Breeding season and clutch size of Indian passerines

Ibis ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
PRAMOD PADMANABHAN ◽  
YORAM YOM-TOV
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Breeding Season

scholarly journals How Many Baskets? Clutch Sizes That Maximize Annual Fecundity of Multiple-Brooded Birds

The Auk ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 118 (4) ◽  
pp. 973-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
George L. Farnsworth ◽  
Theodore R. Simons ◽  
J. Brawn
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Nest Predation ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Nest Survival ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Season Length ◽  
Deterministic Models ◽  
Cavity Nesting ◽  
Theoretical Issues

Abstract We developed deterministic models on the basis of nest survival rates and renesting behavior capable of predicting annual fecundity in birds. The models calculate probabilities of fledging from one to four nests within a discrete breeding season. We used those models to address theoretical issues related to clutch size. In general, birds require at least one day to lay an egg, and many species delay incubation until their entire clutch is laid. Because it takes longer to complete a larger clutch, and fewer such clutches can fit into a limited breeding season, there exists a clutch size for which annual fecundity is maximized. We asked, for a given amount of reproductive effort (i.e. a set number of eggs), does the age-old maxim “don't put all your eggs in one basket” apply? If so, in how many “baskets” should a nesting bird place its eggs? The answer depends on both likelihood of nest predation and length of the breeding season. Those results are consistent with the observed increase in clutch size with latitude (shorter breeding season length) and larger clutch sizes characteristic of cavity-nesting species (with higher nest survival rates). The models also predict that the size of replacement clutches should decrease as the breeding season progresses, and that intraseasonal decline in clutch size should be more pronounced when the breeding season is short.

scholarly journals Measuring Annual Reproductive Success in Birds

The Condor ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 470-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertram G. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Nest Success ◽  
Simulated Data ◽  
Evolutionary Success

Abstract From simulated data on three populations, I calculate different measures of “reproductive success”: clutch size, egg success (the proportion of eggs that produce young), nest success (the proportion of clutches that produce young), and the annual reproductive success per female in terms of both number of broods and number of young reared successfully during a breeding season. These measures of success are not correlated. Differences in egg success or nest success do not necessarily translate into differences in annual reproductive success, and differences in annual reproductive success do not necessarily translate into evolutionary success.

Female reproductive characteristics of the Balkan wall lizard (Podarcis taurica) in the northwestern periphery of its range

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarina Ljubisavljević ◽  
Georg Džukić ◽  
Miloš Kalezić
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Egg Size ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Species Range ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Female Body Size ◽  
Female Reproductive Traits ◽  
Gravid Females

AbstractWe present data on the female reproductive traits of the Balkan wall lizard in the Deliblato Sand, a large continental sandland in the Pannonian area in the northwestern periphery of the species range. The clutch and egg characteristics of the population were investigated on the basis of clutches laid in laboratory conditions by gravid females captured in one locality. Balkan wall lizards produced at least two clutches in a breeding season. Individual females laid clutches of commonly two (range 1–4) eggs. The female body size had no effect on clutch and egg size. There was no trade-off between egg size and clutch size.

scholarly journals Breeding biology of Bengal eyed turtle Morenia petersi (Anderson 1879) in Bangladesh

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-181
Author(s):  
Md Lokman Hossain ◽  
Shorab Uddin Sarker ◽  
Noor Jahan Sarker
Keyword(s):  
Incubation Period ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Gravid Female ◽  
Gonad Development ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
Fallow Lands ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Second Clutch

This study was conducted to determine the breeding season, gonad development, egg laying period, clutch size and other biological aspects of Bengal Eyed Turtle, Morenia petersi of Bangladesh. The egg-laying period was found between November and February. The nesting sites were elevated fallow lands in secluded areas. The female turtle laid all the mature eggs at a time for each clutch at night. A gravid female turtle laid two clutches of eggs in each breeding season and the mean clutch size was 9.7 ± 1.5 eggs and mean weight of each egg was 8.9 ± 1.3 g. The eggs are elongated in shape and whitish in colour. The mean incubation period was 119 ± 30 days. The incubation period of first clutch was the longer than the second clutch. The hatchlings emerged out between April and May. Hatchery success was found 56.8%. The percentage of weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) by weight of hatchlings in the first year was greater than second and third year. Present investigation was made to explore the possibility to raise turtle farming in captive condition.Bangladesh J. Zool. 42(2): 169-181, 2014

scholarly journals On the fundamentals of natural history and present threats to Red-wattled Lapwing in Kurukshetra environs

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-67
Author(s):  
Rohtash Chand Gupta ◽  
Tirshem Kumar Kaushik
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Stray Dogs ◽  
Milvus Migrans ◽  
House Crow ◽  
Human Dwelling

Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus is a very common bird seen on the periphery of Kurukshetra-Thanesar, twin towns, in agriculture fields. Last 28 years of keen observations reveal the fast coming up threats to its populations. The current populations are a quarter only of the level that existed in 1980s. Most visible threat has been caused by HUDA (Haryana Urban Development Authority). It has virtually converted the peripheral agriculture fields in Kurukshetra into so called HUDA-Sectors -new Human dwelling places with ultra modern civic amenities with vast open space with no protection or peace for lapwing populations- diminishing its populations to the present deplorable position. It has been observed to segregate into very strong male-female pairs during breeding season which embarks upon with respect to the first or second week of April, culminating in nest building and laying of eggs in the 4 th week of April through May and 4 th week of June. Juveniles were seen first in May last week. A total of 25 nests of the bird were surveyed in the breeding season during April to July 2010. The clutch size ranged from 3-4. Out of 25 nests surveyed, 13 nests were having 4 eggs each and 11 nests 3 eggs as in 2010. Also, only one nest was found with two eggs. Further, in all 87 eggs were laid in 25 nests, out of which 53 eggs hatched successfully. The eggs were mosaic colored with pied patterns- a measure of “Camouflaging” to evade attack of predators including Common Pariah Kite Milvus migrans, House Crow Corvus splendens, Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis and Stray dogs. Eggs on ground always confronted a threat from pedestrians.

The Laying Cycle of Brown-Headed Cowbirds: Passerine Chickens?

The Auk ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 583-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Scott ◽  
C. Davison Ankney
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Molothrus Ater ◽  
Short Interval ◽  
Gallus Gallus ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Southern Ontario

Abstract We collected 270 female Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) in southern Ontario in 1976 to determine ovarian and oviducal growth during the breeding season and 188 female cowbirds in 1977 to estimate clutch size and the interval between clutches. Ovaries and oviducts grew rapidly in April, reached breeding size in early May, and remained at this size, without regression between clutches, until the end of the breeding season in early July. Ovaries and oviducts then regressed rapidly and by the end of July weighed about the same as those in early April. The clutch size averaged about 4.0-4.6 eggs, similar to clutch sizes of nonparasitic icterids. It varied greatly from 1 egg, in about 10% of the birds, to about 7 eggs. Two days without laying usually separated consecutive clutches, but some birds appeared to miss laying for only 1 day. Although atresia of large yolky follicles was common in birds between clutches, it did not always precede the end of a clutch. The long reproductive period without regression and the short interval between clutches are atypical of passerine reproduction. Rather, the laying cycle of cowbirds is similar to that of domestic chickens (Gallus gallus). The laying cycle of cowbirds seems adapted to a continuous supply of host nests; atresia may be related to a shortage of nests.

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