scholarly journals Breeding Biology of the Thorn-Tailed Rayadito (Furnariidae) in South-Temperate Rainforests of Chile

The Condor ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 107 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Moreno ◽  
Santiago Merino ◽  
Rodrigo A. Vásquez ◽  
Juan J. Armesto
Keyword(s):  
Food Limitation ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Breeding Biology ◽  
Brood Reduction ◽  
Secondary Forests ◽  
Adult Size ◽  
Nestling Growth ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Historia De Vida ◽  
Temperate Rainforests

Abstract We conducted a study of the breeding biology of the Thorn-tailed Rayadito (Aphrastura spinicauda) in secondary forests on the continental island of Chiloé (42° S), southern Chile. Rayaditos are small insectivorous furnariids inhabiting the south-temperate forests of Chile and Argentina. We followed the reproduction of rayadito pairs breeding in nest-boxes. Rayaditos build their nests mainly of rhizomes and stems of epiphytic vines, grasses, and hairs during periods of at least a week, and show a marked population asynchrony in laying dates of more than two months (October–December). Rayaditos lay clutches of 3–6 eggs with a mode of 4 and laying occurs on alternate days. Eggs are 50% larger and hatchlings are 30% larger than expected from allometric equations. Most broods hatch synchronously. Nestling growth curves adjust well to logistic functions and at 2 weeks nestlings attain masses similar to asymptotic values. Nestling growth, which occurs over 3 weeks, is 27% slower than expected from allometry. Fledglings attain adult size with respect to tarsus length, but have less developed plumage and higher body mass than adults. Rayaditos exhibit clutch and brood reduction, suggesting possible food limitation. The protracted breeding periods may preclude second breeding attempts for most pairs in Chiloé. There is evidence for declines in parental quality with season. The low seasonal fecundity, large eggs, and prolonged dependence periods of a truly south-temperate species like the Thorn-tailed Rayadito reflect a ‘slow’ life history similar to that of tropical passerines. Biología Reproductiva de Aphrastura spinicauda (Furnariidae) en Bosques Lluviosos Templados Meridionales de Chile Resumen. Realizamos un estudio de la biología reproductiva del Rayadito Aphrastura spinicauda en bosques secundarios de la isla continental de Chiloé (42° S), sur de Chile. Este pequeño furnárido insectívoro habita los bosques templados meridionales de Chile y Argentina. Seguimos las actividades reproductivas de parejas de rayaditos que utilizaron cajas artificiales para nidificar. Los rayaditos construyen sus nidos utilizando rizomas, hierbas y pelo durante períodos de al menos una semana, y muestran una marcada asincronía a nivel de población de más de dos meses (octubre a diciembre) en el inicio de la puesta. Las puestas incluyen de 3 a 6 huevos, con un tamaño modal de 4 huevos, los cuales son puestos en días alternos. Los huevos son 50% más grandes y los polluelos recién eclosionados 30% más grandes de lo esperado según ecuaciones alométricas. La mayoría de las nidadas eclosionan sincrónicamente. Las curvas de crecimiento se ajustan bien a funciones logísticas y el peso alcanza valores asintóticos a las dos semanas. El crecimiento de los polluelos, que ocurre durante un período de permanencia en el nido de tres semanas, es un 27% más lento de lo esperado por alometría. Los volantones alcanzan el tamaño adulto con respecto a la longitud de tarso, pero presentan un plumaje menos desarrollado y un mayor peso que los adultos. Esta especie presenta casos de reducción de la puesta o de la nidada, lo que sugiere posibles limitaciones en la disponibilidad de alimentos. Los prolongados períodos de reproducción pueden impedir el inicio de segundas puestas en Chiloé. Hay evidencia de disminuciones estacionales en la calidad parental. La baja fecundidad anual, el gran tamaño de los huevos y el prolongado periodo de crecimiento del Rayadito refleja una historia de vida ‘lenta’ similar a la de paseriformes tropicales.

scholarly journals Preparing for translocations of a Critically Endangered petrel through targeted monitoring of nest survival and breeding biology

Oryx ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Johannes H. Fischer ◽  
Heiko U. Wittmer ◽  
Graeme A. Taylor ◽  
Igor Debski ◽  
Doug P. Armstrong
Keyword(s):  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Nest Survival ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Breeding Biology ◽  
Source Population ◽  
Breeding Phenology ◽  
Chick Survival ◽  
Egg Survival ◽  
Dune System ◽  
Burrow Density

Abstract The population of the recently-described Whenua Hou diving petrel Pelecanoides whenuahouensis comprises c. 200 adults that all breed in a single 0.018 km2 colony in a dune system vulnerable to erosion. The species would therefore benefit from the establishment of a second breeding population through a translocation. However, given the small size of the source population, it is essential that translocations are informed by carefully targeted monitoring data. We therefore modelled nest survival at the remaining population in relation to potential drivers (distance to sea and burrow density of conspecifics and a competitor) across three breeding seasons with varying climatic conditions as a result of the southern oscillation cycle. We also documented breeding phenology and burrow attendance, and measured chicks, to generate growth curves. We estimated egg survival at 0.686, chick survival at 0.890, overall nest survival at 0.612, and found no indication that nest survival was affected by distance to sea or burrow density. Whenua Hou diving petrels laid eggs in mid October, eggs hatched in late November, and chicks fledged in mid January at c. 86% of adult weight. Burrow attendance (i.e. feeds) decreased from 0.94 to 0.65 visits per night as chicks approached fledging. Nest survival and breeding biology were largely consistent among years despite variation in climate. Nest survival estimates will facilitate predictions about future population trends and suitability of prospective translocation sites. Knowledge of breeding phenology will inform the timing of collection of live chicks for translocation, and patterns of burrow attendance combined with growth curves will structure hand-rearing protocols. A tuhinga whakarāpopoto (te reo Māori abstract) can be found in the Supplementary material.

scholarly journals Video-monitoring helps to optimize the rescue of second-hatched chicks in the endangered Bearded VultureGypaetus barbatus

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANTONI MARGALIDA ◽  
DIEGO GARCÍA ◽  
RAFAEL HEREDIA ◽  
JOAN BERTRAN
Keyword(s):  
Survival Time ◽  
Breeding Biology ◽  
Video Monitoring ◽  
Brood Reduction ◽  
Video Cameras ◽  
Sibling Aggression ◽  
Bearded Vulture ◽  
Prey Items ◽  
Ne Spain

SummaryFrom 2000–2008 we used transmitting video cameras to document the breeding biology of the endangered Bearded Vulture in the Pyrenees (NE Spain), focusing the study on sibling aggression. Our goals were to study the feasibility of rescuing second-hatched chicks for conservation purposes in this species that shows obligate brood reduction. The age at which the second chick died varied between 4 and 9 days (n= 5). Prey items delivered per hour were not related to the survival time of the second chick or the aggressiveness of the first-hatched chick towards their sibling. Although sibling aggression generally began on day 1 after hatching, in two nests supplemented with food, aggression was delayed until the second and third day after hatching and the second chick survived for nine days. Our results on the death of the second chick and the test involving the rescuing of a second-hatched chick aged five days, suggest that the recommended age for intervention should be between 3 and 6 days, with 4–5 days probably being the optimal age for the rescue.

A Method for Constructing Nestling Growth Curves from Brief Visits to Seabird Colonies

Bird-Banding ◽  
1975 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Ricklefs ◽  
Susan C. White
Keyword(s):  
Growth Curves ◽  
Nestling Growth ◽  
Seabird Colonies

Aggression, superterritories, and reproductive success in tree swallows

1979 ◽  
Vol 57 (10) ◽  
pp. 2072-2078 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reid N. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Tree Swallows ◽  
Nestling Growth ◽  
Territorial Aggression ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Nestling Period ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Insular Population

The relationship between territorial aggression and reproductive success was studied on a well-established, insular population of tree swallows. Four treatments of nest boxes that differed in interbox distances were created. Short interbox distances significantly reduced the occupancy of nest boxes both between and within years. Swallows in short interbox distance treatments defended more than one nest box, which was an additional resource not necessary for their successful reproduction. Excluded potential breeders attempted to colonize vacant boxes within another swallow's territory throughout the nestling period, but were usually prevented by the aggression of the resident pair. Aggressive activity had no direct effect on three measures of a swallow's reproductive output: percent young fledged, nestling growth, and fledgling weights. The concept of intraspecific aggressive neglect is questioned. However, by excluding potential breeders from nesting, for whatever reason, breeding tree swallows increased their relative genetic contribution to future generations.

scholarly journals Preparing for translocations of a Critically Endangered petrel through targeted monitoring of nest survival and breeding biology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
JH Fischer ◽  
Heiko Wittmer ◽  
GA Taylor ◽  
I Debski ◽  
DP Armstrong
Keyword(s):  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Nest Survival ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Breeding Biology ◽  
Source Population ◽  
Breeding Phenology ◽  
Chick Survival ◽  
Egg Survival ◽  
Dune System ◽  
Burrow Density

The population of the recently-described Whenua Hou diving petrel Pelecanoides whenuahouensis comprises c. 200 adults that all breed in a single 0.018 km2 colony in a dune system vulnerable to erosion. The species would therefore benefit from the establishment of a second breeding population through a translocation. However, given the small size of the source population, it is essential that translocations are informed by carefully targeted monitoring data. We therefore modelled nest survival at the remaining population in relation to potential drivers (distance to sea and burrow density of conspecifics and a competitor) across three breeding seasons with varying climatic conditions as a result of the southern oscillation cycle. We also documented breeding phenology and burrow attendance, and measured chicks, to generate growth curves. We estimated egg survival at 0.686, chick survival at 0.890, overall nest survival at 0.612, and found no indication that nest survival was affected by distance to sea or burrow density. Whenua Hou diving petrels laid eggs in mid October, eggs hatched in late November, and chicks fledged in mid January at c. 86% of adult weight. Burrow attendance (i.e. feeds) decreased from 0.94 to 0.65 visits per night as chicks approached fledging. Nest survival and breeding biology were largely consistent among years despite variation in climate. Nest survival estimates will facilitate predictions about future population trends and suitability of prospective translocation sites. Knowledge of breeding phenology will inform the timing of collection of live chicks for translocation, and patterns of burrow attendance combined with growth curves will structure hand-rearing protocols. A tuhinga whakarāpopoto (te reo Māori abstract) can be found in the Supplementary material.

scholarly journals Evolution of reduced minimum critical size as a response to selection for rapid pre-adult development in Drosophila melanogaster

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 191910 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khushboo Sharma ◽  
Nalini Mishra ◽  
Mallikarjun N. Shakarad
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Adult Development ◽  
Critical Size ◽  
Food Limitation ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Critical Duration ◽  
Adult Size ◽  
Time Duration ◽  
Critical Weight ◽  
Selection For

Adult body size in holometabolus insects is directly proportional to the time spent during the larval period. The larval duration can be divided into two parts: (i) pre-critical duration—time required to attain a critical size/critical weight that would result in successful completion of development and metamorphosis even under non-availability of nutrition beyond the time of attainment of critical size, and (ii) post-critical duration—the time duration from the attainment of critical size till pupation. It is of interest to decipher the relative contribution of the two larval growth phases (from the hatching of the egg to the attainment of critical size, and from the attainment of critical size to pupation) to the final adult size. Many studies using Drosophila melanogaster have shown that selecting populations for faster development results in the emergence of small adults. Some of these studies have indirectly reported the evolution of smaller critical size. Using two kinds of D. melanogaster populations, one of which is selected for faster/accelerated pre-adult development and the other their ancestral control, we demonstrate that the final adult size is determined by the time spent as larvae post the attainment of critical size despite having increased growth rate during the second larval instar. Our populations under selection for faster pre-adult development are exhibiting adaptive bailout due to intrinsic food limitation as against extrinsic food limitation in the yellow dung fly.

Breeding Biology and Brood Reduction of Herons and Ibis in a Northern Brazilian Mangrove Swamp: Eggs Do Not Starve

Waterbirds ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 55
Author(s):  
Carlos Martínez ◽  
Ana C. Miranda ◽  
Xavier Ruiz
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Biology ◽  
Brood Reduction ◽  
Mangrove Swamp

scholarly journals Preece-Baines Model 1 to Estimate Height and Knee Height Growth in Boys and Girls From Merida, Mexico

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudip Datta Banik ◽  
Sedigheh Mirzaei Salehabadi ◽  
Federico Dickinson
Keyword(s):  
Peak Velocity ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Growth Spurt ◽  
Adult Size ◽  
Leg Length ◽  
Final Size ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Knee Height ◽  
Maximum Increment

Background: Height and body segments in children have differential pubertal growth characteristics. Lower leg length is a sensitive indicator of child’s nutritional status. Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate differential timing and tempo of height and knee height (KH) growth in 9- to 17-year-old boys (n = 475) and girls (n = 500) from Merida, Mexico. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the Preece-Baines growth curves—model 1 (PB 1) was fitted to the anthropometric data for height and KH. Results: Based on the PB 1 model, KH had earlier age at maximum increment than height in boys (height = 12.37 years, KH = 11.54 years) and girls (height = 11.01 years, KH = 10.93 years). Peak velocity of these 2 dimensions was different in both sexes (boys: height = 7.11 cm/yr, KH = 2.25 cm/yr; girls: height = 5.14 cm/yr, KH = 1.45 cm/yr). Differences ( P <.001) by sex were also observed for the estimated size at peak velocity and final size of height and KH. Conclusions: When compared to height, KH was shown to have earlier adolescent growth spurt and a smaller difference between final size and the size at maximum (peak) velocity indicating an earlier age for achieving adult size. Overall, the studied boys and girls had short estimated final size, an earlier age at maximum increment, and a lower peak velocity in height than urban Guatemalan peers, the only regional reference available.

Growth in Tropical Cephalopods: An Analysis Based on Statolith Microstructure

1992 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
George D. Jackson ◽  
J. Howard Choat
Keyword(s):  
Life Span ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Tropical Species ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Adult Size ◽  
Short Life ◽  
Short Life Span ◽  
Daily Increments ◽  
Size At Age

Validated size-at-age data are presented for two tropical squid species (Loliolus noctiluca and Loligo chinensis) and a sepioid (Idiosepius pygmaeus). Estimates of age were obtained from daily increments in the statolith. All species reached adult size in less than 200 d. For each species, growth in mantle length was linear over the sizes sampled. In L. chinensis, growth was fastest during December–January (summer), with males showing faster growth rates than females. For I. pygmaeus, females generally had a higher growth rate than males. The slowest growth rates for both sexes occurred in the August–September (winter) period. The size-at-age data indicated rapid linear or exponential growth and a short life span of less than 1 yr. In contrast, growth curves generated from analysis of length frequency data (ELEFAN software package) suggested an asymptotic growth curve and ages in excess of 3 yr, and such analyses therefore appear inappropriate. The results of this study and a review of the literature revealed that rapid growth and short life span is the norm for pelagic cephalopods, with tropical species growing considerably faster than their temperate counterparts.

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