Article Abstract:
Evidence for cooperative breeding in Gray Jays is presented. Gray Jays are species characterized by delayed dispersal but do not exhibit a tactic of helping. Data suggest that the alloparental care of siblings is confined to post-fledging period of nutritional dependence. Workers are encouraged to investigate of helping may be done during this period. Further work on evaluating the fitness consequences of helping in the study of population is suggested.
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Article Abstract:
The distance to which gray jays transport food items for storage was influenced by the size of the item and whether the animal was solitary or not during the transport. The jays carried larger items to more distant sites for storage. Items were cached farther from the source when the animal was in the company of cospecifics rather than when it was solitary. An interaction between load size and social context was also observed.
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Article Abstract:
The intergeneric relationships of the New World jays were studied using complete sequences from the cytochrome b gene. Results show a consistent phylogenetic hypothesis which was analyzed by the use of a total evidence approach. Meanwhile, the phylogeny obtained in the study is used to infer a biographic scenario that could explain the evolution of the jaw structure present only on true New World jays.
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