.
Variable postfledging care in a cooperative bird: causes and consequences.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ridley, A. R., Raihani, N. J., and Nelson‐Flower, M. J. (2008). The cost of being alone: the fate of floaters in a population of cooperatively breeding Pied Babblers (Turdoides bicolor). Journal of Avian Biology 39, 389–392.

Russell, E. M., Yom-Tov, Y., and Geffen, E. (2004). Extended parental care and delayed dispersal: northern, tropical, and southern passerines compared. Behavioral Ecology 15, 831–838.
Extended parental care and delayed dispersal: northern, tropical, and southern passerines compared.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Smith, J. N. M. (1981). Does high fecundity reduce survival in Song Sparrows? Evolution 35, 1142–1148.
Does high fecundity reduce survival in Song Sparrows?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Stacey, P. B., and Ligon, J. D. (1987). Territory quality and dispersal options in the Acorn Woodpecker, and a challenge to the habitat-saturation model of cooperative breeding. American Naturalist 130, 654–676.
Territory quality and dispersal options in the Acorn Woodpecker, and a challenge to the habitat-saturation model of cooperative breeding.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tarwater, C. E., and Brawn, J. D. (2010). Family living in a Neotropical bird: variation in timing of dispersal and higher survival for delayed dispersers. Animal Behaviour 80, 535–542.
Family living in a Neotropical bird: variation in timing of dispersal and higher survival for delayed dispersers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

White, G. C., and Burnham, K. P. (1999). Program MARK: survival estimation from populations of marked animals. Bird Study 46, S120–S139.
Program MARK: survival estimation from populations of marked animals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Woxvold, I. A. (2004). Breeding ecology and group dynamics of the Apostlebird. Australian Journal of Zoology 52, 561–581.
Breeding ecology and group dynamics of the Apostlebird.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |