Dryad
Published March 30, 2020 | Version v1
Dataset Open

Long-term research and hierarchical models reveal consistent fitness costs of being the last egg in a clutch

Authors/Creators

  • 1. University of Nevada Reno

Description

1. Maintenance of phenotypic heterogeneity in the face of strong selection is an important component of evolutionary ecology, as are the consequences of such heterogeneity. Organisms may experience diminishing returns of increased reproductive allocation as clutch or litter size increases, affecting current and residual reproductive success. Given existing uncertainty regarding trade-offs between the quantity and quality of offspring, we sought to examine the potential for diminishing returns on increased reproductive allocation in a long-lived species of goose, with a particular emphasis on the effect of position in the laying sequence on offspring quality. 2. To better understand the effects of maternal allocation on offspring survival and growth, we estimated the effects of egg size, timing of breeding, inter- and intra-annual variation, and position in the laying sequence on gosling survival and growth rates of black brent (Branta bernicla nigricans) breeding in western Alaska from 1987–2007. 3. We found that gosling growth rates and survival decreased with position in the laying sequence, regardless of clutch size. Mean egg volume of the clutch a gosling originated from had a positive effect on gosling survival (β = 0.095, 95% CRI: 0.024, 0.165), and gosling growth rates (β = 0.626, 95% CRI: 0.469, 0.738). Gosling survival (β = -0.146, 95% CRI: -0.214, -0.079) and growth rates (β = -1.286, 95% CRI: -1.435, -1.132) were negatively related to hatching date. 4. These findings indicate substantial heterogeneity in offspring quality associated with their position in the laying sequence. They also potentially suggest a trade-off mechanism for females whose total reproductive investment is governed by pre-breeding state. 20-Mar-2020

Notes

mass_input.csv

This data file is the input file for the growth analysis. 

mean_clutch_vols.csv

Data for the mean egg volume of each brood.

survival_input.csv

This data file is the input file for the survival analysis. 

growth_model.R

This R script analyses the gosling growth data. 

phi_model.R

This R script analyses the gosling survival data.

Funding provided by: Alaska Science Center*
Crossref Funder Registry ID:
Award Number:

Funding provided by: U.S. Geological Survey
Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000203
Award Number: DEB 9815383

Funding provided by: Migratory Bird Management Region 7, US Fish and Wildlife Service*
Crossref Funder Registry ID:
Award Number:

Funding provided by: Ducks Unlimited*
Crossref Funder Registry ID:
Award Number:

Funding provided by: The Morro Bay Brant Group*
Crossref Funder Registry ID:
Award Number:

Funding provided by: Phil Jebbia (in memory of Marnie Shepherd)*
Crossref Funder Registry ID:
Award Number:

Funding provided by: National Science Foundation
Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000001
Award Number: DEB 9815383

Funding provided by: National Science Foundation
Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000001
Award Number: OPP 9214971

Funding provided by: National Science Foundation
Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000001
Award Number: OPP 9985931

Funding provided by: National Science Foundation
Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000001
Award Number: OPP 0196406

Funding provided by: National Science Foundation
Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000001
Award Number: DEB 0743152

Funding provided by: National Science Foundation
Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000001
Award Number: DEB 1252656

Funding provided by: Alaska Science Center
Crossref Funder Registry ID:

Funding provided by: Migratory Bird Management Region 7, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Crossref Funder Registry ID:

Funding provided by: Ducks Unlimited
Crossref Funder Registry ID:

Funding provided by: The Morro Bay Brant Group
Crossref Funder Registry ID:

Funding provided by: Phil Jebbia (in memory of Marnie Shepherd)
Crossref Funder Registry ID:

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mass_input.csv

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