Exploring the mechanisms of coordinated chick provisioning in the Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus)

Many species that provide care for their offspring in tandem with a partner coordinate their activities to maximise the efficiency of their investment. However, it is not well known exactly how this coordination is achieved. Manx shearwaters Puffinus puffinus are Procellariiform seabirds that exhibit a dual foraging strategy during chick provisioning in which long foraging trips to maintain condition are alternated with short, frequent trips to feed the offspring. This strategy is employed in a coordinated manner between the parents, with one making short trips while the other takes a single long trip. Previous work revealed that a complementary switch in foraging trip type is initiated by the parents following a synchronous visit to the nest. We used a combination of observational data and an experimental manipulation to examine the mechanisms that may underlie this behaviour. Specifically, we investigated the evidence that physical reunion is necessary to induce a switch in trip type,...

许多与伴侣共同抚育后代的物种会协调自身行为，以最大化抚育投入的效率。然而，这种协调究竟如何实现，目前尚不清楚。曼岛鹱（Puffinus puffinus）是鹱形目（Procellariiform）海鸟，在雏鸟喂养期采用双重觅食策略：为维持自身状态的长途觅食与为喂养后代的短途频繁觅食交替进行。亲鸟间会协同采用该策略：一方进行短途觅食，另一方则开展单次长途觅食。此前研究表明，亲鸟在同步归巢后会启动觅食类型的互补性转换。本研究结合观测数据与实验操控，探究了这一行为背后可能的机制。具体而言，我们验证了物理团聚是否为诱导觅食类型转换的必要条件……