scholarly journals Female Hematozoan Infection Reduces Hatching Success but not Fledging Success in Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca

The Auk ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 750-755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan J. Sanz ◽  
Elena Arriero ◽  
Juan Moreno ◽  
Santiago Merino
Keyword(s):  
Incubation Period ◽  
Parasite Prevalence ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
Ficedula Hypoleuca ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Blood Parasites ◽  
Fledging Success ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Breeding Seasons ◽  
Fledgling Mass

Abstract We report association between female blood parasite prevalence (percentage of infected birds) just after egg laying and reproductive success in two successive breeding seasons, in a breeding population of Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca in central Spain. Females infected with Trypanosoma spp. had a higher probability of deserting their clutches during the incubation period than noninfected females. Females infected with Haemoproteus balmorali hatched proportionally fewer eggs than noninfected females. Female infected with H. balmorali during the incubation period may have a decreased ability to thermoregulate which may affect their incubation capacity. Fledging success, breeding success, fledgling mass, and tarsus length were not associated with infection of the mother by blood parasites during the incubation period, suggesting that females and their mates may compensate during the nestling period for the negative effect of blood parasites during the incubation period.

Reproduction of Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) in Good and Bad Breeding Seasons in a Northern Marginal Area

The Auk ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 101 (3) ◽  
pp. 439-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antero Järvinen ◽  
Risto A. Väisänen
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Success ◽  
Egg Size ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Ficedula Hypoleuca ◽  
Nesting Success ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Female Size ◽  
Finnish Lapland ◽  
Breeding Seasons ◽  
Better Than

Abstract We studied relationships between female size, date of egg laying, clutch size, egg size, and breeding success in Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) in a marginal area in northwestern Finnish Lapland (69°N). Average June temperatures in 1975-1981 were used to classify years into "good" (warm) and "bad" (cold) breeding seasons. In general, early and warm springs were followed by "good" breeding seasons: females were heavier, laying was earlier, clutches were larger and contained larger eggs, and hatching and fledging success were better than in late and cold springs. Mainly due to low nesting success in "bad" breeding seasons, the local population could not maintain itself; immigration from the south was needed. We suggest that spring weather may provide information concerning the character of the coming breeding season, which may help birds to maximize their lifetime production of young.

scholarly journals Observations on breeding behaviour of a pair of endangered Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnopterus (Linnaeus, 1758) over three breeding seasons in the plains of Punjab, India

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 16013-16020
Author(s):  
Charn Kumar ◽  
Amritpal Singh Kaleka ◽  
Sandeep Kaur Thind
Keyword(s):  
Incubation Period ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Space Observatory ◽  
The Third ◽  
Breeding Behaviour ◽  
Nest Activity ◽  
Nesting Site ◽  
Breeding Seasons ◽  
Cctv Camera

The present study has been conducted to document information on breeding behaviour of Egyptian Vultures Neophrons percnopterus from Punjab.  This study is based on 688 hours of video records documenting breeding behaviour of a pair of endangered Egyptian Vultures Neophrons percnopterus occupying the same nesting site over three consecutive breeding seasons from 2015 to 2017. The site is located in the hollow of a ventilation window of the Space Observatory in Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab. During the third breeding period (February to August 2017), the nest activity has been extensively video-recorded in egg laying and incubation period, and chick rearing period using a Dome CCTV Camera. Both parents participated in nest building, and of the total recorded incubation time of 339.39h over 23 days the nest was attended for 199.35 and 139.46h by the female and male respectively, and unattended for 0.58h. The incubation period was 42 to 43 days, and the egg laying/hatching intervals between eggs/chicks was five days. A total of six young ones hatched and fledged from three broods of two eggs each. All chicks survived to fledging and no mortality or siblicide of younger chick occurred due to aggression/starvation by elder chick. The high fledging success rate indicates a healthy habitat and food source in the nesting area. 

Experimental increase in female mass during the fertile phase leads to enhanced extra-pair paternity in pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mireia Plaza ◽  
Alejandro Cantarero ◽  
Juan Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Ficedula Hypoleuca ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Female Dominance ◽  
Laying Date ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Wing Loading ◽  
Potential Fecundity ◽  
Fertile Phase ◽  
Extra Pair Paternity

Female mass in most altricial birds reaches its maximum during breeding at egg-laying, which coincides temporally with the fertile phase when extra-pair paternity (EPP) is determined. Higher mass at laying may have two different effects on EPP intensity. On the one hand, it would lead to increased wing loading (body mass/wing area), which may impair flight efficiency and thereby reduce female’s capacity to resist unwanted extra-pair male approaches (sexual conflict hypothesis). On the other hand, it would enhance female condition, favouring her capacity to evade mate-guarding and to search for extra-pair mates (female choice hypothesis). In both cases, higher female mass at laying may lead to enhanced EPP. To test this prediction, we reduced nest building effort by adding a completely constructed nest in an experimental group of female pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca). Our treatment caused an increase in mass and thereby wing loading and this was translated into a significantly higher EPP in the manipulated group compared with the control group as expected. There was also a significant negative relationship between EPP and laying date and the extent of the white wing patch, an index of female dominance. More body reserves at laying mean not only a higher potential fecundity but a higher level of EPP as well. This interaction had not previously received due attention but should be considered in future studies of avian breeding strategies.

scholarly journals From individual to population level: Temperature and snow cover modulate fledging success through breeding phenology in greylag geese (Anser anser)

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Didone Frigerio ◽  
Petra Sumasgutner ◽  
Kurt Kotrschal ◽  
Sonia Kleindorfer ◽  
Josef Hemetsberger
Keyword(s):  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Breeding Phenology ◽  
Anser Anser ◽  
Fledging Success ◽  
Average Annual Temperature ◽  
Greylag Geese

AbstractLocal weather conditions may be used as environmental cues by animals to optimize their breeding behaviour, and could be affected by climate change. We measured associations between climate, breeding phenology, and reproductive output in greylag geese (Anser anser) across 29 years (1990–2018). The birds are individually marked, which allows accurate long-term monitoring of life-history parameters for all pairs within the flock. We had three aims: (1) identify climate patterns at a local scale in Upper Austria, (2) measure the association between climate and greylag goose breeding phenology, and (3) measure the relationship between climate and both clutch size and fledging success. Ambient temperature increased 2 °C across the 29-years study period, and higher winter temperature was associated with earlier onset of egg-laying. Using the hatch-fledge ratio, average annual temperature was the strongest predictor for the proportion of fledged goslings per season. There is evidence for an optimum time window for egg-laying (the earliest and latest eggs laid had the lowest fledging success). These findings broaden our understanding of environmental effects and population-level shifts which could be associated with increased ambient temperature and can thus inform future research about the ecological consequences of climate changes and reproductive output in avian systems.

scholarly journals Blood parasites in passerine birds from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabiane Sebaio ◽  
Érika Martins Braga ◽  
Felipe Branquinho ◽  
Alan Fecchio ◽  
Miguel Ângelo Marini
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Parasite Prevalence ◽  
Neotropical Region ◽  
Blood Parasite ◽  
Blood Parasites ◽  
Passerine Birds ◽  
Blood Smears ◽  
Temporal And Spatial ◽  
Low Prevalence

Parasites may lead bird species to extinction, affect host temporal and spatial population dynamics, alter community structure and alter individuals’ social status. We evaluated blood parasite prevalence and intensity according to bird families and species, among 925 birds that were caught in 2000 and 2001, in the Atlantic Forest in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. We applied Giemsa staining to thin blood smears, to detect blood parasites. The birds (n = 15.8%) in 11 families, were infected by at least one parasite genus, especially Muscicapidae (28.3%) and Conopophagidae (25%). Among the 146 infected birds, Plasmodium was detected in all bird families and had the highest prevalence (54.8%). Trypanosoma, Haemoproteus and microfilaria had lower prevalence rates (23.3, 23.3 and 2.1%, respectively). Birds caught during the rainy season were more infected than birds caught during the dry season. The overall low prevalence of blood parasites in birds is similar to the patterns found elsewhere in the Neotropical region.

Annual Productivity and Its Measurement in a Multi-Brooded Passerine, the Eastern Bluebird

The Auk ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 562-572
Author(s):  
Benedict C. Pinkowski
Keyword(s):  
Success Rate ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Nesting Success ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Sialia Sialis ◽  
Eastern Bluebird ◽  
Annual Productivity ◽  
Eastern Bluebirds ◽  
Breeding Seasons

Abstract Breeding and demographic parameters are examined for 434 Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) attempting 324 nests in southeastern Michigan during 1968-1977. Nesting birds spent an average of 10.4 weeks (63.9% of a 16.2-week season) in the study area. Only 154 (35.5%) of the nesting birds remained for entire breeding seasons; these season-long residents averaged 2.14 nests/season and had a higher success rate (68.4%) and presumably greater productivity (5.6 young · pair−1 · season −1) than other birds because site fidelity depends on nesting success. Although two seasonal peaks for egg-laying were observed, only 75 of 357 birds (21.0%) successfully raised two broods. Evidence is presented to suggest that birds observed for only part of a season initiated nests at the same rate while in and not in the study area, so that an average annual productivity value of 5.0 young · pair−1 · season −1 is calculated for all nesting birds from the observed success rate (57.1%) and mean length of stay in the area. Estimated average productivity of yearlings (4.3 young · pair−1 · season −1) was lower than that of adults (5.7 young · pair−1 · season −1) although nesting success rates were similar in the two age groups.

scholarly journals Breeding biology of coppersmith barbet, Megalaima haemacephala (Müller, 1776)

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 31-34
Author(s):  
Noor Jahan Sarker ◽  
M Firoj Jaman ◽  
Shariar Mustafa ◽  
Md Saidur Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Incubation Period ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Breeding Success ◽  
Brood Size ◽  
Botanical Garden ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Breeding Biology ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
Average Height ◽  
Average Depth

Breeding biology of the Coppersmith barbet, Megalaima haemacephala (Müller, 1776) was carried out between February, 2006 and January, 2007 at Sharawardy Uddyan, Ramna Park, Curzon Hall and National Botanical Garden. The breeding season started from December and ended in June. In total 20 nests were observed, of which 10 nests were studied in details in four study areas. The coppersmith barbet mostly preferred to make holes on the branches of koroi (Albizzia procera) for nesting. Egg laying started on 15th February in the study areas. Average height of nests from the ground was 9.7m and average depth and diameter of the holes was 29.20cm and 4.46cm respectively. New holes were constructed yearly or the old one was reused. Both the sexes took part in incubation of eggs, brooding and feeding to the nestlings. A total of 30 eggs were laid in 10 nests. Clutch size varied from 2 – 4 eggs (average: 3 eggs). Among them, 20 (66.67%) eggs were hatched and the rest 10 (33.33%) were unhatched and lost. Average incubation period was 14 days. The male and the female incubated the eggs for an average of 27.44 minutes/ hours and 32.56 minutes/ hours, respectively. Average number of nestlings (brood size) per nest was 2. Out of 20 nestlings, 16 left their nests successively. The breeding success was 53.33% in relation to the number of eggs laid and 80% in relation to nestlings hatched. The average weight of eggs and nestlings was 3.59g and 9.33g, respectively. The main causes of loss of the eggs and nestlings were human interference, predation and ectoparasitic infections. Insects and fruits were fed to the nestlings by their parents.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ujzru.v31i0.15397Univ. j. zool. Rajshahi Univ. Vol. 31, 2012 pp. 31-34 

Malaria infection status of European Robins seems to associate with timing of autumn migration but not with actual condition

Parasitology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 146 (6) ◽  
pp. 814-820
Author(s):  
Nóra Ágh ◽  
Imre Sándor Piross ◽  
Gábor Majoros ◽  
Tibor Csörgő ◽  
Eszter Szöllősi
Keyword(s):  
Avian Malaria ◽  
Arrival Time ◽  
Parasite Prevalence ◽  
Malaria Prevalence ◽  
Blood Parasites ◽  
Autumn Migration ◽  
Actual Condition ◽  
Infection Status ◽  
Stopover Site ◽  
Age Related

AbstractAvian malaria parasites can negatively affect many aspects of the life of the passerines. Though these parasites may strongly affect the health and thus migration patterns of the birds also during autumn, previous studies on avian malaria focused mainly on the spring migration and the breeding periods of the birds. We investigated whether the prevalence of blood parasites varies in relation to biometrical traits, body condition and arrival time in the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) during autumn migration. We found no sex or age related differences in avian malaria prevalence and no relationship between infection status and body size or actual condition of the birds was found either. However, the timing of autumn migration differed marginally between infected and non-infected juveniles, so that parasitized individuals arrived later at the Hungarian stopover site. This is either because avian malaria infections adversely affect the migration timing or migration speed of the birds, or because later arriving individuals come from more distant populations with possibly higher blood parasite prevalence. The possible delay that parasites cause in the arrival time of the birds during autumn migration could affect the whole migratory strategy and the breeding success of the birds in the next season.

scholarly journals Haemosporidian infections affect antioxidant defences in great tits Parus major but are not related to exposure to aerial pollutants

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANIELA DE ANGELI DUTRA ◽  
PATRÍCIA SILVEIRA ◽  
JAIME ALBINO RAMOS ◽  
JOSÉ PAULO SOUSA ◽  
ÉRIKA MARTINS BRAGA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Parus Major ◽  
Parasite Prevalence ◽  
Experimental Manipulation ◽  
Blood Parasites ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Pulp Mills ◽  
Antioxidant Defences ◽  
Extrinsic Factors

SUMMARY Haemosporidian parasites are widespread in avian species and modulate their ecology, behaviour, life-history and fitness. The prevalence of these vector-transmitted parasites varies with host intrinsic and extrinsic factors, such as host resistance and behaviour, and habitat-related characteristics. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of avian haemosporidians in great tit Parus major populations inhabiting two areas with different degrees of exposure to aerial emissions from pulp mills, to assess if this type of pollution impacted parasite prevalence. We also compared the physiological condition of infected and uninfected individuals. Haemosporidian infection prevalence was high (58%), varied seasonally, but was not associated with air pollution exposure. Fledged birds presented higher infection rates than nestlings and infected fledged birds had higher levels of blood glutathione peroxidase activity. These results allow us to infer that infection by blood parasites may activate antioxidant defences, possibly to protect the organism from the negative oxidative stress side-effects of immune activation against parasites. Because oxidative stress is one of the mechanisms responsible for ageing and senescence and may affect fitness, the relationship between parasitism and oxidative stress markers should be further investigated through studies that include experimental manipulation of infection in model organisms.

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