TABLE 1.
Framework of predictions tested to elucidate the mode of acquisition of bacterial symbionts from the hoopoe's uropygial glanda
| Parameter | Prediction |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Early transmission (H1) | Late transmission (H2) | Both transmissions (H3) | |
| Relative influence of nests in bacterial community acquisition by cross-fostered nestlings | Nest of origin most influential (P1.1) | Nest of rearing most influential (P2.1) | Nest of origin and nest of rearing equally influential (P3.1) |
| Similarity of bacterial communities among nestlings | Higher with biological siblings reared in different nests (P1.2) | Higher with foster siblings reared in the same nest (P2.2) | Similar with biological and foster siblings (P3.2) |
| Similarity of bacterial communities among nestlings and adult females | Higher to that of the biological mother than to that of the foster mother (P1.3) | Higher to that of the foster mother than to that of the biological mother (P2.3) | Bacteria shared with both mothers (P3.3) |
| Bacterial community change with time | Would remain constant (P1.4) | Could be modified (P2.4) | Could obtain bacteria from different environments and keep the bacterial community from the original nest (P3.4) |
| Diversity of strains and species in nests | Higher in cross-fostering nests if the two communities are mixed together (P1.5) or similar if the two communities compete and only one can become established (P1.6) | Similar in natural and exptl nests (P2.5) | Higher in cross-fostering nests if the two communities are mixed together (P3.5) or similar if the two communities compete and only one can become established (P3.6) |
a
H, hypothesis; P, prediction.