= Jan Komdeur
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<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.<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]{ref}
<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.<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]{ref}
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