Effects of extra food on nestling growth and survival in red-backed voles (Clethrionomys gapperi)

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (8) ◽  
pp. 1219-1224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine Kasparian ◽  
John S Millar
Keyword(s):  
Food Supplementation ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Clethrionomys Gapperi ◽  
Sunflower Seeds ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Nestling Growth ◽  
Density Dependent Mortality ◽  
Extra Food ◽  
Nestling Survival ◽  
Nestling Mortality

Nestling mortality is typically high among small mammals, with food often considered an important limiting factor because of the increased energetic costs females incur during lactation. We provided female red-backed voles, Clethrionomys gapperi (Vigors, 1830), with sunflower seeds during lactation to test the hypothesis that food supply influences nestling growth and survival. Food supplementation did not increase nestling survival, but newly emerged young from fed mothers were significantly heavier than those from unfed mothers. High mortality/dispersal of postemergent young, particularly females, was associated with high densities of breeding females. We suggest that any survival advantage incurred from higher nestling growth rates may be mitigated by density-dependent mortality/ dispersal postemergence.

scholarly journals Activity Patterns and Effect of Ticks on Growth and Survival of Tropical Roseate Tern Nestlings

The Auk ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 709-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime A. Ramos ◽  
John Bowler ◽  
Laura Davis ◽  
Sarah Venis ◽  
John Quinn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Linear Growth ◽  
Tick Infestation ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Linear Growth Rate ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Nestling Growth ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Sterna Dougallii ◽  
Roseate Tern ◽  
Nestling Mortality

Abstract Patterns of abundance of the seabird tick Amblyomma loculosum and their effects on Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) nestling growth, fledging age, and survival are described on Aride Island, Seychelles, in 1997–1999. Female ticks attached to nestlings from 4 to 14 days (to engorge) whereas male ticks attached for 1–3 days. The linear growth rate of birds carrying female ticks (0.24 g/day) was significantly different from that of nonparasitized nestlings of the same age and similar (or even lower) hatching weight (4.07 g/day). Parasitized nestlings that fledged did so 5.2 days later than nonparasitized nestlings of similar age. Only 37.5% of the nestlings infested with female ticks fledged compared with 83.3% of the noninfested nestlings. During the successful 1998 breeding season, around 100 nestlings died from tick infestation (24.3% of the nestling deaths). Ticks appeared to accelerate nestling mortality during periods of food shortage. Despite an annual difference of two weeks in the timing of breeding of the Roseate Terns between 1997 and 1998, adult ticks parasitized nestlings in July, with an infestation peak occurring between 8–12 July in both years. However, in 1997, nestlings were parasitized at a younger age, suggesting that ticks (nymph stage) must attach to Roseate Tern adults as soon as they make a nest scrape (usually in May). Ironically, the frequent breeding failures of the Roseate Terns will result in lower infestation levels in subsequent years, which will benefit the birds.

Effect of Brood Size on Nestling Growth and Survival of Great Black-Backed Gull (Larus marinus) Chicks

Waterbirds ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (sp1) ◽  
pp. 246-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott G. Gilliland ◽  
C. Davison Ankney ◽  
Gregory J. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Brood Size ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Nestling Growth ◽  
Larus Marinus

The effect of egg size and habitat on starling nestling growth and survival

Oecologia ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 115 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 59-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik G. Smith ◽  
M�ns Bruun
Keyword(s):  
Egg Size ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Nestling Growth

The influence of sibling gender on the growth and survival of Great-tailed Grackle nestlings

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 1925-1930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin L. Teather
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Hatching Date ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Nestling Growth ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Predominantly Female ◽  
Sibling Gender

Growth and survival of Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) nestlings were monitored over 3 years to determine if greater food demands of sons influenced nestling success. I predicted that (i) the growth rates of nestlings would be lower in nests containing mostly males, and (ii) the chance of all nestlings in predominantly male broods fledging would be less than that in predominantly female broods. Sibling gender and the overall sex ratio of the brood had little effect on nestling growth. There was no evidence that starvation was more frequent if the oldest nestlings were males rather than females, although there was some evidence that broods of three containing two or three males were less likely to fledge all nestlings than those containing two or three females. Mass at fledging for both males and females was influenced most strongly by hatching sequence and to a lesser extent by egg mass and hatching date.

scholarly journals Nesting Success and Mortality of the Boat-Tailed Grackle

The Auk ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Thomas Bancroft
Keyword(s):  
Success Rate ◽  
Nest Survival ◽  
Nesting Success ◽  
Common Source ◽  
Nesting Biology ◽  
Individual Survival ◽  
Nestling Survival ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Quiscalus Major ◽  
Nestling Mortality

Abstract Of 605 Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) nests with complete clutches, 60.5% fledged young. Survival of nests to the hatching stage averaged 78.7%, and survival from hatching to fledging averaged 76.9%. Nesting success between localities varied from none to almost all nests fledging some young. Fledging success for 3-egg clutches averaged 64.8% and was significantly higher than the 50.8% success rate that 2-egg clutches averaged. Individual survival of eggs from laying through hatching was lower in 2-egg clutches than in 3-egg clutches, but from hatching to fledging nestling survival was higher. Thus, in contrast to nest survival, equal proportions of eggs in 2- and 3-egg clutches produced fledglings. Predation was the greatest source of mortality, with predators taking 14.8% of the 1,605 eggs and 13.1% of the 1,145 nestlings. Of eggs that survived to the hatching stage, 9.2% failed to hatch. Starvation (13.4%) was the most common source of nestling mortality. Nest abandonment accounted for the death of 5.7% of the eggs and 2.9% of the young. The sources of mortality varied spatially and temporally in an unpredictable way. This uncertainty has resulted in the flexible nesting biology of grackles.

scholarly journals Costs of Parasitism Incurred by Two Songbird Species and Their Quality as Cowbird Hosts

The Condor ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 364-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk E. Burhans ◽  
Frank R. Thompson ◽  
John Faaborg
Keyword(s):  
Hatching Success ◽  
Molothrus Ater ◽  
Mass Gain ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Reduced Body ◽  
Passerina Cyanea ◽  
Nest Desertion ◽  
Nestling Survival ◽  
Cowbird Parasitism ◽  
Field Sparrow

Abstract We measured the costs of Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) parasitism incurred by Field Sparrows (Spizella pusilla) and Indigo Buntings (Passerina cyanea). We predicted that the frequent occurrence of nest desertion as a response to cowbird parasitism in Field Sparrows would be reflected by a higher cost of parasitism for that species. We also compared growth and survival of cowbird nestlings between hosts, predicting that they would do poorly at Field Sparrow nests because the latter appear to be avoided by cowbirds. Both species experienced reduced body mass gain in parasitized broods, but only Indigo Bunting suffered reduced tarsus growth. Both species experienced reductions in clutch size, hatching success, and nestling survival due to parasitism, but these losses did not differ among the two hosts. Multiple parasitism did not affect hatching success or nestling survival more than single parasitism for Indigo Buntings. Once accepted, cowbird offspring fared equally well in nests of both species, but almost half of all cowbird eggs laid in Field Sparrow nests were lost through nest abandonment. As parasitism costs to both species appear to be substantial, the rarity of nest desertion in Indigo Buntings may be due to other factors. Infrequent parasitism of Field Sparrows is consistent with host avoidance by cowbirds but other explanations should be explored.

scholarly journals Temperatures in Excess of Critical Thresholds Threaten Nestling Growth and Survival in A Rapidly-Warming Arid Savanna: A Study of Common Fiscals

PLoS ONE ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. e74613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan J. Cunningham ◽  
Rowan O. Martin ◽  
Carryn L. Hojem ◽  
Philip A. R. Hockey
Keyword(s):  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Nestling Growth ◽  
Critical Thresholds

scholarly journals EFFECT OF OSMOTIC PRESSURE ON GERMINATION OF SUNFLOWER SEEDS (Helianthus annuus L.) / EFECTO DE LA PRESION OSMOTICA SOBRE LA GERMINACION DE SEMILLAS DEL GIRASOL (Helianthus annuus L.) / INFLUENCE DE LA PRESSION OSMOTIQUE SUR LA GERMINATION DE LA SEMENCE DE TOURNESOL (Helianthus annuus L.)

Helia ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 24 (35) ◽  
pp. 129-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed El Midaoui ◽  
Ahmed Talouizte ◽  
Mohamed Benbella ◽  
Hervé Serieys ◽  
Yves Griveau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Helianthus Annuus ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Water Shortage ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Sunflower Seeds ◽  
Helianthus Annuus L ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Semi Arid

SUMMARYIn arid and semi arid areas, water is the most limiting factor of crop production. Germination is susceptible to water shortage. Experimentation was undertaken to study the effect of water stress on germination of seeds of three sunflower genotypes (Oro 9, Mirasol and Albena). Six PEG 6000 osmotic constraints were tested (0, -0.4, -0.6, -1, -1.2 and -1.6 MPa). Results showed no significant difference between germination percent of the control and -0.4 MPa treatment and between -0.8, -1 and -1.2 MPa treatments. Germination percent was most reduced at -1.6 MPa (-65%). Mean germination duration was also affected and the highest value was obtained for -1.6 MPa (4.95 days, related to an increase of 185%). Differences between genotypes were significant in the treatment at -1 MPa.

scholarly journals Sex-specific effects of yolk testosterone on survival, begging and growth of zebra finches

2005 ◽  
Vol 273 (1582) ◽  
pp. 65-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaus von Engelhardt ◽  
Claudio Carere ◽  
Cor Dijkstra ◽  
Ton G. G. Groothuis
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Zebra Finches ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Yolk Androgens ◽  
Specific Effects ◽  
Offspring Sex ◽  
Nestling Mortality ◽  
Yolk Testosterone ◽  
Maternal Testosterone

Yolk androgens affect offspring hatching, begging, growth and survival in many bird species. If these effects are sex-specific, yolk androgen deposition may constitute a mechanism for differential investment in male and female offspring. We tested this hypothesis in zebra finches. In this species, females increase yolk-testosterone levels and produce male-biased sex ratios when paired to more attractive males. We therefore predicted that especially sons benefit from elevated yolk androgens. Eggs were injected with testosterone or sesame oil (controls) after 2 days of incubation. Testosterone had no clear effect on sex-specific embryonic mortality and changed the pattern of early nestling mortality independent of offspring sex. Testosterone-treated eggs took longer to hatch than control eggs. Control males begged significantly longer than females during the first days after hatching and grew significantly faster. These sex differences were reduced in offspring from testosterone-treated eggs due to prolonged begging durations of daughters, enhanced growth of daughters and reduced growth of sons. The results show that variation in maternal testosterone can play an important role in avian sex allocation due to its sex-specific effects on offspring begging and growth.

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