The uploaded datasets were used to test if variation in states predicts nest defence behaviour (a ‘risky’ behaviour) in a long-lived species, the barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis). Repeated measures of nest defence towards a human intruder (flight initiation distance or FID) of females of known age were collected during 15 breeding seasons. Increasing values of FID represent increasing shyness. Adaptive models have predicted that an individual’s residual reproductive value or ‘asset’ is an important state variable underlying variation in such risk-taking behaviour. Hence, we used this data to investigate how nest defence varies as a function of time of the season and individual age, two state variables that can vary between and within individuals and determine asset.

 

Please see the published paper for detailed methods. The data are stored on several sheets in one Excel document.

Please see the ReadMe file for a detailed description of the contents of each dataset and the published paper for the detailed methods of data collection and analyses. The data are stored on several sheets in one Excel document. Datasets do sometimes have missing values, indicated by NA.