Revealing the key signals in nestling begging behavior perceived by parent birds during parent-offspring conflict

文献类型： 外文期刊

第一作者： Zhang, Ziqi

作者： Zhang, Ziqi;Cai, Yan;Yang, Canchao;Li, Qihong;Li, Qihong

作者机构：

关键词： begging frequency; corticosterone level; feeding frequency; hormone regulation; offspring competition

期刊名称：INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY （ 影响因子：3.7； 五年影响因子：3.0 ）

ISSN： 1749-4877

年卷期： 2025 年 20 卷 4 期

页码：

收录情况： SCI

摘要： The parent-offspring conflict in avian species encompasses resource allocation and a balance necessary for survival for both parties. Parental investment is modulated according to various factors, among which begging is important. Endogenous hormones, particularly corticosterone (CORT), play a role in modulating begging behavior. However, most studies on hormonal regulation of begging behavior induced elevated hormone levels in the offspring through feeding or injections, thus, limiting our knowledge of the evolution of the parent-offspring conflict under natural conditions. In this study, we aimed to identify the key signals that parents respond to during interactions with their nestlings in the wild, considering factors such as endogenous hormone CORT, nestling age, and brood size, which may affect nestling begging behavior. Begging performance was evaluated by measuring the begging frequency and score of the red-whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus), along with assessing CORT levels in feathers. CORT levels were significantly correlated with both the begging frequency and score of nestlings, while variables such as body mass and tarsus length did not influence parental feeding frequency. Additionally, factors such as the number of nestlings (brood size), age, and begging frequency were predictors of parental feeding frequency. Our findings indicate that begging frequency, nestling age, and brood size are signals that help navigate the intricacies of the parent-offspring conflict and that parents may rely on these key signals from the range of begging cues exhibited by nestlings to adjust their feeding strategies.

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