Intersexual niche differentiation in the blue tit (Parus caeruleus)

Abstract

The intersexual niche differentiation hypothesis, according to which sexual size dimorphism (SSD) has evolved to facilitate niche separation between the sexes, has received equivocal support in studies of birds. One explanation for the inconsistency of the results is that other factors crucial for reproductive success, such as variation in food abundance among territories, may obscure food niche differentiation between parents. We studied the effects of SSD, food availability and food demands of broods on niche differentiation in the blue tit (Parus caeruleus). Parents attending experimentally enlarged broods delivered the same amount, but more diverse food items, to their offspring than parents attending reduced broods, although this effect was significant in only one of the two study years. The time-lag (deviation from the peak food abundance in habitat in days) and squared time-lag were the most important determinants of the diversity of food items delivered to young and their condition (fitness surrogate). SSD, as measured by principal component scores of morphological traits, did not explain any variation neither in the diversity or amount of food provided, nor in offspring condition. These results suggest that synchronization of breeding with peak food availability is the most important determinant of diversity of food delivered to young and, more importantly, Their condition. No evidence for intersexual food niche differentiation was found; at best, it is likely to constitute only a weak selection pressure on the maintenance or enhancement of SSD in this system.