Rg. Nager et Aj. Vannoordwijk, PROXIMATE AND ULTIMATE ASPECTS OF PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY IN TIMING OF GREAT TIT BREEDING IN A HETEROGENEOUS ENVIRONMENT, The American naturalist, 146(3), 1995, pp. 454-474
Using the theoretical framework of phenotypic plasticity, we studied t
he timing of breeding in great tits (Parus major), combining proximate
questions about its physiological causation and ultimate questions ab
out its fitness consequences. The plasticity observed in the timing of
breeding can be explained either as an adaptation to the best time fo
r rearing young or as determined by changing environmental conditions
prior to laying. We related the variation in timing of breeding and br
eeding success to local temperature and food abundance. For the most p
art, spring temperature (but also caterpillar abundance and low temper
ature around the expected start of egg laying) as well as the presence
of the birds in their breeding territories during the previous winter
explained within-population variation in timing. Intraindividual vari
ation in timing showed a plastic response to changes in environmental
conditions prior to laying, but the plasticities did not differ among
individuals. Birds raising their young when food was most abundant wer
e the most successful breeders. The most productive laying date differ
ed significantly among years because unpredictable yearly fluctuations
in environmental conditions after the birds started laying still affe
cted the development of caterpillars. In addition to being affected by
changes in environmental conditions early in the season, the laying d
ates of experienced tits were affected by the difference between their
timing and the caterpillars' timing in the previous year. Thus, great
tits adjust their timing to the best time for rearing young, but vari
ation in environmental conditions will maintain variation in timing.