The effect of Trichinella pseudospiralis infection on the reproductive success of captive American kestrels (Falco sparverius)

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (10) ◽  
pp. 2123-2125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michèle D. Saumier ◽  
Manfred E. Rau ◽  
David M. Bird
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Falco Sparverius ◽  
Embryo Mortality ◽  
Trichinella Pseudospiralis ◽  
Delayed Onset ◽  
American Kestrels ◽  
Do So

Trichinella pseudospiralis infections reduced the reproductive success of captive American kestrels (Falco sparverius). Infected birds manifested a delayed onset of egg laying (day 31) when compared with uninfected controls (day 23). All control females continued to produce eggs after the first three were removed, but only 66.7% of the infected females managed to do so. Consequently, infected birds produced a mean total of only 4.9 eggs, as compared with 7.1 eggs for the controls. Breakage (29.0%) and embryo mortality (40.0%) were the major sources of egg loss among infected birds. The corresponding losses among control birds were 1.6 and 4.7%, respectively. Consequently, control birds produced an average of 2.1 hatchlings per pair, whereas infected birds produced only 0.6.

The influence of Trichinella pseudospiralis infection on the behaviour of captive, nonbreeding American kestrels (Falco sparverius)

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (7) ◽  
pp. 1685-1692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michèle D. Saumier ◽  
Manfred E. Rau ◽  
David M. Bird
Keyword(s):  
Falco Sparverius ◽  
Competitive Fitness ◽  
American Kestrel ◽  
Behavioural Changes ◽  
Trichinella Pseudospiralis ◽  
Behavioural Effects ◽  
American Kestrels ◽  
Muscle Larvae ◽  
Adult Phase ◽  
Muscle Groups

Trichinella pseudospiralis infections induced mild behavioural changes in the American kestrel host (Falco sparverius) within the first 5 days postinoculation, a period that corresponds to the adult phase of the infection. However, more severe effects on mobility were precipitated as the larvae migrated and became established in the musculature. The debilitation persisted for at least 5 weeks postinoculation and involved a reduction in exercising, flying, elevated perching, and preening, and was accompanied by an increase in the frequency of walking and floor perching. Such behavioural effects, attributable to the presence of muscle larvae, may reduce the competitive fitness of infected individuals. The muscle larvae were randomly distributed among various muscle groups.

Experimental infection of American kestrels, Falco sparverius, with Trichinella pseudospiralis Garkavi, 1972, and T. spiralis

1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (12) ◽  
pp. 3150-3152 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Meerovitch ◽  
K. Chadee ◽  
D. M. Bird
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Infection ◽  
Adult Stage ◽  
In Vitro Release ◽  
Falco Sparverius ◽  
Trichinella Pseudospiralis ◽  
American Kestrels ◽  
Muscle Larvae ◽  
Vitro Release

Trichinella pseudospiralis Garkavi, 1972, but not T. spiralis was shown to be infective to American kestrels, Falco sparverius. A maximum of only 5.1% of the larvae administered were able to develop to the adult stage in the intestine. In vitro release of newborn larvae by female worms, recovered on days 10 and 15 postinoculation, was low. Adult worms were eliminated from the intestine by day 25 postinoculation. Few muscle larvae were first observed on day 20 postinoculation; their number increased with time but was never as high as in similarly experimentally infected mice.

Reproductive performance of American Kestrels laying replacement clutches

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (11) ◽  
pp. 2590-2593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reed Bowman ◽  
David M. Bird
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Falco Sparverius ◽  
Nestling Growth ◽  
Fledging Success ◽  
American Kestrels ◽  
First Clutch ◽  
Second Clutch

Egg dimensions, nestling growth, and reproductive success were compared between first and second clutch nests of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) to determine the influence of renesting on fledging success. Eggs were removed from 11 nests during 1982–1983. Eight nests served as controls. Most pairs (81.8%) renested on their original territory. We found no significant differences in egg dimensions, fertility, or hatchability between the two groups. Second clutch males (n = 6 clutches) were smaller at hatching than males from first clutches (n = 8 clutches). By day 24 these males (n = 5 clutches) were heavier, with significantly longer manus and antebrachia than first clutch males (n = 3 clutches). However, five of eight first clutch nests fledged all males before day 24. Males remaining in first clutch nests beyond day 24 were lighter with significantly smaller antebrachia by day 18 than males fledging before day 24. This may have biased our comparisons between first and second clutch males. No significant differences in growth were found between female groups. First-clutch progeny fledged significantly younger than second-clutch birds. Males fledged earlier than females in first clutches, but the sexes fledged simultaneously in second clutches.

Total plasma protein level as an indicator of condition in wild American kestrels (Falco sparverius)

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 680-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell D. Dawson ◽  
Gary R. Bortolotti
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Protein ◽  
Protein Level ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Falco Sparverius ◽  
Total Plasma ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
American Kestrels ◽  
Total Plasma Protein ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Plasma Protein Level

Total plasma protein levels were determined for 292 female and 228 male American kestrels (Falco sparverius) in the wild. Plasma protein levels were significantly higher in females than in males, and higher during prelaying than during incubation. For both sexes, plasma protein levels did not vary significantly with the number of days before or after egg laying on which the sample was taken, time of sampling, prey abundance, age, molt, or infection by the blood parasite Haemoproteus sp. Protein levels in females increased with date of sampling and body condition during prelaying, while the same pattern was seen in males during incubation. With the exception of those of prelaying females, plasma protein levels increased with ambient temperature. The results of this study suggest that at least some of the variation observed in total protein levels is attributable to physical condition. However, further investigation is required before the reliability of using total plasma protein level as a tool to assess the health and condition of kestrels is known.

Mate Choice in Captive American Kestrels, Falco sparverius, Parasitized by a Nematode, Trichinella pseudospiralis

Ethology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derin Henderson ◽  
David M. Bird ◽  
Manfred E. Rau ◽  
Juan J. Negro
Keyword(s):  
Mate Choice ◽  
Falco Sparverius ◽  
Trichinella Pseudospiralis ◽  
American Kestrels

The Flame Retardant β-1,2-Dibromo-4-(1,2-dibromoethyl)cyclohexane: Fate, Fertility, and Reproductive Success in American Kestrels (Falco sparverius)

2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (15) ◽  
pp. 8440-8447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah C. Marteinson ◽  
Robert J. Letcher ◽  
Laura Graham ◽  
Sarah Kimmins ◽  
Gregg Tomy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Flame Retardant ◽  
Falco Sparverius ◽  
American Kestrels

Annual profiles of blood packed cell volumes of captive American kestrels

1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (11) ◽  
pp. 2550-2555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy B. Rehder ◽  
David M. Bird
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Falco Sparverius ◽  
Photoperiodic Control ◽  
American Kestrels ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Cell Volumes

Mean hematocrits of 20 pairs of captive American kestrels (Falco sparverius) sampled from November 1980 to September 1981 fell significantly (p < 0.0001) from winter maxima of 47.9% for females and 50.9% for males to summer minima of 29.1% for females and 30.1% for males. It is suggested that ambient temperature, reproduction, and molt influence the photoperiodic control of avian hematocrit. Mean hematocrits declined 1–2 months before the onset of molt or egg laying (whichever came first for females) and increased at the termination of molt for nonlaying females only. During nonreproductive and nonmolting states, hematocrits varied indirectly and logarithmically with air temperature (r2♂+♀ = 0.74) and directly and linearly with body weight (r2♂ = 0.91, r2♀ = 0.95). Total mean packed cell volumes of males and females were not significantly different.

Reproductive changes in American kestrels (Falco sparverius) in relation to exposure to technical hexabromocyclododecane flame retardant

2011 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 2570-2575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim J. Fernie ◽  
Sarah C. Marteinson ◽  
David M. Bird ◽  
Ian J. Ritchie ◽  
Robert J. Letcher
Keyword(s):  
Flame Retardant ◽  
Falco Sparverius ◽  
American Kestrels

Breeding biology of the Critically Endangered Tahiti MonarchPomarea nigra, a bird with a low productivity

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 606-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
CAROLINE BLANVILLAIN ◽  
THOMAS GHESTEMME ◽  
TEHANI WITHERS ◽  
MARK O’BRIEN
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Breeding Biology ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Tropical Island ◽  
Island Endemics ◽  
Nest Activity ◽  
Considerable Length ◽  
One Year

SummaryWe studied the breeding biology of Tahiti MonarchPomarea nigra, a ‘Critically Endangered’ forest bird endemic to Tahiti (French Polynesia). Nest activity was monitored from 1998 to 2002, and again from 2008 to 2015. During these 12 years, only 2–13 breeding pairs per year produced hatchlings. Egg-laying occurred all year, but usually increased between August and January, peaking around November. Of the 200 nests monitored, 33 (16%) were abandoned shortly after construction, 71 had an egg laid immediately after the nest were completed (34 %) and 96 nests (46 %) had a pre-incubation phase of 18.9 ± 1.9 days (3–62 days;n= 47 nests), during which the birds visited the nest on an irregular basis. Half (49 of 96) of these nests were abandoned before an egg was laid, with incubation subsequently commencing at the remaining nests (n= 47). Although both sexes incubated for an average of 13.6 ± 0.3 days (range 13–15), the female usually spent more time incubating than the male. Only one young per nest was ever observed. The average nestling phase was 15.5 ± 0.7 days (range 13 to 20 days). Parents continue to feed the young after fledging for 74 ± 4.7 days (range 42–174). As with many tropical island endemics, the Tahiti Monarch has low reproductive productivity as indicated by the fact that: 1) only 56% of pairs attempt to lay an egg in any one year, 2) most pairs attempt only one brood per year and 3) the considerable length of the nesting and fledging phases. Because of its low productivity, maximising the reproductive success of the Tahiti Monarch is essential to secure its recovery.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document