Weather and body condition in wintering Mallards<i>Anas platyrhynchos</i>

Boos, M.; Zorn, T.; Delacour, G.; Robin, J.P.

doi:10.1080/00063650709461470

Cited by 13 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…By contrast, mallard ducks usually store larger body reserves than required to cope with common periods of several days cold spells. Thus, body mass changes are larger in this species (5 to 20%; Pattenden and Boag 1989, Loesch et al 1992, Boos et al 2007) than in passerines during the winter fattening cycle. Subsequently, we suggest that large birds can sustain a higher body mass (and body reserves) reduction in response to increased predation pressure than small birds, without adversely impairing their capacity to endure starvation as it would be the case in passerines.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…Thus, in long term fasted mallards (up to the end of phase II, see Robin et al 1991 for details) the maximal decrease in body mass explained by a reduction of this compartment (organs plus digestive tract content) was about 40g (i.e. 4% of body mass; Robin et al 1991, Boos et al 2007). The body mass reduction we observed in the disturbed groups was far greater and, in our experiments, the food intake was only partly reduced and birds were never fasted.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Body mass variations in disturbed mallardsAnas platyrhynchosfit to the mass‐dependent starvation‐predation risk trade‐off

Zimmer¹,

Boos²,

Petit³

et al. 2010

Journal of Avian Biology

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For passerines the starvation‐predation risk theory predicts that birds should decrease their body mass to improve escape flight performance, when predation pressure increases. To investigate whether this theory may apply to large birds, which manage body reserves differently from small passerines, we experimentally increased the predation risk in mallards Anas platyrhynchos. Two groups were disturbed at different frequencies during experimental sessions lasting one week, while a control group was left undisturbed. We found that body mass loss and final wing loading were similar in both disturbed groups and significantly differed from the control group. Food intake in disturbed groups was reduced up to day four of the disturbance session and was lower than in the control group. Altogether our results suggest that disturbed mallards may adjust their body mass to reach a more favorable wing loading, supposedly to improve escape flight performance. Nevertheless, body mass loss in our mallards was double than what has been observed in passerines. This greater mass decrease might be explained by different strategies concerning energy storage. Furthermore, in large birds the predation component of the starvation‐predation trade‐off might be of greater importance. Hence, the observed relevance of this trade‐off over a large size range suggests that the starvation‐predation risk theory is of major ecological significance for many animal species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body mass variations in disturbed mallardsAnas platyrhynchosfit to the mass‐dependent starvation‐predation risk trade‐off

Zimmer¹,

Boos²,

Petit³

et al. 2010

Journal of Avian Biology

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“…In the two last species, it has been shown that body mass or body reserves were linked to predation risk. In mallards, the relative body mass decrease was twice as high as in passerines [29] and it was hypothesized that this was due to a difference in body mass and the amount of body reserves of each species: whereas passerines build up body reserves during the day and use them during the following night for energetic purposes [4] , [30] mallards store more body reserves than required immediately in order to cope with possible future periods of cold spells [31] – [33] . Furthermore, large birds have higher body reserves and a lower metabolism per unit body mass than small species which have a higher surface/volume ratio [34] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of the Trade-Off between Starvation and Predation Risks in Ducks

Zimmer

Boos²,

Poulin

et al. 2011

PLoS ONE

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The theory of trade-off between starvation and predation risks predicts a decrease in body mass in order to improve flight performance when facing high predation risk. To date, this trade-off has mainly been validated in passerines, birds that store limited body reserves for short-term use. In the largest avian species in which the trade-off has been investigated (the mallard, Anas platyrhynchos), the slope of the relationship between mass and flight performance was steeper in proportion to lean body mass than in passerines. In order to verify whether the same case can be applied to other birds with large body reserves, we analyzed the response to this trade-off in two other duck species, the common teal (Anas crecca) and the tufted duck (Aythya fuligula). Predation risk was simulated by disturbing birds. Ducks within disturbed groups were compared to non-disturbed control birds. In disturbed groups, both species showed a much greater decrease in food intake and body mass during the period of simulated high risk than those observed in the control group. This loss of body mass allows reaching a more favourable wing loading and increases power for flight, hence enhancing flight performances and reducing predation risk. Moreover, body mass loss and power margin gain in both species were higher than in passerines, as observed in mallards. Our results suggest that the starvation-predation risk trade-off is one of the major life history traits underlying body mass adjustments, and these findings can be generalized to all birds facing predation. Additionally, the response magnitude seems to be influenced by the strategy of body reserve management.

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“…With low temperatures, nonhibernating endotherms are confronted with increasing energy requirements to enhance thermogenesis while food is a scarce resource (Boos et al 2007, Deville et al 2014. In many bird species it has thus been shown that winter conditions such as low temperatures or consecutive frosts influence survival (e.g., Deville et al 2014, Johnston et al 2016.…”

Section: Winter Survival Ratementioning

confidence: 99%

Factors influencing mobility and survival of Eurasian Woodcock wintering in Spain

Guzmán¹,

Caro²,

Arroyo³

2017

ACE

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ABSTRACT. Survival and mobility have important implications for population management for game species. These parameters are influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. We describe movements (commuting flights between diurnal refuges and nocturnal feeding places; and escape flights during cold spells) and winter survival rate of Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) wintering in Spain. We also evaluate factors influencing these variables, using 51 radio-tracked birds over three winters (2008/2009, 2009/2010, and 2010/2011). Commuting flight distances were estimated at 961.5 ± 1041.9 m, and variations were mainly explained by age and temperature (they decreased with lower temperatures and were lower for first-winter birds). Three cold spells occurred in 2009/2010; 80% of woodcocks monitored that winter showed escape flights, moving > 20 km, and went back to their previous wintering place when the effects of cold spells finished (about 8 days later). Of monitored woodcocks, 54.9% survived the winter. The most frequent cause of death was hunting, affecting mainly first-winter birds. Woodcock survival was lower in areas with more hunting days per week, and in Mediterranean than in Atlantic climate regions. Our results highlight the importance of monitoring survival and factors affecting it. Also, these results underline the importance of developing future studies to understand the importance of Mediterranean regions, the use of refuge places during cold spells, and hunting pressure there. Facteurs agissant sur la mobilité et la survie de la Bécasse des bois hivernant en EspagneRÉSUMÉ. La survie et la mobilité sont des paramètres importants dans la gestion des populations pour les oiseaux gibier. Toutes deux sont influées par des facteurs tant intrinsèques qu'extrinsèques. La présente étude nous a permis de décrire les déplacements (vols quotidiens entre les refuges diurnes et les sites d'alimentation nocturne, et vols pour s'éloigner d'épisodes de froid) et la survie hivernale de la Bécasse des bois (Scolopax rusticola) hivernant en Espagne. Nous avons aussi évalué les facteurs qui agissent sur ces variables, au moyen de 51 oiseaux équipés de radio durant trois hivers (2008-2009, 2009-2010 et 2010-2011). La distance des vols quotidiens a été estimée à 961,5 ± 1041,9 m et les variations s'expliquaient principalement par l'âge et la température (la distance diminuait quand les températures étaient plus basses et était plus courte chez les oiseaux dont c'était le premier hiver). Trois épisodes de froid sont survenus en 2009-2010; 80 % des bécasses suivies au cours de cet hiver ont effectué des vols pour s'éloigner, se déplaçant > 20 km et revenant au site occupé précédemment lorsque les effets du froid ont été terminés (environ 8 jours plus tard). Parmi les bécasses suivies, 54,9 % d'entre elles ont survécu durant l'hiver. La cause la plus fréquente de mortalité était la chasse, laquelle touchait surtout les oiseaux dont c'était le premier hiver. La survie des bécasses était plus faible dans les endroits où l...

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Weather and body condition in wintering MallardsAnas platyrhynchos

Cited by 13 publications

References 16 publications

Body mass variations in disturbed mallardsAnas platyrhynchosfit to the mass‐dependent starvation‐predation risk trade‐off

Body mass variations in disturbed mallardsAnas platyrhynchosfit to the mass‐dependent starvation‐predation risk trade‐off

Evidence of the Trade-Off between Starvation and Predation Risks in Ducks

Factors influencing mobility and survival of Eurasian Woodcock wintering in Spain

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