Clutch parameters and reproductive success of a translocated population of red-crowned parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae)

2008 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Ortiz-Catedral ◽  
Dianne H. Brunton
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Brood Size ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Breeding Pair ◽  
Brood Rearing ◽  
Breeding Seasons

At least four populations of the red-crowned parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) have been established via translocation within New Zealand over the last 40 years, but reproductive parameters of these populations have not been documented. We quantified differences in clutch parameters and reproductive success for a translocated population of this species on Tiritiri Matangi Island over two breeding seasons. Overall clutch parameters and estimates of reproductive success were consistent with reported values from natural populations. However, we found previously unreported differences in clutch size, hatching success and brood size between breeding seasons. The number of fledglings produced per breeding pair increased significantly from 1.4 to 3.4 fledglings during our two-year study. In contrast, egg volume and fertility per clutch did not vary during the same period. Overall, 7 eggs were laid per breeding pair but only 2.22 nestlings fledged, representing a 63.8% loss of initial reproductive potential. Losses during the incubation stage were caused by partial and total hatching failure, whereas starvation of nestlings caused all losses during the brood-rearing stage. Hatching success during our study was lower than that reported for wild populations of this and other parrot species, and remained lower even during the most productive breeding season. We found no cases of predation on eggs or nestlings during our study despite the presence of native and exotic avian predators on Tiritiri Matangi Island. We show that clutch size, brood size and changes in loss between breeding seasons are determinants of reproductive output in translocated red-crowned parakeet and also that reproductive output can vary greatly between breeding seasons. Finally, if reduced hatching success is the result of small founder size, management of parakeets should consider the movement of larger and more genetically diverse flocks.

Brood size manipulation reveals cost on the size of the second clutch in the earwig Anisolabis maritime

Behaviour ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Seizi Suzuki
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Parental Care ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Maternal Care ◽  
Brood Size ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Brood Size Manipulation ◽  
Second Clutch ◽  
The Cost

Abstract There may be a trade-off between the duration of parental care and future reproductive success. Traditionally, studies about the cost of parental care have included the removal of the parent. However, producing a secondary clutch after the failure of the first one is a compensatory behaviour that occurs in cases of brood failure. In this study, attempts were made to detect the cost of maternal care in the earwig, Anisolabis maritima (Dermaptera: Anisolabididae) by either extending the period of care or increasing the brood size to prevent compensation through the brood’s success. The results indicated that manipulation did not change the inter-clutch interval, although my previous study revealed shortening of these intervals after the removal of the clutch in this species. In this study, decreased clutch size manipulation increased the size of the following clutch.

Factors Influencing Age-Related Reproductive Success in the Willow Ptarmigan

The Auk ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 101 (4) ◽  
pp. 848-854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan J. Hannon ◽  
James N. M. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Territory Size ◽  
Willow Ptarmigan ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Population Turnover ◽  
Clutch Initiation ◽  
Foraging Skills

Abstract In many species, adult birds lay earlier and have higher reproductive success than do yearlings. We found no difference, however, between adult and yearling female Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus alexandrae) in date of clutch initiation, clutch size, hatching success, number of fledged young, or territory size. Adult females defended their broods more vigorously, and more were observed with broods, a situation suggesting that more yearlings lost their eggs or young and did not renest. Pairs composed of two adults produced more fledged young than did pairs composed of two yearlings, but clutch size and date of clutch initiation were similar in the two groups. We suggest that the following factors may allow yearlings to reproduce almost as successfully as adults: (1) a reduction in competition with adults for territories because of high population turnover, (2) the presence of extensive male parental care and precocial young, and (3) a dependence on a food source that is readily available and can be obtained without specialized foraging skills.

scholarly journals Reproductive Success of Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus Bonariensis) Parasitizing the Larger Brown-and-Yellow Marshbird (Pseudoleistes Virescens) in Argentina

The Auk ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 1128-1139
Author(s):  
Myriam E. Mermoz ◽  
Juan C. Reboreda
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Chick Survival ◽  
Molothrus Bonariensis ◽  
Large Clutch ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Host Life

Abstract Shiny Cowbirds (Molothrus bonariensis) often parasitize larger hosts. It has been proposed that larger hosts are preferred by that parasite because they provide higher reproductive success, but available data are quite variable. We studied the reproductive success of Shiny Cowbirds in nests of Brown-and-yellow Marshbirds (Pseudoleistes virescens), a larger and often multiply parasitized host. To estimate the extent of interspecific competition, we compared the hatching success of parasite eggs in nests with and without reduction of the clutch size of the host as a result of egg punctures inflicted by the parasite, and the survival and growth of parasite chicks reared with and without host chicks. To estimate the extent of intraspecific competition, we compared Shiny Cowbird egg losses, hatching success, and chick survival in singly versus multiply parasitized nests. Reproductive success of Shiny Cowbirds was 8% with depredation causing 80% of losses. Clutch reduction due to egg punctures were higher in multiply than in singly parasitized nests, but it did not improve hatching success of parasite eggs. Neither survival nor growth of parasite chicks was affected by the presence of host chicks. Shiny Cowbird hatching success and chick survival did not differ between singly and multiply parasitized nests. Parasite chicks were smaller than same-age Brown-and-yellow Marshbird chicks. However, because parasite chicks hatched one or two days before host chicks and had a higher growth rate, they were the larger chicks in the nest. Overall Shiny Cowbird reproductive success in Brown-and-yellow Marshbird nests was apparently higher than that reported in other smaller or similar-sized hosts. We think that host life-history traits like large clutch size, a longer incubation period, and slower growth rate of chicks are responsible for the high reproductive success of Shiny Cowbirds with Brown-and-yellow Marshbirds.

scholarly journals Double-brooding and annual breeding success of great tits in urban and forest habitats

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boglárka Bukor ◽  
Gábor Seress ◽  
Ivett Pipoly ◽  
Krisztina Sándor ◽  
Csenge Sinkovics ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Parus Major ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
Habitat Differences ◽  
Double Brooding ◽  
Breeding Seasons ◽  
Forest Habitats

Abstract Urban areas differ from natural habitats in several environmental features that influence the characteristics of animals living there. For example, birds often start breeding seasonally earlier and fledge fewer offspring per brood in cities than in natural habitats. However, longer breeding seasons in cities may increase the frequency of double-brooding in urban compared to non-urban populations, thus potentially increasing urban birds’ annual reproductive output and resulting in lower habitat difference in reproductive success than estimated by studies focusing on first clutches only. In this study, we investigated two urban and two forests great tit Parus major populations from 2013 to 2019. We compared the probability of double-brooding and the total number of annually fledged chicks per female between urban and forest habitats, while controlling for the effects of potentially confounding variables. There was a trend for a higher probability of double-brooding in urban (44% of females) than in forest populations (36%), although this was not consistent between the two urban sites. Females produced significantly fewer fledglings annually in the cities than in the forest sites, and this difference was present both within single- and double-brooded females. Furthermore, double-brooded urban females produced a similar number of fledglings per season as single-brooded forest females. These results indicate that double-brooding increases the reproductive success of female great tits in both habitats, but urban females cannot effectively compensate in this way for their lower reproductive output per brood. However, other mechanisms, like increased post-fledging survival can mitigate habitat differences in reproductive success.

scholarly journals Comparative Reproductive Success of Yellow-Shafted, Red-Shafted, and Hybrid Flickers across a Hybrid Zone

The Auk ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
William S. Moore ◽  
Walter D. Koenig
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Hybrid Zone ◽  
Brood Size ◽  
Dynamic Equilibrium ◽  
Embryonic Mortality ◽  
Hybrid Fitness ◽  
Hybrid Superiority ◽  
Northern Flicker ◽  
Study Sites

Abstract Alternative hypotheses of hybrid zones make specific predictions about reproductive components of fitness in the hybrids. The dynamic-equilibrium and reinforcement hypotheses are premised on reduced hybrid fitness, which should be apparent as reduced clutch or brood size or as increased embryonic mortality. The hybrid-superiority and introgression hypotheses predict normal clutch and brood size and embryonic mortality. Reproductive success was measured at four study sites on a transect across the hybrid zone between the Yellow- (Colaptes auratus auratus) and Red-shafted (C. a. cafer) subspecies of the Northern Flicker. Two additional clutch size samples representing pure Yellow- and Red-shafted flickers were obtained from museum egg collections. Mean clutch size did not differ significantly among the six samples. Factorial ANOVAs showed that early clutches and broods are larger than late clutches and broods, but no significant difference was detected between hybrid and parental study sites. Analyses of the effect of phenotype (yellow-shafted, red-shafted, hybrid) also suggest that neither clutch size nor brood size is affected, with the exception that hybrid males sired significantly smaller broods. Finally, there were no significant effects of type of cross (red-shafted male × hybrid female, etc.) on the ratio brood-size/clutch-size. The only evidence for reduced hybrid fitness was in the test where males with hybrid phenotypes appear to have sired small broods. This may indicate that abnormal behavior of hybrid males affects female fecundity, but it is also plausible that this marginally significant result is a type I statistical error. The overall lack of evidence for reduced hybrid fitness is inconsistent with either the dynamic-equilibrium or reinforcement models. Of the two remaining alternatives, the bounded hybrid-superiority model appears the more likely explanation of the Northern Flicker hybrid zone because earlier work (Moore and Buchanan 1985) showed that the hybrid zone is not becoming broader, as predicted by the introgression model.

The breeding biology of two Lake Erie herring gull colonies

1977 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 796-805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph D. Morris ◽  
Gerard T. Haymes
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Lake Erie ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Early Period ◽  
Breeding Biology ◽  
Nest Density ◽  
Herring Gull ◽  
Event Recorder ◽  
Clutch Initiation

The breeding biology of two Lake Erie herring gull colonies was studied from 1973 to 1976, emphasizing effects of clutch size and time of clutch initiation on reproductive success. In 1976, incubation attention of two-egg and three-egg clutches started early and late in the season was measured with a 20-pen event recorder. Chlorinated hydrocarbon residues in eggs were assessed in 2 years. Nest density was greater, clutch initiation more synchronized, and hatching success higher at one of the colonies. Hatching success and fledging success were independent of clutch size bin early nesters were more successful than late nesters. Differences in hatching success between two-egg and three-egg clutches were a function of time of clutch initiation such that the clutch size with the greater proportion of its nests in the early period had a higher hatching success. The reproductive success of the Lake Erie colonies was intermediate among rates reported for other Great Lakes colonies but below those of most eastern North American or European colonies. There were no significant differences in the incubation attention between two-egg clutches and three-egg clutches or between early and late three-egg clutches. Most clutches were incubated greater than 95% of the time although clutches incubated less than 75% realized the same hatching success.

scholarly journals Reproductive Parameters and Productivity of the Yellow-Shouldered Parrot on Margarita Island, Venezuela: a Long-Term Study

The Condor ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 178-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia Sanz ◽  
Adriana Rodriguez-Ferraro
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Human Disturbance ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Reproductive Investment ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Reproductive Parameters ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Long Term Study

AbstractWe studied the breeding biology of the Yellow-shouldered Parrot (Amazona barbadensis) on Margarita Island from March-August, 1990 to 1999. The timing of the different phases (egg-laying, hatching, fledging) was consistent over the years, except during 1998 when all phases were delayed. The average clutch size was 3.38 ± 0.78 eggs per nest, with a range of one to five eggs per clutch, and most eggs survived until hatching (3.36 ± 0.80 eggs per nest). Total clutch size and hatching success of this species on Margarita Island are among the highest in the genus Amazona, suggesting the Yellow-shouldered Parrot has a higher reproductive potential than other species of the genus. We detected interannual differences for some of the reproductive parameters, all in 1998, a year with an extreme drought. Egg losses totaled 20% and were caused by hatching failure, predation, and human disturbance. Forty-nine percent of nestlings were lost, mainly due to poaching. The number of fledglings per nesting pair averaged 1.27 ± 1.61, but varied greatly among years. Thus, in relation to the average total clutch laid, each pair lost an average of 62% of its initial reproductive investment.

Reproductive Performance of Female-female Pairs and Polygynous Trios of Ring-Billed Gulls

The Auk ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 658-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kit M. Kovacs ◽  
John P. Ryder
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Similar Pattern ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Lake Superior ◽  
Nest Density ◽  
Nearest Neighbour ◽  
Neighbour Distance ◽  
Larus Delawarensis ◽  
Breeding Seasons

Abstract We studied female-female pairs of Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) on Granite Island, northern Lake Superior, during the breeding seasons of 1979 and 1980. In 1979 the colony consisted of approximately 2,400 nesting pairs, with a total of 99 nests containing 5-7 eggs (superclutches). In 1980 the colony had increased in size to 2,600 nests and contained a total of 71 superclutches. We discuss the difficulty of distinguishing nests in which superclutches have been laid by female-female pairs from single-cup nests used by polygynous groups or from nests receiving dump eggs. Nests containing superclutches were larger than those containing normal-sized clutches. They were not differentially located by substrate, nest density, or location within the colony. Nearest-neighbour distance was also similar for the two clutch types. Eggs laid in superclutches were slightly smaller than those from normal-sized clutches (1-4 eggs) but did not differ in shape. Significantly more eggs from superclutches rolled from the nest or were destroyed or abandoned than from normal-sized clutches. The proportion of nests that hatched at least one chick did not differ significantly between the two clutch types. Hatching success for superclutches was 34% in 1979 and 30% in 1980, whereas for normal-sized clutches it was 77% in 1979 and 61% in 1980. Chicks from superclutches had a higher rate of mortality during the week following hatching than did chicks from normal-sized clutches. Chicks from the former hatched at significantly lighter weights than did those from the latter during both years of study, but their weights did not differ after the first week posthatch. Tarsal and culmen measurements followed a similar pattern to that of weight. Chicks from normal-sized clutches had a significantly higher fledging success than did those from superclutches. The reproductive success of four polygynous groups is also reported.

scholarly journals Glucocorticoids, state-dependent reproductive investment and success in the face of danger in a long-lived bird

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Noreikienė ◽  
Kim Jaatinen ◽  
Benjamin B. Steele ◽  
Markus Öst
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Telomere Length ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Nest Predation ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Reproductive Investment ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Relative Telomere Length ◽  
Future Reproduction

AbstractGlucocorticoid hormones may mediate trade-offs between current and future reproduction. However, understanding their role is complicated by predation risk, which simultaneously affects the value of the current reproductive investment and elevates glucocorticoid levels. Here, we shed light on these issues in long-lived female Eiders (Somateria mollissima) by investigating how current reproductive investment (clutch size) and hatching success relate to faecal glucocorticoid metabolite [fGCM] level and residual reproductive value (minimum years of breeding experience, body condition, relative telomere length) under spatially variable predation risk. Our results showed a positive relationship between colony-specific predation risk and mean colony-specific fGCM levels. Clutch size and female fGCM were negatively correlated only under high nest predation and in females in good body condition, previously shown to have a longer life expectancy. We also found that younger females with longer telomeres had smaller clutches. The drop in hatching success with increasing fGCM levels was least pronounced under high nest predation risk, suggesting that elevated fGCM levels may allow females to ensure some reproductive success under such conditions. Hatching success was positively associated with female body condition, with relative telomere length, particularly in younger females, and with female minimum age, particularly under low predation risk, showing the utility of these metrics as indicators of individual quality. In line with a trade-off between current and future reproduction, our results show that high potential for future breeding prospects and increased predation risk shift the balance toward investment in future reproduction, with glucocorticoids playing a role in the resolution of this trade-off.

scholarly journals Temporal changes in reproductive success and optimal breeding decisions in a long-distance migratory bird

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Reséndiz-Infante ◽  
Gilles Gauthier
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Migratory Bird ◽  
Laying Date ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Breeding Phenology ◽  
Additional Time ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Seasonal Decline

AbstractMany avian migrants have not adjusted breeding phenology to climate warming resulting in negative consequences for their offspring. We studied seasonal changes in reproductive success of the greater snow goose (Anser caerulescens atlantica), a long-distance migrant. As the climate warms and plant phenology advances, the mismatch between the timing of gosling hatch and peak nutritive quality of plants will increase. We predicted that optimal laying date yielding highest reproductive success occurred earlier over time and that the seasonal decline in reproductive success increased. Over 25 years, reproductive success of early breeders increased by 42%, producing a steeper seasonal decline in reproductive success. The difference between the laying date producing highest reproductive success and the median laying date of the population increased, which suggests an increase in the selection pressure for that trait. Observed clutch size was lower than clutch size yielding the highest reproductive success for most laying dates. However, at the individual level, clutch size could still be optimal if the additional time required to acquire nutrients to lay extra eggs is compensated by a reduction in reproductive success due to a delayed laying date. Nonetheless, breeding phenology may not respond sufficiently to meet future environmental changes induced by warming temperatures.

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