Mate provisioning, nutritional requirements for egg production, and primary reproductive effort of female Common Terns Sterna hirundo

2000 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Moore ◽  
Tony D. Williams ◽  
Ralph D. Morris
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Nutritional Requirements ◽  
Sterna Hirundo ◽  
Common Terns

Breeding performance of Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) does not decline among older age classes

The Auk ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 137 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian C T Nisbet ◽  
David Iles ◽  
Andrew Kaneb ◽  
Carolyn S Mostello ◽  
Stéphanie Jenouvrier
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Laying Date ◽  
Sterna Hirundo ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Reproductive Senescence ◽  
Fledging Success ◽  
Common Terns ◽  
Age Related

Abstract Declines in reproductive performance among older age classes have been reported in many bird and mammal species, and are commonly presented as demonstrating reproductive senescence. However, no declines in performance could be demonstrated in studies of several bird species. We measured reproductive performance in Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) of known age (2–28 yr) during a 19-yr period at a site in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, USA. We measured 6 components of reproductive performance and used generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs) in a Bayesian framework to analyze dependence of each measure on parental age, while controlling for variations among years and indices of individual quality. Four measures of performance improved (earlier laying date, higher values of clutch size, fledging success, and productivity) with age, most rapidly between ages 2 and 10 yr; egg mass and hatching success varied only slightly with age. No measure of performance showed reversals among the older age classes; fledging success and productivity continued to increase through at least age 22 yr. These findings are consistent with results from an earlier study of the same species. Continued increase in reproductive performance through the oldest age classes is not incompatible with “reproductive senescence” (decline in physiological or other functions required for successful reproduction) if either reproductive effort or efficiency continue to increase. Studies within our population have yielded no evidence for age-related increase in reproductive effort, but 3 studies have suggested that older Common Terns can raise chicks more successfully than younger birds without increasing reproductive effort, probably by more efficient foraging and chick provisioning. Our findings suggest that Common Terns offset reproductive senescence by continuing to improve efficiency through at least age 22 yr. Age-related changes in efficiency should be investigated in other species with similar life-history traits.

Common Terns Raise Young from Successive Broods

The Auk ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 274-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Hays
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Sterna Hirundo ◽  
Feeding Rates ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Common Terns ◽  
Second Clutch

Abstract In this paper I report the first instance of a pair of Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) raising young in successive clutches during one breeding season and discuss this phenomenon in relation to male and female incubation and feeding rates and to predation. Five other pairs are noted in which the female and sometimes the male incubated a second clutch while still feeding one young from their first nest.

Nest taphonomy of common terns (Sterna hirundo) on Poplar Island, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula L. Wang ◽  
Frankie D. Jackson ◽  
David J. Varricchio
Keyword(s):  
Chesapeake Bay ◽  
Sterna Hirundo ◽  
Common Terns

scholarly journals Floating rafts as breeding habitats for the Common tern, Sterna hirundo. Colonization patterns, abundance and reproductive success in Venice Lagoon

2018 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Coccon ◽  
Stefano Borella ◽  
Nicola Simeoni ◽  
Stefano Malavasi
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
Venice Lagoon ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Common Tern ◽  
Sterna Hirundo ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Common Terns ◽  
Colonization Patterns ◽  
Floating Rafts

The Venice lagoon hosts the 15% of the entire Italian breeding population of Common terns, Sterna hirundo, highlighting the great value of the area for this species. However, in the last 25 years, a substantial decline of Common terns has been detected in the Lagoon, which culminated in 2008. The main causes of this negative trend were the loss of salt marsh habitats, where terns typically breed in the Venice lagoon. This was due to the increase in the mean sea level and the greater frequency of high tides during the reproductive period with consequent flooding of their breeding sites; competition with yellowlegged gulls (Larus michahellis), predation and human disturbance. As a preliminary experimental approach to counter the depletion of the species and favour its recovery, we performed a habitat loss compensation project by setting up four floating rafts (3x2m), covered by two different types of substrate (sandy and vegetal substrate). This was to function as an artificial nesting site safe from flooding, positioned in a protected internal wetland area of the Venice lagoon, Valle Averto (Sourthern Lagoon). We studied the colonization patterns of the rafts and the reproductive success of Common tern breeding pairs during the 2014 and 2015 breeding seasons. We also investigated those environmental and structural variables that could favour the use of the rafts and the nesting success of the species. In both years, the rafts were successfully colonized and used by terns for nesting. Our results also indicated higher temperature, lower rainfall and greater distance from the shore as the main habitat factors favouring the occurrence and the reproductive success of the breeding pairs, while a windrow of dead plants was indicated as the preferred substrate for covering rafts in order to make them more attractive. The results provided some suggestions for successful restoration plans to be developed in similar lagoon areas.

Feminization in common terns (Sterna hirundo): Relationship to dioxin equivalents and estrogenic compounds

1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (1-5) ◽  
pp. 174-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.A. Hart ◽  
M.E. Hahn ◽  
I.C.T. Nisbet ◽  
M.J. Moore ◽  
S.W. Kennedy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sterna Hirundo ◽  
Estrogenic Compounds ◽  
Common Terns

Intraspecific variation in reproductive effort by female Parapediasia teterrella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and its relation to body size

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry D. Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Egg Size ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Life History Evolution ◽  
Reproductive Parameters ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Egg Number ◽  
Lepidoptera Pyralidae

Daily egg production of the moth Parapediasia teterrella declined over the life-span of the female but egg size remained constant. The absence of water resulted in lower fecundity and early mortality. Egg size and lifetime fecundity showed considerable inter-individual variation and large females produced more and larger eggs than their smaller counterparts. Large females expended greater reproductive effort than small females. Hatching success was negatively related to egg size. In spite of this, large females laying large eggs had higher fitness than small females. I postulate that multiple reproductive strategies within a species, resulting from differences in reproductive effort expended, may explain why expected trade-offs in reproductive parameters (e.g., egg size versus egg number) were not found in this species. Furthermore, I argue that the prevalent interpretation of life-history evolution (that body size is the important determining parameter of life-history parameters) may reflect correlation of body size with reproductive effort, and reproductive effort may be more important in determining the nature of trade-offs between reproductive parameters.

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