Social context-dependent provisioning rules in red-winged fairy-wrens do not vary with signals of increased chick need

摘要: Individuals should adjust investment in parental care order to maximize current and future reproductive success. In cooperative breeders, where helpers assist with raising offspring, larger groups may allow for a reduction (load lightening) of each individual. Additionally, the type individual, thus social context, can play an important role individual investment. Less attention has been paid how provisioning rules vary across ecological contexts, although theory suggests that individuals only afford reduce their when nestling starvation is unlikely, under mild conditions. Here, we tested whether previously reported based on context conditions, by experimental manipulation signals chick need, cooperatively breeding red-winged fairy-wren, Malurus elegans. Previous work this species shown all group members load-lighten additional male helpers, but not response number female (additive care). We show begging playback resulted increasing rates, indicating our treatment was perceived as increased need. However, contrast prediction load lightening occur do so, need did stop from reducing group. These results suggest despite some flexibility effort, use strict respect composition, suggesting effort multiple integrated cues, responses changes environment are highly dependent.