Is the small clutch size of a Corsican blue tit population optimal?

Oecologia ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 117 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 80-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacques Blondel ◽  
Marie Maistre ◽  
Philippe Perret ◽  
Sylvie Hurtrez-Boussès ◽  
Marcel M. Lambrechts
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Blue Tit ◽  
Small Clutch

Comparison of Avian Communities between Wet and Semiarid Habitats of Eastern Australia

1974 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 107 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Kikkawa
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Forest Birds ◽  
Subtropical Region ◽  
Species Association ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Bird Species Diversity ◽  
Small Clutch

The composition of bird species in three distinct habitats of subtropical eastern Australia was examined in terms of the degree of species association, niche occupation and clutch size. In spite of low species diversity in the wet formations, the birds of this habitat tended to show characteristics of tropical forest birds. These included stronger association of species, relative abundance of treenesting frugivores and small clutch size. In contrast, the semiarid formations supported a greater diversity of bird species with somewhat loose species association, a large representation of graminivores, and a larger mean clutch size with greater variation. At least in the subtropical region of eastern Australia, the bird species diversity does not appear to be related to the stability of environment.

Parasite infestation and predation in Darwin's small ground finch: contrasting two elevational habitats between islands

2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jody A. O'Connor ◽  
Rachael Y. Dudaniec ◽  
Sonia Kleindorfer
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Resource Availability ◽  
Nest Predation ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Opposite Pattern ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Parasite Intensity ◽  
Large Clutch ◽  
Parasite Infestation ◽  
Small Clutch

Abstract:Contrasting ecological conditions may affect the distribution, abundance and impact of parasites and predators throughout the ranges of hosts and prey. Such patterns are evident on the archipelagos of Hawaii and the Galapagos, which vary in their distribution and abundance of avian parasites within and across islands. Previous research has documented higher intensity of parasitic fly larvae (Philornis downsi) in nests of Darwin's finches on elevated islands of the Galapagos. Here we examine P. downsi intensity and predation in 71 nests of Darwin's small ground finch (Geospiza fuliginosa) on Floreana Island. We found significant differences in parasite intensity, nest predation and clutch size between the lowland (0–100 m) and highland (300–400 m) habitats. Lowland finch nests had few P. downsi parasites (mean of 8 per nest), high nest predation (44% of nests) and large clutch size (3.4). Highland finch nests showed the opposite pattern, with many P. downsi parasites (40 per nest), low nest predation (17%) and small clutch size (2.5). This study suggests that the impacts of an introduced parasite are limited by its niche requirements and resource availability within and across islands. Our findings also imply that the vulnerability of bird populations to introduced parasites and predators is linked with variation in life history strategies across habitats.

scholarly journals Dietary carotenoid supplementation facilitates egg laying in a wild passerine

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge García-Campa ◽  
Wendt Müller ◽  
Sonia González-Braojos ◽  
Emilio García-Juárez ◽  
Judith Morales
Keyword(s):  
Embryonic Development ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Blue Tit ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Dietary Carotenoid

During egg laying, female birds face a trade-off between self-maintenance and investment into current reproduction. Providing eggs with resources is energetically demanding, since in most species females lay one egg per day. However, the costs of egg laying not only relate to energetic requirements, but also depend on the availability of specific resources that are vital for egg production and embryonic development. One of these compounds are carotenoids, pigments with antioxidant properties and immuno-stimulatory functions, which are crucial during embryonic development. In this study, we explore how carotenoid availability alleviates this trade-off and facilitates egg laying in the blue tit. Blue tit females lay one egg per day and have the largest clutch size of all European passerines. We performed a lutein supplementation experiment, and measured potential consequences for egg laying capacity and egg quality. We found that lutein-supplemented females had less laying interruptions and thus completed their clutch faster than control females. No effects of treatment were found on the onset of egg laying or clutch size. Experimentally enhanced carotenoid availability did not elevate yolk carotenoid levels or egg mass, but negatively affected eggshell thickness. Our results provide hence evidence on the limiting role of carotenoids during egg laying, However, the benefits of laying faster following lutein supplementation were counterbalanced by a lower accumulation of calcium in the eggshell. Thus, even though single components may constrain egg laying, it is the combined availability of a range of different resources which ultimately determines egg quality and thus embryonic development.

Small Clutch Size in a Mediterranean Endemic Lacertid (Podarcis milensis)

Copeia ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 2000 (2) ◽  
pp. 610-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Adamopoulou ◽  
E. D. Valakos
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Small Clutch

Variation in incubation length and hatching asynchrony in Eastern Kingbirds: Weather eclipses female effects

The Auk ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha M Gillette ◽  
Amanda L Klehr ◽  
Michael T Murphy
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Hatching Asynchrony ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Incubation Periods ◽  
Tyrannus Tyrannus ◽  
Eastern Kingbird ◽  
Small Clutch

Abstract Incubation length and hatching asynchrony are integral elements of the evolved reproductive strategies of birds. We examined intra- and interpopulation variation in both traits for Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) populations from New York (NY), Kansas (KS), and Oregon (OR) and found that both incubation length and hatching asynchrony were not repeatable among females, after controlling for a repeatable trait, clutch size. Instead, incubation length and clutch size were influenced by ambient temperature and precipitation. Incubation length exhibited the same median (15 days) and range (13–17 days) at all sites. Model selection results indicated that incubation periods for the smallest and largest clutches were longer in NY than KS when rain was frequent throughout incubation, in replacement nests, and likely when ambient temperatures were low during egg-laying. Full hatching usually required 2 days (but up to 3), with synchronous hatching associated with small clutch sizes, short incubation periods, frequent rain during the egg-laying period, and low ambient temperatures during the first half of incubation. Nestling starvation was uncommon (5–9% of nestlings monitored) and not associated with greater hatching asynchrony. These results indicate that while clutch size, a repeatable female trait, contributed to variation in incubation length and hatching asynchrony in Eastern Kingbirds, weather was a greater source of variation, especially for incubation length.

Recurrent violations of invariant rules for offspring size: evidence from turtles and the implications for small clutch size models

Oecologia ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 172 (4) ◽  
pp. 973-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Njal Rollinson ◽  
Christopher B. Edge ◽  
Ronald J. Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Offspring Size ◽  
Small Clutch

Testing Small Clutch Size Models with Daphnia

2004 ◽  
Vol 163 (6) ◽  
pp. 880-887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan A. Guinnee ◽  
Stuart A. West ◽  
Tom J. Little
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Small Clutch
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