The Evolution of Begging: Sibling Competition and Parent-Offspring Conflict

A model for the evolution of begging is discussed. Two offspring traits are allowed to evolve: the average (or typical) rate of begging and the rate of change of begging intensity with changes in parental investment. The rate of change of parental investment with changes in begging intensity also can evolve. Some of the results are the following. Chicks should vary their rate of begging in response to fluctuations in investment, and parents should respond to these changes so that any fluctuations in parental investment are compensated for on subsequent feeding trips. But the typical rate of begging can evolve to a high level as siblings compete for food from their parents. The typical begging intensity should vary with clutch size; the pattern of variation depends on whether the costs of begging are primarily the attraction of predators or are individual energetic costs. Species that raise just one chick at a time should show a low average begging intensity. The results of the model are compared with those of other models of parent-offspring interactions, and with available data on begging in birds.

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