EXPLORING FACTORS INFLUENCING AVERAGE CALL NUMBERS IN OWL NESTLINGS: A GENERALIZED LINEAR MIXED MODEL STRUCTURE WITH LAPLACE APPROXIMATION AND ADAPTIVE GAUSSIAN-HERMITE QUADRATURE METHOD

Understanding the factors that influence the begging behavior of owl nestlings (or chicks) is critical for elucidating parent-offspring communication and resource allocation strategies. This study examines the average call numbers of owl nestlings, focusing on the effects of brood size, food treatment, and parental arrival time. Since the data conform to a Poisson distribution, it employs a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) framework that incorporates both fixed and random effects to account for variability at the individual and nest levels. Laplace approximation and Adaptive Gaussian-Hermite Quadrature (AGHQ) method enhance the precision of parameter estimation. The results demonstrate significant interactions between brood size and food treatment, highlighting the adaptive nature of begging calls in response to parental provisioning strategies. The findings emphasize the importance of advanced statistical methodologies, such as GLMM with Laplace and AGHQ, in studying complex ecological behaviors. This approach provides a robust framework for ongoing research into the dynamics of avian communication and parental investment.