Mate fidelity in a polygamous shorebird, the snowy plover (
            Charadrius nivosus
            )

SummaryBreeding dispersal subsequent to nest failure is hypothesised to be a behavioural response to danger posed by nest predators. We used histories and locations of male and female Snowy Plover Charadrius nivosus nests in northern California over a 10-year period to examine effects of nest fate, mate fidelity, residency, predator exclosures, and age on dispersal distance. Within years, females moved a median distance of 2.2 km after changing mates; males moved a median of 0.9 km. Between years, plovers moved the shortest distances when they retained a mate from the prior year and were successful in hatching eggs (males = 0.2 km, females = 0.3 km). Both females (13.0 km) and males (2.6 km) dispersed farther when mate change coincided with nest failure in the prior year. The observation that most plovers did not disperse far enough to move away from sites where predators are abundant and have strong effects on plover reproductive success suggests that effective predator management will be challenging.

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Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus)

10.2173/bna.snoplo5.02 ◽

2009 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Gary W. Page ◽

Lynne E. Stenzel ◽

J. S. Warriner ◽

J. C. Warriner ◽

P. W. Paton

Keyword(s):

Snowy Plover

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Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus)

10.2173/tbna.154.p ◽

1995 ◽

Author(s):

Gary W. Page ◽

J. S. Warriner ◽

J. C. Warriner ◽

P. W. Paton

Keyword(s):

Snowy Plover

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Snowy plover nest site selection, spatial patterning, and temperatures in the Southern High Plains of Texas

Journal of Wildlife Management ◽

10.1002/jwmg.404 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 76 (8) ◽

pp. 1703-1711 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Sarah T. Saalfeld ◽

Warren C. Conway ◽

David A. Haukos ◽

William P. Johnson

Keyword(s):

Site Selection ◽

Nest Site ◽

Nest Site Selection ◽

High Plains ◽

Spatial Patterning ◽

Southern High Plains ◽

Snowy Plover

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Charadrius alexandrinus Linnaeus. Kentish Plover; Snowy Plover. Pluvier à collier interrompu.

The Birds of Africa ◽

10.5040/9781472926999.0137 ◽

2016 ◽

Keyword(s):

Charadrius Alexandrinus ◽

Snowy Plover ◽

Kentish Plover

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Breeding of White-tailed Tropicbirds (Phaethon lepturus) in the western South Atlantic

Brazilian Journal of Biology ◽

10.1590/1519-6984.16514 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 76 (3) ◽

pp. 559-567 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

G. R. Leal ◽

P. P. Serafini ◽

I. Simão-Neto ◽

R. J. Ladle ◽

M. A. Efe

Keyword(s):

Monitoring Program ◽

South Atlantic ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Additional Information ◽

Mate Fidelity ◽

Species Of Conservation Concern ◽

Population Conservation ◽

Land Crabs ◽

Fernando De Noronha ◽

Conservation Concern

Abstract Basic information on natural history is crucial for assessing the viability of populations, but is often lacking for many species of conservation concern. One such species is the White-tailed Tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus (Mathews, 1915). Here, we address this shortfall by providing detailed information on reproductive biology, distribution and threats on the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, Brazil – the largest colony of P. lepturus in the South Atlantic. We assessed reproduction from August 2011 to January 2012 by monitoring tropicbird nests and their contents. A population estimate was obtained through a combination of active searches for nests and by census at sea between 2010 and 2012. Breeding success was calculated by traditional methods. The growth curve of chicks and life table were also calculated. Additional information on nest and mate fidelity and on age of breeding birds was obtained from the banded birds. Our results indicate that the unusual nest form (limestone pinnacles) and predation by crabs may be responsible for the observed patterns of hatching and fledging success. Although the Fernando de Noronha population appears to be stable (at between 100-300 birds), a long term monitoring program would be desirable to assess fluctuations in this globally important population. Conservation strategies should focus on controlling predation by land crabs and tegu lizards.

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Time budget and parental behavior of breeding American Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani) in British Columbia

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z88-252 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 66 (8) ◽

pp. 1742-1751 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

M. A. Purdy ◽

E. H. Miller

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Parental Behavior ◽

Time Budget ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Mate Fidelity ◽

Large Size ◽

American Black ◽

Sedentary Life ◽

Sedentary Life Style

A study on parental behavior in American Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani) in British Columbia revealed sexual differences and seasonal variation in behavior. Before the egg-laying period, females tended to forage more, whereas males were more aggressive and alert. Females initially incubated more than males, but the sexes shared incubation duties almost equally toward the end of the incubation period. Males remained aggressive throughout incubation, but female aggression declined after eggs were laid. Females did most of the brooding, but the sexes participated equally in foraging for chicks and feeding them. After their eggs hatched, parents were more alert and aggressive toward other species. Patterns of parental care in oystercatchers appear to be related to their relatively large size, long-term mate fidelity, longevity, specialized feeding behavior, and sedentary life style, compared with other shorebirds.

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