Document Type

Article

Publication Version

Version of Record

Publication Date

6-2015

Departmental Paper Identifier

NRM-143

Abstract

Alloparental care (i.e., care for unrelated offspring) has been documented in various avian species (Maxson 1978, Smith et al. 1996, Tella et al. 1997, Lislevand et al. 2001, Literak and Mraz 2011). A male replacement mate that encounters existing broods has options, which include alloparental care or infanticide. Infanticide may be beneficial in some species (Rohwer 1986, Kermott et al. 1990), but in long-lived avian species, like the ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis) that do not renest within a season, infanticide might be detrimental. Adoption and rearing success likely provide direct evidence of competence of replacement mates as potential parents for future seasons, a benefit that might outweigh the investment of time and effort associated with adoption and rearing (after Rohwer 1986). Anticipated mating opportunity at the cost of adoption (Gori et al. 1996, Rohwer et al. 1999) may explain step-parental benevolence and therefore, in such a scenario would enhance individual fitness through subsequent recruitment of related young.

Publication Title

The Prairie Naturalist

Volume

47

Issue

1

First Page

36

Last Page

37

Pages

2

Format

application/pdf

Language

en

Rights

A work produced within the official duties of an employee of the United States Government are not subject to copyright within the U.S.

Comments

This work appeared in The Prairie Naturalist 47:36-37.

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