Effects of Nest and Brood Visits and Radio Transmitters on Rock Ptarmigan

Cotter, Richard C.; Gratto, Cindy J.

doi:10.2307/3809120

Cited by 42 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Only half of the males were fitted with a radio transmitter: in 1988, an 18 g "backpack" radio transmitter (Telemetry Systems, U.S.A.), and in 1989, a 12 g "necklace" transmitter. Transmitter type did not affect survival among males (Cotter and Gratto, 1995).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…For the latter group, the hen's approximate location and status (on or off the nest, dead or alive) was obtained every 3 or 4 days by telemetric triangulation, while remaining 50 -100 m from the hen. This methodology enabled effects of researcher visits on breeding success (on adults, eggs, chicks) to be studied; none of the variables measured varied between disturbed and undisturbed nests or hens (Cotter and Gratto, 1995). For disturbed nests, upon each visit the hen was flushed and an egg count taken.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Reproductive Biology of Rock Ptarmigan (<i>Lagopus mutus</i>) in the Central Canadian Arctic

Cotter¹

1999

ARCTIC

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ABSTRACT. This paper reports on the nesting phenology, breeding biology, and attrition rates at different stages of the breeding cycle of a population of rock ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) at Windy Lake, Northwest Territories, from 1987 to 1989. By early May, males were on the study area, mostly in flocks numbering in the tens and hundreds. Females arrived two to three weeks later, about one week after males had dispersed and established territories. All males succeeded in establishing a territory, but only 83% were successful in attracting a mate. There were no unmated females. All but one male were monogamous. The initiation of laying was highly synchronous both within and between years, beginning shortly after ground snow cover receded below 50% (early June). Initiation of laying and clutch size were not correlated with either pre-incubation body weight or wing chord of females. The majority (71%) of hens that deserted or had their first nest depredated during laying renested. However, renesting was rare once incubation had commenced. Clutch size of first nests (mean = 8.7) was significantly larger than that of renests (mean = 5.0). In one year, adults laid larger clutches than yearlings; this did not result, however, in adults' fledging larger broods than yearlings that year. Pooling years, yearling females were as successful as adults: the proportion of first nests initiated that fledged was 0.56 for yearling hens and 0.55 for adult hens. Of all the hens that settled to breed at Windy Lake in 1988 and 1989, 57% were successful in fledging a brood. Predation was the major cause of complete nest failures. Predation of clutch caused most failures (72%), followed by depredation of the hen (24%) and brood predation (4%).Key words: reproduction, population attributes, rock ptarmigan, Lagopus mutus, Northwest Territories RÉSUMÉ. Cet article fait état de la phénologie de la nidification, de la biologie de la reproduction et des taux de réduction naturelle à différents stades du cycle reproducteur d'une population de lagopèdes des rochers (Lagopus mutus) à Windy Lake (Territoires du Nord-Ouest) de 1987 à 1989. Au début de mai, les mâles se trouvaient sur le site de l'étude, pour la plupart en volées regroupant des dizaines et des centaines d'individus. Les femelles arrivaient deux à trois semaines plus tard, environ une semaine après que les mâles se soient éparpillés et aient établi leur territoire. Tous les mâles ont réussi à établir leur territoire, mais seulement 83 p. cent ont réussi à attirer une partenaire. Il n'y a eu aucune femelle non fécondée. Tous les mâles sauf un se sont révélés monogames. Le début de la ponte s'est produit à peu près au même moment, au sein d'une même année et d'une année à l'autre, commençant peu après que la couverture de neige ait reculé de plus de 50 p. cent (début juin). Le début de la ponte et la taille des couvées n'étaient pas corrélés avec le poids corporel d'avant la couvaison ni avec la corde de l'aile des femelles. La plupart (71 p. cent) des femelles qui ont abandonné le nid,...

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Reproductive Biology of Rock Ptarmigan (<i>Lagopus mutus</i>) in the Central Canadian Arctic

Cotter¹

1999

ARCTIC

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“…In those cases, eggs could be swabbed at dawn, dusk or during the night. In many species however, including many passerines, disturbance at the nest seems to have little impact (Cotter and Gratto 1995;MayerGross et al 1997;Bety and Gauthier 2001;Verboven et al 2001). In those species, swabs can be collected quickly (30 s or so) during routine nest visits already performed in many ecological studies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-destructive sampling of maternal DNA from the external shell of bird eggs

et al. 2006

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The use of non-destructive sampling methods to collect genetic material from wildlife allows researchers to minimize disturbance. Most avian studies employ capturing and handling of young and parents to draw blood for DNA analysis. In some cases adult female birds are difficult to catch, so maternal genotyping has required collection of contour feathers from nests, or destructive sampling of eggs. Many species do not leave contour feathers in the nest, and destructive sampling has been unreliable due to contamination with embryonic DNA. Alternative field sampling techniques for collection of maternal DNA from birds are therefore desirable. Here we demonstrate that avian maternal DNA can be isolated in a non-invasive and non-destructive way from the external surface of eggs. We used cotton swabs to collect maternal DNA from the external shells of herring gull (Larus argentatus) and Caspian tern (Sterna caspia) eggs. DNA was then amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for microsatellite genotyping. We verified that the DNA samples were maternal by comparing microsatellite profiles to those obtained from adults and chicks from the same nests. In 100% of Caspian tern (n=16) and herring gull families (n=12), the egg swabs that amplified matched the maternal microsatellite genotype. In a screening of many nests of both species, we successfully amplified microsatellite markers from 101/115 (88%) egg swabs. Swabs from eggs with blood stains on the shell were more likely to amplify successfully than those from clean eggs. The advantages of this new method include increased parentage assignment/exclusion power, and increased availability of maternal DNA for genotyping of species that do not deposit contour feathers in nests.

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“…In one study, male radio-equipped ring-necked pheasants of low body mass were affected by relatively heavy radios, whereas heavier birds were apparently not affected (Johnson and Berner 1980). In another study, heavy radios increased mortality, whereas lighter ones did not affect it (Cotter and Gratto 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…A few cases of mortality directly attributable to radio back-packages were also recorded (Hines and Zwickel 1985). Disturbance due to radio tracking activities may have a negative effect on reproduction (Cotter and Gratto 1995;Caizergues and Ellison 1998). Also, the mass of the package appeared important in predicting negative effects on birds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Do radio collars influence mortality and reproduction? A case with ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in Central Italy

Venturato

Cavallini²,

Banti

et al. 2009

Eur J Wildl Res

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The effect of radio transmitters on bird survival and reproduction has been explored in the literature, and contradictory results were found. Using the Kaplan-Meier method, we estimated the mortality of female ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in relation to radio load (percentage of total body mass). Low-load birds showed a higher survival, particularly after 2-3 months from release, thus excluding short-term effects of handling and adjusting to packages. Reproductive success was higher for birds with low loads, but the effect was less clear. The results were not influenced by age or body mass. As a rule of thumb, using radio packages lighter than 1.5% of the body mass can be considered safe for pheasants, whereas loads above 2% may have adverse effects.

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Effects of Nest and Brood Visits and Radio Transmitters on Rock Ptarmigan

Cited by 42 publications

References 23 publications

The Reproductive Biology of Rock Ptarmigan (<i>Lagopus mutus</i>) in the Central Canadian Arctic

The Reproductive Biology of Rock Ptarmigan (<i>Lagopus mutus</i>) in the Central Canadian Arctic

Non-destructive sampling of maternal DNA from the external shell of bird eggs

Do radio collars influence mortality and reproduction? A case with ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in Central Italy

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