Synonyms
Definition
Incubation behavior is the active transmission of heat from parent to embryo to foster development.
Introduction
Oviparity, in which a large component of development occurs in an egg outside the female body, is commonly accepted as the mode of reproduction ancestral to all animals. Although the occurrence of embryonic development outside the female body offers enhanced adult mobility and predator avoidance, the laying of eggs in a discrete location leaves embryos exposed to predators and potentially harsh environmental conditions. Thus, tending to eggs in some way, so as to enhance offspring survival, may arguably be the most widespread form of postfertilization parental care in the tree of life (Smiseth et al. 2012). During this time, eggs must be kept at optimal environmental conditions to facilitate embryonic development. These conditions include temperature, humidity, and egg positioning and, generally, are maintained by a range of behavioral...
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References
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Mueller, A. J., Miller, K. D., & Bowers, E. K. (2019). Nest microclimate during incubation affects posthatching development and parental care in wild birds. Scientific Reports, 9, 5161.
Reid, J. M., Monaghan, P., & Nager, R. G. (2002). Incubation and the costs of reproduction. In D. C. Deeming (Ed.), Avian incubation (pp. 314–325). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
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Smiseth, P. T., Kölliker, M., & Royle, N. J. (2012). What is parental care? In N. J. Royle, P. T. Smiseth, & M. Kölliker (Eds.), The evolution of parental care (pp. 1–17). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
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Miller, K.D., Bowers, E.K. (2021). Incubation. In: Vonk, J., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_506-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_506-1
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