The Determination of Clutch-Size in Birds a Review

Klomp, H.

doi:10.5253/arde.v58.p1

Cited by 395 publications

(263 citation statements)

References 132 publications

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“…These results are in accordance with previous studies in passerines, which found that clutch size declines [73,74] and egg size increases [75] with the advance of the breeding season. An explanation is that females may produce heavier chicks with more reserves late in the season to compensate the low availability of food at this period [76].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Maternal investment of female mallards is influenced by male carotenoid-based coloration

et al. 2010

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The differential allocation hypothesis predicts that females modify their investment in a breeding attempt according to its reproductive value. One prediction of this hypothesis is that females will increase reproductive investment when mated to high-quality males. In birds, it was shown that females can modulate pre-hatch reproductive investment by manipulating egg and clutch sizes and/or the concentrations of egg internal compounds according to paternal attractiveness. However, the differential allocation of immune factors has seldom been considered, particularly with an experimental approach. The carotenoid-based ornaments can function as reliable signals of quality, indicating better immunity or ability to resist parasites. Thus, numerous studies show that females use the expression of carotenoid-based colour when choosing mates; but the influence of this paternal coloration on maternal investment decisions has seldom been considered and has only been experimentally studied with artificial manipulation of male coloration. Here, we used dietary carotenoid provisioning to manipulate male mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) bill coloration, a sexually selected trait, and followed female investment. We show that an increase of male bill coloration positively influenced egg mass and albumen lysozyme concentration. By contrast, yolk carotenoid concentration was not affected by paternal ornamentation. Maternal decisions highlighted in this study may influence chick survival and compel males to maintain carotenoid-based coloration from the mate-choice period until egg-laying has been finished.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Maternal investment of female mallards is influenced by male carotenoid-based coloration

et al. 2010

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“…High body mass, indicating good body condition, was a good indicator of early breeding in both sexes. This is suggested particularly for female birds also in various earlier studies [15,16,43].…”

Section: Intrinsic Factorssupporting

confidence: 62%

“…11,12]. Birds that are smaller-sized [13,14] but heavier, and thus probably in better condition [15,16], should breed earlier than larger but lighter ones. 2) High prevalence of voles (peaks of vole cycles, good availability due to minor snow) and rats (permanent local food source) in the prey base of territory should be associated with early breeding, corresponding to their relationship with reproduction [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Affecting Timing of Breeding in the Tawny Owl

Solonen¹

2013

TOOENIJ

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Relevant variables characterising factors suspected to affect timing of breeding in birds may be difficult to measure. Then, easily available proxies, i.e. variables that are expected to vary consistently with some affecting factors, may be used instead. In the present study on tawny owls, I used besides individual characteristics of parent birds both detailed measurements of the prey base of territories, local and general indices of vole abundance as well as local and general weather conditions as explanatory variables. Owls tended to breed the earlier the older and the heavier they were. Breeding was the earlier the higher the abundance of water voles and the proportion of field voles in the territorial prey samples. Owls bred earlier when the local abundance of small voles in the preceding autumn was high. Regional vole indices showed no associations with timing of owls' breeding. Single winter weather variables did not show any significant associations neither. In combination with the advancing effect of water vole abundance, however, the delaying effect of the depth of the snow cover in March was significant. Models based on different data sets showed different kinds of associations between the abundance of small voles and timing of breeding in owls. The best models in which both intrinsic and extrinsic explanatory variables (characteristics of parent birds and environmental factors, respectively) were included did not differ considerably from each other. The occurrence of water voles in prey samples governed the best models. The results suggest, that without detailed knowledge on the prey base of territory, misleading results may emerge and the importance of small voles in governing breeding of owls may be overemphasised.

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“…Traits vary depending on parental quality and decisions aimed at maximizing lifetime reproductive success and induced by intrinsic factors (age, experience, condition) as well as variability of environmental conditions (Klomp 1970, Clutton-Brock 1991, Stearns 1992, Wendeln & Becker 1999. For example, food supply has been shown to affect breeding performance and success of seabirds by affecting parental condition (Frank & Becker 1992, Monaghan et al 1992, timing of breeding (Ratcliffe et al 1998, Regehr & Rodway 1999, egg size (Croxall et al 1992), clutch size (Ratcliffe et al 1998) and chick mortality (Gill et al 2002, Oro & Furness 2002.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%