Jan Komdeur is a researcher in animal behaviour and evolution, particularly cooperative breeding. His 1994 study of the Seychelles warbler asked whether older offspring staying with their parents actually improve the parents' reproductive success. Observing larger families alone cannot answer this: good territories might support both more helpers and more surviving young.[ref]
Experimental evidence for helping and hindering by previous offspring in the cooperative-breeding Seychelles warbler Acrocephalus sechellensis by Jan Komdeur. Abstract: study question and territory-quality controls; Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 34, 175–186, 1994
Jan Komdeur therefore removed helpers from breeding groups and compared outcomes while controlling for territory quality, group size and breeder age. One helper improved parental reproductive success; two or more helpers on medium-quality territories could reduce it relative to one helper. The experiment makes cooperative breeding a quantitative, context-dependent question. A helper may contribute care and gain inclusive fitness, while additional group members may also compete for resources or breeding opportunities.[ref]
Experimental evidence for helping and hindering by previous offspring in the cooperative-breeding Seychelles warbler Acrocephalus sechellensis by Jan Komdeur. Abstract and removal experiments: one-helper benefit and multiple-helper cost on medium-quality territories
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