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Grissot A, Altmeyer L, Devogel M, Zalewska E, Borrel C, Kidawa D, Jakubas D, Wojczulanis-Jakubas K. Coordination of parental performance is breeding phase-dependent in the Dovekie (Alle alle), a pelagic Arctic seabird. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0306796. [PMID: 39231138 PMCID: PMC11373810 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Currently, parental care is becoming increasingly perceived as male and female cooperation, instead of being primarily shaped by sexual conflict. Most studies examining cooperating performance consider coordination of parental activities, and doing so focuses on a short time-window including only one stage of breeding (i.e., incubation or chick rearing period). Here, we considered the cooperation of breeding partners, investigating the coordination of parental care in a long-lived seabird species with long and extensive biparental care, the Dovekie (or Little Auk), Alle alle, and looked at the issue throughout the breeding season. Previous studies on this species revealed coordinated chick provisioning, but parental coordination during incubation remains unstudied. Using video recordings collected over the course of two breeding seasons, we tested whether coordination was subject to small-scale changes within each stage and whether there was a relationship between coordination levels across the two stages. We found that the level of parental coordination is overall high and increases during the incubation period but decreases through the chick rearing phases. There were some inter-annual differences in the coordination level both at the incubation and chick rearing stages. We also found some dependency between the coordination during the incubation and chick rearing periods. All these results suggest that coordination is not a fixed behavior but breeding-phase dependent. The present study thus provides insights into how parental care and parents' cooperation is shaped by brood needs and conditions. It also highlights a relationship between coordination levels during chick rearing and incubation periods, suggesting some extent of temporal dependence in coordination of parental performance within the breeding season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Grissot
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Lauraleen Altmeyer
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
- Université de Rennes 1, Rennes CEDEX, France
- L'institut Agro (AgroCampus Ouest Rennes), Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Marion Devogel
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Emilia Zalewska
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Clara Borrel
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
- Université de Rennes 1, Rennes CEDEX, France
- L'institut Agro (AgroCampus Ouest Rennes), Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Dorota Kidawa
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Dariusz Jakubas
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
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2
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Şahin Arslan N, Martin TE. Comparative reproductive ecology of Old and New World Trogons, an order in decline across the world. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11273. [PMID: 38601853 PMCID: PMC11004766 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Many tropical species show declining populations. The pantropical order Trogoniformes has 76% of its species ranked as declining, reflecting a worldwide problem. Here, we report on the reproductive ecology and life history traits of the declining and near-threatened old world Whitehead's Trogon (Harpactes whiteheadi), the declining new world Collared Trogon (Trogon collaris), and the stable Masked Trogon (T. personatus). We also reviewed the literature on reproductive ecology and life history traits of trogons to assess possible commonalities that might help explain population declines. We found that the declining Whitehead's and Collared Trogons had reasonable nest success (32% and 25%, respectively), while the stable Masked Trogon had poor reproductive success (9%), all contrary to population trends. However, the limited literature data suggested that poor reproductive success may be common among trogons, which may contribute to population declines. Parents fed young at a low rate and had long on-bouts for incubation and nestling warming that reduced activity at the nest, as favored by high nest predation risk over evolutionary time. We found that young fledged from the nest with poorly developed wings, as also favored by high nest predation risk. Evolved nestling periods among trogon species suggests that poor wing development is likely common. Wing development has been shown to affect juvenile survival after leaving the nest. The poor wing development may be an important contributor to population declines that deserves more attention. Evolved life history traits are important to recognize as creating population vulnerabilities in a changing world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Necmiye Şahin Arslan
- Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research UnitUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMontanaUSA
- Alaca Avni Çelik Vocational SchoolHitit UniversityCorumTurkey
| | - Thomas E. Martin
- Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research UnitUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMontanaUSA
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3
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Zhang Z, Bi J, Zhao X, Cai Y, Yang C. Comparison of Reproductive Strategies between Two Sympatric Copsychus Passerines. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:554. [PMID: 38396520 PMCID: PMC10885907 DOI: 10.3390/ani14040554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Reproduction plays a crucial role in determining the development, fate, and dynamics of bird populations. However, reproductive strategies vary among species and populations. In this study, we investigated the reproductive strategies of the Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) and White-rumped Shama (C. malabarica), which are closely related passerines that reproduce in sympatric areas. We found that although these two species were both cavity nesting, their nest-site selection differed; the Shama preferred nesting close to trees and forests, whereas the Magpie Robin nested close to human residential areas. Furthermore, their egg incubation patterns differed; the Shama increased daily incubation frequency with incubation time, but the Magpie Robin maintained its daily incubation time regardless of changes in incubation frequency. However, the nestling heating patterns of these two species were similar, indicating a critical demand for regulating hatchling body temperature during this crucial stage. The feeding frequencies of male parents were strongly correlated with those of females in both species, suggesting equal contribution and good synchronization between the sexes. Nestling feeding frequency was also correlated with nest cleaning frequency, implying coordination between feeding and defecation by parents and offspring, respectively. This research explored the divergence and convergence of reproductive strategies between these two sympatric species, providing valuable insights into the niche differentiation theory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yan Cai
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
| | - Canchao Yang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
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4
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Wang D, Zhang W, Yang S, Richter XYL. Sex differences in avian parental care patterns vary across the breeding cycle. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6980. [PMID: 37914691 PMCID: PMC10620184 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42767-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Parental care in birds consists of elaborate forms across stages, including nest building, incubation, and offspring provision. Despite their evolutionary importance, knowledge gaps exist in the extent to which parents contribute disproportionately to these forms and factors that are associated with variations in care patterns between sexes. Here, we analyzed 1533 bird species and discovered remarkable variability in care patterns. We show that parental care should not be viewed as a unitary trait but rather as a set of integrated features that exhibit considerable temporal and sex-specific variation. Our analyses also reveal moderate consistency in care patterns between breeding stages, pointing towards shared intrinsic factors driving sex-specific care. Notably, we found that species experiencing strong sexual selection on males or species facing paternity uncertainty display a tendency towards female-biased care. This work advances our understanding of the temporal variations in sex-specific contributions to avian parental care and their potential evolutionary drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang, 100101, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China.
| | - Wenyuan Zhang
- Edward Grey Institute, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
- Department of Biology, Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada
| | - Shuai Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang, 100101, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang-Yi Li Richter
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.
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5
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Street SE, Jaques R, De Silva TN. Convergent evolution of elaborate nests as structural defences in birds. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221734. [PMID: 36541171 PMCID: PMC9768638 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The pendent nests of some weaverbird and icterid species are among the most complex structures built by any animal, but why they have evolved remains to be explained. The precarious attachments and extended entrance tunnels characteristic of these nests are widely speculated to act as structural defences against invasion by nest predators, particularly tree-climbing snakes, but this hypothesis has yet to be systematically tested. We use phylogenetic comparative methods to investigate the relationship between nest structure and developmental period length, a proxy for offspring mortality, in weaverbirds (Ploceidae) and icterids (Icteridae), two bird families in which highly elaborate pendent nests have independently evolved. We find that more elaborate nests, particularly those with entrance tunnels, are associated with longer developmental periods in both families. This finding is robust to potentially confounding effects of body mass, phylogenetic relationships, nest location and latitude. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that elaborate nest structures in birds can function as structural defences, resulting in lower offspring mortality and slower development. More generally, our findings suggest that constructing complex, protective structures may buffer against environmental hazards, reducing extrinsic mortality and contributing to the evolution of slower life histories in diverse animal lineages, even humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally E. Street
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, South Rd, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Robert Jaques
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford IP24 2LP, UK
| | - Thilina N. De Silva
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, 106A Guyot Ln, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
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6
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Maziarz M, Broughton RK, Chylarecki P, Hebda G. Weather impacts on interactions between nesting birds, nest-dwelling ectoparasites and ants. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17845. [PMID: 36284124 PMCID: PMC9596701 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21618-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Weather has a dominant impact on organisms, including their life histories and interspecific interactions. Yet, for nesting birds, and the arthropods inhabiting bird nests, the direct and cascading effects of weather are poorly known. We explored the influence of ambient temperatures and rainfall on the cohabitation of dome-shaped bird nests by Wood Warblers Phylloscopus sibilatrix, their blowfly Protocalliphora azurea ectoparasites, and predatory Myrmica and Lasius ants that may provide nest sanitation. We sampled blowflies and ants in 129 nests, and measured warbler nestlings during 2018-2020 in the primeval Białowieża Forest, eastern Poland. The probability of ectoparasites occurring in nests increased with increasing ambient temperatures and declining precipitation in the early nestling stage, when adult blowflies are ovipositing. Where present, the number of ectoparasites was greater if higher ambient temperatures had prevailed in the late nestling stage, but only when ants were absent from nests. However, the nestling growth was unrelated to ectoparasite abundance or ant presence within bird nests, although it was lower at high rainfall. The results suggest that weather can have conflicting impacts on interactions between nesting birds and nest-dwelling arthropods, but birds can mostly compensate for any related costs in old-growth forest, where food is generally abundant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Maziarz
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wilcza 64, 00-679, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Richard K Broughton
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Przemysław Chylarecki
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wilcza 64, 00-679, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Hebda
- Institute of Biology, University of Opole, Oleska 22, 45-052, Opole, Poland
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7
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Nest density, egg conspicuity, vegetation structure and seasonality affect artificial nest predation in the Brazilian Cerrado. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1017/s0266467422000268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Nest predators use visual, acoustic and chemical cues to locate nests. In the Neotropics, predation is high being the main cause of nest failure. Despite that, it is still not completely clear what kind of information predators are using to find nests or whether predators respond differently according to habitat characteristics. Here, we executed an experimental manipulation to investigate how different ecological factors influence nest predation probability. We hypothesised that egg conspicuousness, nest clustering and a more open vegetation structure would increase nest predation probability, and that nest predation would be higher during the breeding season of most avian species in the region. We used artificial nests baited with plasticine and quail eggs (Coturnix coturnix), manipulated egg coloration and nest density. Artificial nests were distributed over forest and savanna-like vegetations. Overall predation rate was 40.9%. We found that nests baited with conspicuous eggs, located in open habitats, at higher densities and during the dry period were more predated. Results suggest that main predators must be visually orientated, and that egg crypsis is an important trait for open-nest species in the area. Moreover, a higher nest density may affect predator behaviour, favouring an increase in nest searching, which may be facilitated in open habitats.
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8
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Medina I, M Perez D, Silva ACA, Cally J, León C, Maliet O, Quintero I. Nest architecture is linked with ecological success in songbirds. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:1365-1375. [PMID: 35343052 PMCID: PMC9311449 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Nests are essential constructions that determine fitness, yet their structure can vary substantially across bird species. While there is evidence supporting a link between nest architecture and the habitat a species occupies, we still ignore what ecological and evolutionary processes are linked to different nest types. Using information on 3175 species of songbirds, we show that-after controlling for latitude and body size-species that build domed nests (i.e. nests with a roof) have smaller ranges, are less likely to colonise urban environments and have potentially higher extinction rates compared to species with open and cavity nests. Domed nests could be a costly specialisation, and we show that these nests take more time to be built, which could restrict breeding opportunities. These diverse strands of evidence suggest that the transition from domed to open nests in passerines could represent an important evolutionary innovation behind the success of the largest bird radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iliana Medina
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Daniela M Perez
- Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, State of Paraná, Brazil
| | | | - Justin Cally
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Constanza León
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Odile Maliet
- Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSLResearch University, Paris, France
| | - Ignacio Quintero
- Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSLResearch University, Paris, France
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9
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Wojczulanis-Jakubas K. Being the Winner Is Being the Loser When Playing a Parental Tug-of-War – A New Framework on Stability of Biparental Care. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.763075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Because there are basic sexual differences in reproductive potential, and the cost of parental care is assumed to be high, biparental care is viewed as a constant tug-of-war between the partners. This raises the question of the system’s evolutionary stability. Several models have been proposed to resolve this problem but none has received unequivocal support. Here, I propose a framework that not only integrates the earlier theoretical ideas (sealed bids, negotiation) but also considers the importance of the environment (frequently neglected in previous models) and views the cost of parental care from a different perspective (costly in terms of parent’s survival only when performed close to the boundary of parental capacity). The framework suggests that sexual conflict may not be such a significant factor mediating parental care as commonly assumed, and that a parent trying to shift the parental burden onto the partner – assumed to be the winner in the tug-of-war interplay – is actually more likely to be a loser, as doing so may put the success of the current breeding attempt in jeopardy, thereby reducing overall fitness of the parent. Once it is realized that the importance of sexual conflict is actually much less than it seems, it becomes clear that the stability of the biparental care system no longer seems to be such a puzzling issue.
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10
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Dias RI, Goedert D. Task division in a facultative cooperative breeder bird: do males take out the trash? BEHAVIOUR 2021. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-bja10081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Cooperative animals share different activities during reproduction, but individuals of a social group may invest in these tasks in different proportions. Nest sanitation is an important task that may impact reproductive performance of birds, and yet, little is known about the relative participation of individuals of a social group, particularly in non-passerine species. Here, we describe nest sanitation behaviour and materials removed, and test the occurrence of task division regarding faecal sac removal in Campo flickers (Picidae), a facultative cooperative breeder with complex social system. We found that helpers removed proportionally more faecal sacs than breeders, and male helpers are mainly responsible for this activity. These results are different than the commonly reported patterns for passerines, where females are the main contributors. Different ecological conditions and benefits achieved by group members may influence their investment in nest sanitation, but additional studies on social species could greatly contribute to our understanding of how general our results are in non-passerine species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Igor Dias
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia, Universidade de Brasília, DF, Brazil
- Present address: Faculdade de Ciências da Educação e Saúde, Centro Universitário de Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Debora Goedert
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia, Universidade de Brasília, DF, Brazil
- Present address: Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
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11
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Perez DM, Gardner JL, Medina I. Climate as an Evolutionary Driver of Nest Morphology in Birds: A Review. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.566018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian nests are critical for successful reproduction in birds. Nest microclimate can affect egg development, chick growth and fledgling success, suggesting that nest building behavior should be under strong selective pressure to nesting conditions. Given that the internal microclimate of the nest is critical for avian fitness, it is expected that nest morphology is shaped by the local environment. Here we review the relationship between nest morphology and climate across species’ distributions. We collate growing evidence that supports a link between environmental conditions and particular nest traits, within species and across species. We discuss the degree to which phenotypic plasticity in nesting behavior can contribute to observed variation in nest traits, the role of phylogenetic history in determining nest morphology, and which nest traits are likely to be influenced by climatic conditions. Finally, we identify gaps in our understanding of the evolution of nest morphology and suggest topics for future research. Overall, we argue that nests are part of the extended phenotype of a bird, they play a crucial role in their reproductive success, and may be an important factor in determining which species will be able to persist in the face of ongoing climate change.
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12
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Freeman BG, Scholer MN, Boehm MMA, Heavyside J, Schluter D. Adaptation and Latitudinal Gradients in Species Interactions: Nest Predation in Birds. Am Nat 2020; 196:E160-E166. [PMID: 33211562 DOI: 10.1086/711415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAre biotic interactions stronger in the tropics? Here, we investigate nest predation in birds, a canonical example of a strong tropical biotic interaction. Counter to expectations, daily rates of nest predation vary minimally with latitude. However, life-history traits that influence nest predation have diverged between latitudes. For example, tropical species have evolved a longer average nesting period, which is associated with reduced rates of nest attendance by parents. Daily nest mortality declines with nesting period length within regions, but tropical species have a higher intercept. Consequently, for the same nesting period length, tropical species experience higher daily nest predation rates than temperate species. The implication of this analysis is that the evolved difference in nesting period length between latitudes produces a flatter latitudinal gradient in daily nest predation than would otherwise be predicted. We propose that adaptation may frequently dampen geographic patterns in interaction rates.
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13
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Lohr AK, Martin JA, Wann GT, Cohen BS, Collier BA, Chamberlain MJ. Behavioral strategies during incubation influence nest and female survival of Wild Turkeys. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:11752-11765. [PMID: 33144998 PMCID: PMC7593161 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Females must balance physiological and behavioral demands of producing offspring with associated expenditures, such as resource acquisition and predator avoidance. Nest success is an important parameter underlying avian population dynamics. Galliforms are particularly susceptible to low nest success due to exposure of ground nests to multiple predator guilds, lengthy incubation periods, and substantive reliance on crypsis for survival. Hence, it is plausible that nesting individuals prioritize productivity and survival differently, resulting in a gradient of reproductive strategies. Fine-scale movement patterns during incubation are not well documented in ground-nesting birds, and the influence of reproductive movements on survival is largely unknown. Using GPS data collected from female wild turkeys (n = 278) across the southeastern United States, we evaluated the influence of incubation recess behaviors on trade-offs between nest and female survival. We quantified daily recess behaviors including recess duration, recess frequency, total distance traveled, and incubation range size for each nest attempt as well as covariates for nest concealment, nest attempt, and nest age. Of 374 nests, 91 (24%) hatched and 39 (14%) females were depredated during incubation. Average nest survival during the incubation period was 0.19, whereas average female survival was 0.78. On average, females took 1.6 daily unique recesses (SD = 1.2), spent 2.1 hr off the nest each day (SD = 1.8), and traveled 357.6 m during recesses (SD = 396.6). Average nest concealment was 92.5 cm (SD = 47). We found that females who took longer recess bouts had higher individual survival, but had increased nest loss. Females who recessed more frequently had lower individual survival. Our findings suggest behavioral decisions made during incubation represent life-history trade-offs between predation risk and reproductive success on an unpredictable landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley K. Lohr
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural ResourcesUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGAUSA
| | - James A. Martin
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural ResourcesUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGAUSA
| | - Gregory T. Wann
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural ResourcesUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGAUSA
| | - Bradley S. Cohen
- College of Arts and SciencesTennessee Technological UniversityCookevilleTNUSA
| | - Bret A. Collier
- School of Renewable Natural ResourcesLouisiana State University Agricultural CenterBaton RougeLAUSA
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14
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Remeš V, Matysioková B, Vrána J. Adaptation and constraint shape the evolution of growth patterns in passerine birds across the globe. Front Zool 2020; 17:29. [PMID: 33005206 PMCID: PMC7526225 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-020-00377-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Growth trajectories should be adapted to selective factors of each species’ environment. However, major shaping forces of growth and development are unclear, especially when studying several traits at once. Birds provide an ideal opportunity to analyze growth patterns across species due to there being enough available data. We tested the relative importance of nest predation risk, the number of care-givers, nest height, foraging substrate, clutch size, and latitude on growth patterns of passerine birds (Passeriformes) using phylogenetic comparative methods. Specifically, we studied the evolution of fledging time, average and peak growth rates, and relative development at fledging of body mass and tarsus, wing, and tail length. Results Using a comprehensive literature search and data quality control, we obtained data on growth in 231 species based on 295 populations. Species with long development in the nest grew slowly and had well-developed traits at fledging. Species breeding under high nest predation risk, building their nests close to the ground, and those living in northern temperate regions fledged early and grew fast, sometimes fledging with less developed body mass and traits critical for locomotion (tarsus, wing, and tail). On the other hand, the number of caring adults, clutch size, and species’ foraging substrate had very limited predictive value for growth patterns across passerine species. Conclusions Shortening of the nestling period was a primary means of accelerating development (in relation to nest predation, nest height, and latitude), sometimes supplemented by higher peak growth rates of body mass, tarsus, and wing (especially in relation to latitude). Overall growth patterns of passerines were adaptively tuned to nest predation risk and nest height, with northern temperate species having especially short nestling periods and fast growth rates of body mass, tarsus, and wing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimír Remeš
- Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, 17. listopadu 50, 77146 Olomouc, Czech Republic.,Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 12800 Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Beata Matysioková
- Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, 17. listopadu 50, 77146 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Vrána
- Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, 17. listopadu 50, 77146 Olomouc, Czech Republic
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15
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Meyer N, Bollache L, Dechaume‐Moncharmont F, Moreau J, Afonso E, Angerbjörn A, Bêty J, Ehrich D, Gilg V, Giroux M, Hansen J, Lanctot RB, Lang J, Lecomte N, McKinnon L, Reneerkens J, Saalfeld ST, Sabard B, Schmidt NM, Sittler B, Smith P, Sokolov A, Sokolov V, Sokolova N, van Bemmelen R, Gilg O. Nest attentiveness drives nest predation in arctic sandpipers. OIKOS 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.07311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Meyer
- UMR 6249 Chrono‐environnement, Univ. de Bourgogne Franche‐Comté 16 route de Gray FR‐25000 Besançon France
- Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique Francheville France
| | - Loïc Bollache
- UMR 6249 Chrono‐environnement, Univ. de Bourgogne Franche‐Comté 16 route de Gray FR‐25000 Besançon France
- Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique Francheville France
| | | | - Jérôme Moreau
- Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique Francheville France
- Biogéosciences, Équipe Ecologie‐Evolution, Univ. de Bourgogne Franche‐Comté Dijon France
| | - Eve Afonso
- UMR 6249 Chrono‐environnement, Univ. de Bourgogne Franche‐Comté 16 route de Gray FR‐25000 Besançon France
| | | | - Joël Bêty
- Dépt de Biologie, Chimie et Géographie and Centre d'Etudes Nordiques, Univ. du Québec à Rimouski Rimouski QC Canada
| | | | - Vladimir Gilg
- Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique Francheville France
| | - Marie‐Andrée Giroux
- K.‐C.‐Irving Research Chair in Environmental Sciences and Sustainable Development, Dépt de Chimie et de Biochimie, Univ. de Moncton Moncton NB Canada
| | - Jannik Hansen
- Arctic Research Centre and Dept of Bioscience, Aarhus Univ. Roskilde Denmark
| | - Richard B. Lanctot
- Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Anchorage AK USA
| | - Johannes Lang
- Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique Francheville France
- Working Group for Wildlife Research at the Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Justus Liebig Univ. Giessen Giessen Germany
| | - Nicolas Lecomte
- Canada Research Chair in Polar and Boreal Ecology, Univ. de Moncton Moncton NB Canada
| | - Laura McKinnon
- Dept of Multidisciplinary Studies, York Univ. Glendon Campus Toronto ON Canada
| | - Jeroen Reneerkens
- Groningen Inst. for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), Univ. of Groningen Groningen the Netherlands
- NIOZ Royal Netherlands Inst. for Sea Research, Dept of Coastal Systems and Utrecht Univ., Den Burg Texel the Netherlands
| | - Sarah T. Saalfeld
- Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Anchorage AK USA
| | - Brigitte Sabard
- Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique Francheville France
| | - Niels M. Schmidt
- Arctic Research Centre and Dept of Bioscience, Aarhus Univ. Roskilde Denmark
| | - Benoît Sittler
- Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique Francheville France
- Chair for Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, Univ. of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Paul Smith
- Environment and Climate Change Canada Ottawa ON Canada
| | - Aleksandr Sokolov
- Arctic Research Station of Inst. of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences Labytnangi Russia
| | - Vasiliy Sokolov
- Inst. of Plant and Animal Ecology of Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Ekaterinburg Russia
| | - Natalia Sokolova
- Arctic Research Station of Inst. of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences Labytnangi Russia
| | - Rob van Bemmelen
- Wageningen Marine Research IJmuiden the Netherlands
- Bureau Waardenburg Culemborg the Netherlands
| | - Olivier Gilg
- UMR 6249 Chrono‐environnement, Univ. de Bourgogne Franche‐Comté 16 route de Gray FR‐25000 Besançon France
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16
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Upadhyay RK. Markers for Global Climate Change and Its Impact on Social, Biological and Ecological Systems: A Review. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.4236/ajcc.2020.93012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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17
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Du WG, Shine R, Ma L, Sun BJ. Adaptive responses of the embryos of birds and reptiles to spatial and temporal variations in nest temperatures. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20192078. [PMID: 31744441 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.2078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural nests of egg-laying birds and reptiles exhibit substantial thermal variation, at a range of spatial and temporal scales. Rates and trajectories of embryonic development are highly sensitive to temperature, favouring an ability of embryos to respond adaptively (i.e. match their developmental biology to local thermal regimes). Spatially, thermal variation can be significant within a single nest (top to bottom), among adjacent nests (as a function of shading, nest depth etc.), across populations that inhabit areas with different weather conditions, and across species that differ in climates occupied and/or nest characteristics. Thermal regimes also vary temporally, in ways that generate differences among nests within a single population (e.g. due to seasonal timing of laying), among populations and across species. Anthropogenic activities (e.g. habitat clearing, climate change) add to this spatial and temporal diversity in thermal regimes. We review published literature on embryonic adaptations to spatio-temporal heterogeneity in nest temperatures. Although relatively few taxa have been studied in detail, and proximate mechanisms remain unclear, our review identifies many cases in which natural selection appears to have fine-tuned embryogenesis to match local thermal regimes. Developmental rates have been reported to differ between uppermost versus lower eggs within a single nest, between eggs laid early versus late in the season, and between populations from cooler versus warmer climates. We identify gaps in our understanding of thermal adaptations of early (embryonic) phases of the life history, and suggest fruitful opportunities for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Guo Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China.,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, People's Republic of China
| | - Richard Shine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Liang Ma
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China
| | - Bao-Jun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China
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18
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The global distribution of avian eggshell colours suggest a thermoregulatory benefit of darker pigmentation. Nat Ecol Evol 2019; 4:148-155. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-019-1003-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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19
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Henshaw JM, Fromhage L, Jones AG. Sex roles and the evolution of parental care specialization. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20191312. [PMID: 31455191 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Males and females are defined by the relative size of their gametes (anisogamy), but secondary sexual dimorphism in fertilization, parental investment and mating competition is widespread and often remarkably stable over evolutionary timescales. Recent theory has clarified the causal connections between anisogamy and the most prevalent differences between the sexes, but deviations from these patterns remain poorly understood. Here, we study how sex differences in parental investment and mating competition coevolve with parental care specialization. Parental investment often consists of two or more distinct activities (e.g. provisioning and defence) and parents may care more efficiently by specializing in a subset of these activities. Our model predicts that efficient care specialization broadens the conditions under which biparental investment can evolve in lineages that historically had uniparental care. Major transitions in sex roles (e.g. from female-biased care with strong male mating competition to male-biased care with strong female competition) can arise following ecologically induced changes in the costs or benefits of different care types, or in the sex ratio at maturation. Our model provides a clear evolutionary mechanism for sex-role transitions, but also predicts that such transitions should be rare. It consequently contributes towards explaining widespread phylogenetic inertia in parenting and mating systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M Henshaw
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter MS 3051, Moscow, ID, USA.,Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, 40014 Finland
| | - Lutz Fromhage
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, 40014 Finland
| | - Adam G Jones
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter MS 3051, Moscow, ID, USA
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20
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Rohwer VG, Purcell JR. Geographic variation in incubation behavior of a widely distributed passerine bird. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219907. [PMID: 31412068 PMCID: PMC6693686 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Incubating birds must trade-off leaving the nest to forage with staying on the nest to maintain optimal temperatures for developing embryos. This trade-off is expressed through incubation behavior, which can be heavily influenced by climate, food availability, attentiveness of their mates, and nest predation risk. Comparative studies across species have shown that incubation behavior varies across latitude, but few studies have explored how incubation behavior varies across sites within species. We might expect incubation behavior to be flexible and respond to local environmental challenges; alternatively, behavior may be relatively fixed and vary little across a species’ range. We explored four incubation behaviors (male feeding rate, female off-bout duration, female off-bout frequency, and the proportion of time incubating females spent on the nest) in a widespread songbird, the yellow warbler (Setophaga petechia), breeding at a temperate and subarctic site. As temperatures warmed at both sites, males fed females less often, and as male feeding rates decreased, off-bout durations and frequencies increased causing the proportion of time on the nest to decrease. While incubation behaviors changed in similar ways between sites, off-bout durations shortened with increasing male feeding rates most strongly at the temperate site. Overall, these results show flexibility in incubation behaviors in response to different environmental cues, which likely minimize costs associated with provisioning incubating parents and maintaining warm nest temperatures, and suggests that male feeding may be especially important for breeding in cold regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanya G. Rohwer
- Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates, Ithaca, NY
- * E-mail:
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21
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Soler JJ, Morales J, Cuervo JJ, Moreno J. Conspicuousness of passerine females is associated with the nest-building behaviour of males. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Juan José Soler
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA-CSIC), Almería, Spain
| | - Judith Morales
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Juan Moreno
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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22
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Svobodová J, Šmídová L, Javůrková VG. Different incubation patterns affect selective antimicrobial properties of the egg interior: experimental evidence from eggs of precocial and altricial birds. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 222:jeb.201442. [PMID: 30814292 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.201442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Avian eggs contend with omnipresent microorganisms entering the egg interior, where they affect embryo viability and hatchling phenotype. The incubation behaviour and deposition of egg white antimicrobial proteins (AMPs) vary highly across the avian altricial-precocial spectrum. Experimental evidence of how these alterations in avian reproductive strategies affect the antimicrobial properties of the precocial and altricial egg interior is lacking, however. Here, we tested the egg white antimicrobial activity in eggs of two representative model species, from each end of the avian altricial-precocial spectrum, against potentially pathogenic and beneficial probiotic microorganisms. Eggs were experimentally treated to mimic un-incubated eggs in the nest, partial incubation during the egg-laying period, the onset of full incubation and the increased deposition of two main egg white AMPs, lysozyme and ovotransferrin. We moreover assessed to what extent egg antimicrobial components, egg white pH and AMP concentrations varied as a result of different incubation patterns. Fully incubated precocial and altricial eggs decreased their antimicrobial activity against a potentially pathogenic microorganism, whereas partial incubation significantly enhanced the persistence of a beneficial probiotic microorganism in precocial eggs. These effects were most probably conditioned by temperature-dependent alterations in egg white pH and AMP concentrations. While lysozyme concentration and pH decreased in fully incubated precocial but not altricial eggs, egg white ovotransferrin increased along with the intensity of incubation in both precocial and altricial eggs. This study is the first to experimentally demonstrate that different incubation patterns may have selective antimicrobial potential mediated by species-specific effects on antimicrobial components in the egg white.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Svobodová
- Czech University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Department of Ecology, Kamýcká 1176, 165 21 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Šmídová
- Charles University, Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology, Viničná 7, 128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Gvoždíková Javůrková
- Czech University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Department of Animal Science, Kamýcká 957, 165 21 Prague 6, Czech Republic
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