Egg-laying, incubation and intraspecific nest parasitism by the Mandarin DuckAix galericulata

Antimicrobial properties of a nanostructured eggshell from a compost-nesting bird

“…Pathogens pose a threat to egg integrity, as infection decreases embryonic viability (Cook et al, 2005a;Cook et al, 2005b), and are considered one of the main causes of embryonic death (Davies and Baggott, 1989;Pinowski et al, 1994;Deeming, 1995;D'Alba et al, 2011).…”

Parasitic Laying in Red-Crested Pochard Netta rufina Nests

“…First, as was also found in other studies (Weller 1959, Joyner 1976, Sugden 1980, Amat 1985, more eggs were displaced from parasitized than unparasitized nests. Second, the hatchability of Redcrested Pochard eggs was lower in parasitized than unparasitized nests, mainly due to a greater proportion of eggs with dead embryos in the former, as also found in other studies (Amat 1985, Davies andBaggott 1989, but see Rohwer 1985). In addition to a reduced hatchability and displacement of eggs, a further cost to host females may be that larger clutches require longer incubation (Young and Titman 1988, Davies and Baggott 1989, Hepp et al 1990, but see Rohwer 1985).…”

“…It has been surmised that this is because parasite eggs are deposited during the incubation period of the host, and therefore have not got time to develop completely (Low 1945, Morse and Wight 1969, Rohwer 1985. However, in some detailed studies it was found that parasite eggs were mainly deposited during the laying period of the host (Davies andBaggott 1989, Weigmann andLamprecht 1991), thus suggesting that the lower hatchability of eggs in parasitized nests would mainly be due to causes other than laying at an inappropriate time by parasitic females. Although in some cases no differences were found in the hatchability of eggs between parasitized and unparasitized nests when eggs deposited during the incubation period were excluded from the comparisons (Morse andWight 1969, Young andTitman 1988, see also Rohwer 1985), in other cases such differences were found (Davies and Baggott 1989), with hatchability being lower in parasitized nests.…”

“…However, in some detailed studies it was found that parasite eggs were mainly deposited during the laying period of the host (Davies andBaggott 1989, Weigmann andLamprecht 1991), thus suggesting that the lower hatchability of eggs in parasitized nests would mainly be due to causes other than laying at an inappropriate time by parasitic females. Although in some cases no differences were found in the hatchability of eggs between parasitized and unparasitized nests when eggs deposited during the incubation period were excluded from the comparisons (Morse andWight 1969, Young andTitman 1988, see also Rohwer 1985), in other cases such differences were found (Davies and Baggott 1989), with hatchability being lower in parasitized nests. Furthermore, not only do host eggs in parasitized nests have lower success than eggs in unparasitized nests (Lank et al 1990), but there is also a negative correlation between the degree of parasitism and host success rate (Weigmann and Lamprecht 1991).…”

“…It is not clear to what extent nest parasitism among waterfowl is costly to the host (Amat 1987). Parasitism can lower the hatching rate of eggs (Clawson et al 1979, Talent et al 1981, Hines and Mitchell 1984, Amat 1985, 1991, Davies and Baggott 1989, Lank et al 1990, Weigmann and Lamprecht 1991, in part because parasitized nests contain a greater proportion of eggs with dead embryos than unparasitized nests. It has been surmised that this is because parasite eggs are deposited during the incubation period of the host, and therefore have not got time to develop completely (Low 1945, Morse and Wight 1969, Rohwer 1985.…”