Adaptive aspects of intraclutch egg-size variation in the High Arctic barnacle goose ( Branta leucopsis)

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Hübner, Christiaane E, Tombre, Ingunn M, Erikstad, Kjell E
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 2002
• Subjects: Arctic; Svalbard; Norway; Barnacle goose; Branta leucopsis
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z02-100; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z02-100

The pattern of intraclutch egg-size variation in barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) clutches and its adaptive implications was studied in Svalbard, Norway, from 1989 to 1998. Egg size was measured in relation to laying sequence, egg predation and hatching order were recorded to determine hatching success of eggs in different laying sequences, and the time when incubation started was examined. Egg size showed a rather consistent pattern, with a large second-laid egg and declining egg size for the remainder of the clutch. The first-laid egg was usually smaller than the second one, except in clutches with two and three eggs. Predation was highest for the first-laid egg, and last-laid eggs hatched last in most cases, although only one last-laid egg was abandoned. Four of six females started incubation before clutch completion. Both the "nutrient-allocation hypothesis" as well as the "early incubation start hypothesis" may contribute to explaining the expressed pattern of intraclutch egg-size variation. The fitness gains due to allocating fewer nutrients to eggs in unfavourable positions in the laying sequence may explain the small size of the first egg, whereas the multiple benefits of an early incubation start may have led to the decline in egg size later in the laying sequence as a mechanism to counteract hatching asynchrony.