Aggression, superterritories, and reproductive success in tree swallows

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Abstract
The relationship between territorial aggression and reproductive success was studied on a well-established, insular population of tree swallows. Four treatments of nest boxes that differed in interbox distances were created. Short interbox distances significantly reduced the occupancy of nest boxes both between and within years. Swallows in short interbox distance treatments defended more than one nest box, which was an additional resource not necessary for their successful reproduction. Excluded potential breeders attempted to colonize vacant boxes within another swallow's territory throughout the nestling period, but were usually prevented by the aggression of the resident pair. Aggressive activity had no direct effect on three measures of a swallow's reproductive output: percent young fledged, nestling growth, and fledgling weights. The concept of intraspecific aggressive neglect is questioned. However, by excluding potential breeders from nesting, for whatever reason, breeding tree swallows increased their relative genetic contribution to future generations.