The Role of Prolactin in the Regulation of Clutch Size and Onset of Incubation Behavior in the American Kestrel

2000 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 168-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith W. Sockman ◽  
Hubert Schwabl ◽  
Peter J. Sharp
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
American Kestrel ◽  
Incubation Behavior

scholarly journals Drought Induced Nepotistic Behaviour in Indian Black Ibis (Pseudibis papillosa) Inhabiting the Arid Zone of Rajasthan, India

Our Nature ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-51
Author(s):  
K.C. Soni ◽  
A.N. Sharma ◽  
V.C. Soni
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Kin Selection ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Breeding Birds ◽  
Breeding Female ◽  
Fledgling Success ◽  
Reproductive Activities ◽  
Nesting Activity

Drought induced nepotistic behaviour in the Indian Black ibis (Pseudibis papillosa) inhabiting the arid zone of Rajasthan has been studied. The aim of the present study is to know about any breeding abnormalities induced in the Indian Black ibis by seasonal tragedy like drought. As such the nepotistic behaviour is not found in the Black ibis (Pseudibis papillosa) during normal season. Drought induces a reduced nesting activity and nepotistic behaviour in the Black ibis inhabiting arid zone. The helper birds (Non breeding birds of the own species) become active during drought to assist breeding pairs of Black ibis in various reproductive activities like feeding of breeding female, nestlings, fledglings and defending the nests. The role of helpers in breeding activities of Black ibis during drought also improves their clutch size, hatching success and fledgling success. The significance of the drought induced nepotistic behaviour in Black ibis in view of Hamilton’s theory of kin selection has been discussed.Keywords: Nepotistic behaviour, Black ibis, arid zone, Rajasthan, Indiadoi: 10.3126/on.v6i1.1654Our Nature (2008)6:47-51

scholarly journals An Assessment of the Microbial Diversity Present on the Surface of Naturally Incubated House Wren Eggs

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth A. Potter ◽  
Brian M. Carlson ◽  
Andrea E. Adams ◽  
Margaret A. Voss ◽  
J.-L. Vasseur
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Temperature Fluctuations ◽  
House Wren ◽  
Bacterial Composition ◽  
Incubation Behavior ◽  
Three Stages

During ovipositioning, avian eggshells become susceptible to bacterial and fungal growth and studies have shown that a community of these microorganisms, or microflora, is maintained on eggshells throughout the incubation process. To determine the possible role of these microorganisms on embryonic development, it is first important to understand the composition of the microbial community present on the surface of the egg. A limited amount of studies have been published in this area; thus, the objective of this study was to broaden this area of study and determine what bacterial communities are found on the surface of naturally-incubated House Wren eggs across three stages of incubation (pre, early, and late) as defined by egg temperature. Our data uniquely suggest that the eggshell microflora is dynamic and that this may be regulated by temperature fluctuations due to intermittent incubation behavior. Using culture-based techniques, 46 different bacterial species were identified belonging to 13 bacterial families and 20 genera. The majority of bacteria belonged to the Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Stenotrophomonas, or Burkholderia genera and have been previously associated with avian eggs and nests. Bacteria within the Pseudomonas genus were the most predominant and we hypothesize that their maintenance may be linked to their ability to produce antibiotic substances called bacteriocins. The bacterial composition of the microflora isolated in this study also suggests that avian egg microfloras are derived from environmental origins.

scholarly journals Covariation of Clutch Size, Laying Date, and Incubation Tendency in the American Kestrel

The Condor ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 570-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith W. Sockman ◽  
Hubert Schwabl
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Date ◽  
Falco Sparverius ◽  
Free Living ◽  
American Kestrel ◽  
Proximate Mechanisms ◽  
American Kestrels ◽  
Seasonal Decline

Abstract Seasonal decline in clutch size is common in birds, but the proximate mechanisms for this phenomenon have not been elucidated. The most credible model to date posits that late-laying females lay fewer eggs due to a seasonal increase in the tendency to incubate during laying, which inhibits egg production. We tested this model with free-living and laboratory American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) by quantifying changes in clutch size and incubation tendency during laying over the course of the breeding phase. Consistent with the model, clutch size in free-living kestrels decreased while incubation increased with progress of the 74-day breeding phase. Inconsistent with the model, variation in incubation tendency during laying was not associated with clutch size in either the field or the laboratory. In the laboratory, incubation increased but clutch size did not decrease over the course of the 77-day breeding phase. In the laboratory, females that nested early in one breeding phase renested more quickly and nested in a second breeding phase more quickly than females nesting late in the first breeding phase. This indicates that timing of laying is, in part, a property of individual females, independent of environmental factors. Together, our findings suggest that both clutch size and timing of laying are inherent, correlated properties of particular females. Although incubation tendency may influence clutch size, other factors appear to override its influence. Covariación del Tamaño de la Nidada, la Fecha de Postura y la Tendencia de Incubación en Falco sparverius Resumen. Aunque la disminución estacional en el tamaño de la nidada es común entre las aves, los mecanismos proximales para este fenómeno no han sido elucidados. El modelo de mayor credibilidad propuesto hasta el momento sugiere que las hembras que ovipositan tarde ponen menos huevos debido a un aumento estacional en la tendencia a incubar durante la postura que inhibe la producción de huevos. Pusimos a prueba este modelo con individuos de Falco sparverius en condiciones naturales y en cautiverio, cuantificando los cambios en el tamaño de la nidada y la tendencia a incubar durante la postura a lo largo de la época reproductiva. Tal como el modelo plantea, el tamaño de la nidada en individuos silvestres de F. sparverius disminuyó mientras que la incubación aumentó a medida que transcurrían los 74 días de la época de reproducción. Mientras tanto, en contraste con el modelo, la variación en la tendencia a incubar durante la postura no estuvo asociada con el tamaño de la nidada ni en el campo ni en el laboratorio. En el laboratorio, la incubación aumentó pero el tamaño de la nidada no disminuyó en el transcurso de la época reproductiva (77 días). En condiciones de laboratorio, las hembras que anidaron temprano en una fase reproductiva volvieron a anidar más rápidamente en una segunda fase que las hembras que anidaron tarde en la primera. Esto indica que el tiempo en que se hace la postura es en parte una propiedad de cada hembra y es independiente de factores ambientales. En conjunto, nuestros hallazgos sugieren que tanto el tamaño de la nidada como el momento de la postura son propiedades correlacionadas de cada hembra en particular. Aunque la tendencia a incubar podría influenciar el tamaño de la nidada, otros factores parecen anular su influencia.

scholarly journals Role of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide in the Control of Prolactin-Induced Turkey Incubation Behavior. I. Acute Infusion of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide1

1994 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 1344-1349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilbert R. Pitts ◽  
Orlan M. Youngren ◽  
Janet L. Silsby ◽  
Linda K. Foster ◽  
Douglas N. Foster ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ◽  
Incubation Behavior

scholarly journals Role of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide in the Control of Prolactin-Induced Turkey Incubation Behavior. II. Chronic Infusion of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide1

1994 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 1350-1356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilbert R. Pitts ◽  
Orlan M. Youngren ◽  
Janet L. Silsby ◽  
Israel Rozenboim ◽  
Yupaporn Chaiseha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ◽  
Incubation Behavior ◽  
Chronic Infusion
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