OH, Kevin P; Univ. of Arizona, Tucson: Fitness consequences of partner coordination across an ecological gradient in a passerine bird

Parental investment theory suggests that differences in initial reproductive investment by males and females should favor sex-specific reproductive strategies; thereby setting the stage for sexual conflict. However, because sexual reproduction is inherently a collaborative effort, selection should strongly favor the cooperation of partners beyond fertilization. For example, the ability of mates to coordinate and synchronize incubation behaviors, offspring provisioning and vigilance for predators may be important for reproductive success. Such fitness consequences may in turn limit sexual conflict resulting from sex-specific investment strategies. Here I examine how pair fitness is influenced by the degree of behavioral coordination between partners in a wild population of house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus). Specifically, I ask how female incubation patterns and provisioning by males influence egg hatchability and nestling condition across an ecological gradient. I predict that the importance of coordination of these behaviors should increase as environmental conditions become more extreme. Such patterns may lend insight into how environment influences the evolution of life histories and mating systems.