All About Birds : Uncertainty Breeds Cooperation in Birds, Study Finds
[[ Uncertainty Breeds Cooperation in Birds, Study Finds ]]
[[ By Pat Leonard and Miyoko Chu ]]
[[ August 2007 ]]
{{ The Bristle-crowned Starling ( }}
{{ Onychognathus salvadorii }}
{{ ) is a non-cooperative breeder that lives in arid regions of East Africa. Photo by Dustin Rubenstein }}
{{ Rather than striking out to start a family of their own, members of some bird species cooperate to help raise their siblings, nephews, nieces, cousins???or even unrelated young. Researchers have long noted which factors lead to these seemingly altruistic decisions in particular bird species, but now for the first time Cornell researchers have linked a specific aspect of the environment to the evolution of cooperative family life in numerous bird species: unpredictable rainfall. }} |
