scholarly journals Tags below three percent of body mass increase nest abandonment by rhinoceros auklets, but handling impacts decline as breeding progresses

2020 ◽  
Vol 643 ◽  
pp. 173-181
Author(s):  
A Sun ◽  
S Whelan ◽  
SA Hatch ◽  
KH Elliott

Biologging has revealed many of the mysteries surrounding seabird behavior far from land. However, tagging seabirds with biologgers may influence the very traits they are designed to observe. Such ‘tag effects’ are often argued to be minimal below a threshold of 3% of body mass. Nonetheless, few studies carefully separate handling from tagging effects, so the effect of tag size is often confounded with the effect of handling. Puffins, including rhinoceros auklets Cerorhinca monocerata, are notoriously difficult to work with due to high nest abandonment rates. To examine tagging and handling effects in rhinoceros auklets, we compared abandonment rates of individuals equipped with a GPS weighing ~2.3% of body mass with abandonment rates of birds handled but not equipped, and of birds not handled at all (controls). We used the egg flotation technique to estimate egg development and predict hatching date, thus allowing treatments to be applied at the appropriate time. Handling more than doubled abandonment rates compared to control birds, and tagging more than doubled abandonment rates compared to birds that were handled but not tagged. Abandonment rates decreased as incubation progressed and were lowest during chick-rearing. We conclude that both handling and tagging of auklets increase abandonment, and that effects are lowest during chick-rearing.

The Auk ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 452-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohiro Deguchi ◽  
Akinori Takahashi ◽  
Yutaka Watanuki

Abstract In alcids, growth rate and hatching date of chicks appear to affect fledging age and mass. Underlying mechanisms are hypothesized to be (1) critical wing length at fledging for postfledging survival, (2) synchronization of fledging to dilute predation risk, and (3) variable parental provisioning according to timing of breeding. To elucidate the effects of growth rate and hatching date on fledging age and mass, and to test those mechanistic hypotheses, we measured chick growth and fledging periods in Rhinoceros Auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) at Teuri Island from 1995 to 2000. The multiple-linear regression analysis showed that intrayear variations of fledging age and mass were explained by growth rate or hatching date in five out of six years. Faster-growing chicks fledged younger and heavier, and earlier-hatched chicks fledged older and heavier. Consequently, no apparent correlation between fledging age and mass was observed in five out of six years. Analysis of interyear variation showed a negative correlation between fledging age and mass, which indicates that growth rates rather than hatching dates had a major effect. Wing length at fledging was independent of growth in mass. More than 80% of chicks fledged when they attained a narrow range of wing length (130–150 mm), presumably because they remained in their nests until they attained the critical wing length. In five out of six years, the chicks did not synchronize timing of fledging relative to timing of hatching. Later-hatched chicks attained lighter peak masses and at younger ages, which may indicate that their parents decreased provisioning rates when the chicks were still young. We suggest that (1) critical wing length at fledging and (2) variable parental provisioning according to timing of breeding could be underlying mechanisms determining these relationships between fledging age and mass.


1998 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 274-275
Author(s):  
I. K. Bayteryak ◽  
A. K. Yarullin ◽  
I. I. Bayteryak ◽  
A. A. Akinfiev ◽  
N. B. Akhmetzyanova ◽  
...  

The investigations to reveal the regulations of the body mass increase in women were performed within 5 years on a special program at two sectors of the women's consultation clinic. Women were registered (2741 persons) for gestation periods of 8 9 weeks with weekly presence. The data were processed on computer following the biometry laws. The regulations of the body mass increase in women of ten weight categories within first and second half of pregnancy development and within 40 weeks as a whole are derived.


2007 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
GRZEGORZ KRASOWSKI ◽  
ZBIGNIEW RYBAK ◽  
WOJCIECH NIEMCZYK ◽  
ANDRZEJ TUKIENDORF ◽  
WOJCIECH KORNACKI

The Condor ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 441-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kobi Merom ◽  
Yoram Yom-Tov ◽  
Robin McClery

Abstract Philopatry to stopover site and changes in body condition of migrating Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus were studied in Bet Shean Valley, Israel, where warblers were netted throughout the year. Although the majority of birds were seen only once, the proportion of transients seen twice or more in different years is comparable to the figure for summer residents returning between years, indicating a high degree of philopatry among transients. Transients get heavier with longer duration of stay, up to about 15 days, after which body mass increase appears to level off at about 3 g. Change in body condition, taken to be body mass divided by wing length, also was noted, albeit of less significance. The mean date of arrival in the autumn of birds in their first year was about 20 days later than that of older birds. Reed Warblers use their time effectively to replenish their body mass and improve their condition before starting the dangerous crossing of the Sahara Desert.


2009 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorota Stępień-Poleszak ◽  
Arkadiusz Pietruszka ◽  
Maria Kawęcka

The study was aimed at defining leptin gene polymorphism and its potential association with values of particular features of fattening and slaughter value of gilts of Line 990. The study included a total of 208 gilts. The polymorphic locus in LEP gene was identified by the restriction enzyme HinfI in 3469 position, by using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) method. Two alleles of LEP gene were identified: T (0.94) and C (0.06), resulting in two genotypes: TC (0.12) and TT (0.88). We did not observe any gilts of CC genotype. The analysis of values of fattening and slaughter features, depending on LEP genotype did not reveal significant differences in body mass increase, daily gain from day 63 to 180, and daily gain from birth to day 180, feed conversion per 1 kg body mass and the loin-eye thickness. Significant differences between the LEP genotypes were present for such features as the backfat thickness at points P2 (p ⪬ 0.05) and P4 (p ⪬ 0.01) and average backfat thickness (p ⪬ 0.01) in favour of TT genotype. We noted higher average values of lean meat content in carcass in favour of TT homozygotes, compared to the heterozygotes (p ⪬ 0.05). The investigation contributes additonal information regarding LEP gene polymorphism in gilts of Line 990. Knowledge of LEP genotypes may be useful to improve the slaughter value in gilts primarily due to less fatness. Due to the lack of individuals representing CC genotype in our results, research should continue on a larger population.


2004 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-22
Author(s):  
P. Novák ◽  
L. Zeman ◽  
K. Košař ◽  
L. Novák

Author(s):  
Ludvík Novák ◽  
Ladislav Zeman ◽  
Pavel Novák ◽  
Petr Mareš

Modeling the body mass growth in fattened pigs by means of the exponential growth function enables to simulate the growth curve from three constants of the gender’s, or the hybrid’s combination, represented by their body mass phenotype: body mass at birth (G0) genetic limit of body mass (GLi) and the maximum body mass increase reached in the inflexion of the growth curve (dG max). However the expression of animalęs genome to its body mass phenotype depends on the amount and quality of the feed mixture consumed and mainly on the fact how much of the net energy gained remains left for production (NEp), after the mandatory needs of the body maintenance functions are saturated. Only this amount of net energy for production may be deposited into the proteins and fats of the body mass increase (dG/ dt). The net energy for production (NEp) is restricted; if a greater amount of net energy gained (NE) is spend, for compensation of the stressors impact (NE stx). The sum of particular stressor’s action is expressed by stressor’s index (STX) and indicates the proportional increase of net energy (NE) spend for the maintenance requirement of the animal (NEm). This contribution extends, the classic method of modeling the body mass growth, by the simultaneous modeling of the daily feed mixture intake (DFI) with the content of metabolizable energy (SMEF). The daily feed intake is calculated with respect to the impact of stressors on the net energy consumption. The setting of the model automatically increases the amount of the daily feed intake, so that the adequate amount of net energy for production will not be disturbed. The basic equation for the appropriate daily feed intake sounds as followDFI = (NEp + (STX + 1). BM) / (0,6 SMEF) [kg/d]. the BM=0,3.G¾ [MJ/d]Details for calculation, of the net energy for production (NEp) from the input values of the body mass phenotype (G0, GLi, dG max), the content of the metabolizable energy in the feed (SMEF) and of the stressors index value (STX), are described. The validation of the method developed has been approved using the experimental data gained in the fattening of 33 pigs, both sexes, of PIC hybrid combination. The animals were fattened with the standard feed mixture TESTA in a controlled condition of stable’s climate and appropriate stockbreeder’s and veterinary care.


1991 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.H. Van Wyk

AbstractCordylus giganteus is a large, terrestrial, viviparous lizard, endemic to the Highveld grasslands of South Africa. Autopsy and mark-recapture methods were used to study the female reproductive cycle. Although reproduction was distinctly seasonal, most mature females reproduced biennially, with 53 % of the females not reproducing in a given year. Vitellogenesis commenced in late summer (February), and continued through winter hibernation to culminate in ovulation during spring (October). The onset of vitellogenesis correlated inversely with both ambient temperature and photoperiod. Reproducing females were pregnant for most of the summer and gave birth in late summer (January-February). At the onset of vitellogenesis, fat body mass was generally small in all females but smallest in late-gravid and nonreproductive females. Only in vitellogenic females did the fat body mass increase significantly prior to hibernation. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that biennial reproduction is determined by the magnitude of energy reserves at the onset of vitellogenesis and that the potential for annual reproduction remains in any year.


2005 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Moreno ◽  
Santiago Merino ◽  
Juan J. Sanz ◽  
Elena Arriero ◽  
Judith Morales ◽  
...  

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