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Consequences of sex-specific growth on sibling competition in black-headed gulls: a sexually-size dimorphic species with scramble competition

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Abstract

Biased mortality of the larger sex during the early developmental period has been reported for a number of size-dimorphic bird species. This can partly be explained by the fact that growing to larger size renders the larger sex more vulnerable to food shortage. However, since sibling rivalry is often size-dependent, chicks of the larger sex should have a competitive advantage. This raises the question as to why the larger sex does not always benefit from its size in sibling competition. We studied sibling competition in the black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus), a sexually-size dimorphic species with male-biased mortality. We manipulated the natural brood sex ratio and placed one male chick in direct competition with one female chick while concurrently controlling for differences in age, size and laying order. Male chicks outgrew their female siblings by 15% in asymptotic body mass and did not suffer from enhanced mortality. Female chicks tended to be more alert when the parents returned to the nest and were more persistent in gull-typical begging displays. Females were more likely to get the first food item, but they did not get more food, possibly due to a size-mediated dominance over the non-monopolizable regurgitated food. Thus, it is unlikely that sex differences in competitiveness significantly contribute to male-biased mortality in black-headed gulls. The previously reported male-biased mortality is more likely due to a disadvantage of a higher food demand and a higher sensitivity towards low egg quality, as has been shown in previous studies.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Akzo Nobel Delfzijl (particularly Harry Rodenhuis and Frans Riedstra) for giving us the permission to work on their properties. We are much obliged to Jenny de Vries for her contribution to the behavioural observations. The experiment was performed in accordance with the laws and regulations of The Netherlands and approved by the animal experimentation committee of the University of Groningen under license DEC 2698. This project was supported by a PhD studentship from the University’s Center for Behaviour and Neurosciences and a postdoctoral grant from FWO Vlaanderen (Belgium) to WM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Group Behavioral Biology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Wendt Müller, Ton G. G. Groothuis & Cor Dijkstra

  2. Department of Biology-Ethology, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken C-127, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp (Walwijk), Belgium

    Wendt Müller

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  1. Wendt Müller
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  2. Ton G. G. Groothuis
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  3. Cor Dijkstra
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Correspondence to Wendt Müller.

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Communicated by F. Bairlein.

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Müller, W., Groothuis, T.G.G. & Dijkstra, C. Consequences of sex-specific growth on sibling competition in black-headed gulls: a sexually-size dimorphic species with scramble competition. J Ornithol 148, 495–502 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-007-0189-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-007-0189-2

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