Game theoretic model of brood parasitism in a dung beetle Onthophagus Taurus

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
David L. Remington, Associate Professor (Creator)
Jan Rychtar, Assistant Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: We present a game theoretic model of brood parasitism in the dung beetle Onthophagus taurus. Female O. taurus engage in brood parasitism when they attack a brood ball made by another female, destroy the existing egg and place one of their own eggs to develop within the existing dung ball. Brood parasitism is more costly than other forms of kleptoparasitism because an individual loses the total investment in an offspring. In this paper, we outline the behaviors involved in brood ball production and provide time estimates of those behaviors. The model is then used to predict when it is beneficial to steal the brood ball created by another female and when it is beneficial for a female to create her own. We also investigate how long a female should guard her eggs.

Additional Information

Publication
Evolutionary Ecology, 23(5), 765-776
Language: English
Date: 2009
Keywords
Kleptoparasitism, ESS, Game theory, Strategy

Email this document to