The differential allocation hypothesis (DAH) predicts that females should invest more in reproduction when mated with an attractive male (Burley 1988; Sheldon 2000); and, according to this hypothesis, females mated with attractive males frequently invest more resources in eggs (Cunningham and Russell 2000; Saino et al. 2002; Rutstein et al. 2004). In zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) and barn...

Current theory proposes that nestlings beg to signal hunger level to parents honestly, or that siblings compete by escalating begging to attract the attention of parents. Although begging is assumed to be directed at parents, barn owl (Tyto alba) nestlings vocalize in the presence but also in the absence of the parents. Applying the theory of asymmetrical contests we experimentally tested three...

Parents are selected to maximize their fitness by allocating care among their progeny in relation to the differential reproductive value of offspring. Nestlings have been hypothesized to signal need for parental care reliably through their begging behavior, but offspring condition as reflected by their reproductive value may likewise affect begging and hence provisioning. We assessed the relati...

Early-life adversity is associated with accelerated cellular ageing during development and increased inflammation during adulthood. However, human studies can only establish correlation, not causation, and existing experimental animal approaches alter multiple components of early-life adversity simultaneously. We developed a novel hand-rearing paradigm in European starling nestlings (Sturnus vu...

The Sir Philip Sidney game has been used by numerous authors to show how signal cost can facilitate honest signaling among relatives. Here, we demonstrate that, in this game, honest cost-free signals are possible as well, under very general conditions. Moreover, these cost-free signals are better for all participants than the previously explored alternatives. Recent empirical evidence suggests ...

I use mechanized verification to examine several firstand higher-order formalizations of Anselm’s Ontological Argument against the charge of begging the question. I propose three different criteria for a premise to beg the question in fully formal proofs and find that one or another applies to all the formalizations examined. My purpose is to demonstrate that mechanized verification provides an...

The paper examines the theme of adoption and motherhood in hijra representations mainstream Indian cinema. Hijras are members a nonbinary community regions South Asia who born as males but identify mostly females or third gender. is one most visible sexual minorities subcontinent can be easily located on streets across country, begging, mostly, at traffic signals. They continue to live fringes ...

Begging behaviour is an important element in the parent-offspring conflict; it has been studied in many avian species. However, the majority of the studies have been entirely based on the call counts, and they agreed that vocal activity was a good indicator of chick's nutritional need and/or condition. Fewer researches were dedicated to the temporal-frequency variables of the begging calls them...