Helping behaviour in Australian magpies, Gymnorhina tibicen

This study investigated the hypothesis that, within groups of the Australia n Magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen, individuals are more likely to help close rel atives than non-relatives. Observations of helping behaviour were made on n ests and fledglings in 12 territories during the 1994 bleeding season at Se ymour, Victoria, on a colour-banded population of magpies. Genetic variatio n at a microsatellite locus was used to estimate the degree of relatedness of helpers and non-helpers to fledglings. Helpers were equally as likely as non-helpers to be related to the young they aided. Helpers did not appear to increase the production of non-descendant kin during the year of this st udy. However, helpers may enhance either the future reproductive potential of breeders by reducing their provisioning effort, or the future survival o f young by increasing their fitness.