Evolutionary ecological perspectives on bird family life: A study into the genetic and phenotypic mechanisms of offspring begging. University of Antwerp
Begging, the solicitation of food from parents by as yet dependent offspring, forms a trait with direct and significant consequences on growth, survival, and thus ultimately on fitness. Obviously, begging for food from parents should elicit the transfer of resources, typically a greater amount than parents are selected to provide, since parents and offspring are, at least in birds, not genetically identical. When offspring seeks parental ...