Nest-site materials affect nest-bowl use by Common Eiders ( Somateria mollissima )
Nest-site characteristics influence reproductive success in birds. Most studies of nest-site selection evaluate nest characteristics following the commencement of egg-laying, possibly overlooking the importance of pre-existing nest-site features that may be altered during the nesting process. Becaus...
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z09-131 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/Z09-131 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/Z09-131 |
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z09-131 2024-04-28T08:38:10+00:00 Nest-site materials affect nest-bowl use by Common Eiders ( Somateria mollissima ) Fast, Peter L.F. Gilchrist, H. Grant Clark, Robert G. 2010 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z09-131 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/Z09-131 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/Z09-131 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 88, issue 2, page 214-218 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 2010 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z09-131 2024-04-02T06:55:51Z Nest-site characteristics influence reproductive success in birds. Most studies of nest-site selection evaluate nest characteristics following the commencement of egg-laying, possibly overlooking the importance of pre-existing nest-site features that may be altered during the nesting process. Because Common Eiders ( Somateria mollissima (L.,1758)) often lay their eggs in nest bowls created in previous years, we were able to experimentally place moss or feather down in nest bowls prior to nesting. We then quantified whether these materials increased nest establishment or advanced laying dates relative to control nests and nests where material was removed prior to arrival of nesting females. We found no difference in the likelihood of successful nest establishment between groups. However, the onset of incubation occurred 2–3 days earlier in nest bowls that contained feather down versus nest bowls with little or no nesting material. Nest bowls containing feathers or vegetation may be selected first if they increase nest survival, perhaps by enhancing egg concealment during the critical early-laying period. The presence of material for egg concealment may be particularly important in nesting environments where tall or dense vegetation is not available to provide nest cover. Article in Journal/Newspaper Somateria mollissima Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Journal of Zoology 88 2 214 218 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Canadian Science Publishing |
op_collection_id |
crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
topic |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
spellingShingle |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Fast, Peter L.F. Gilchrist, H. Grant Clark, Robert G. Nest-site materials affect nest-bowl use by Common Eiders ( Somateria mollissima ) |
topic_facet |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
Nest-site characteristics influence reproductive success in birds. Most studies of nest-site selection evaluate nest characteristics following the commencement of egg-laying, possibly overlooking the importance of pre-existing nest-site features that may be altered during the nesting process. Because Common Eiders ( Somateria mollissima (L.,1758)) often lay their eggs in nest bowls created in previous years, we were able to experimentally place moss or feather down in nest bowls prior to nesting. We then quantified whether these materials increased nest establishment or advanced laying dates relative to control nests and nests where material was removed prior to arrival of nesting females. We found no difference in the likelihood of successful nest establishment between groups. However, the onset of incubation occurred 2–3 days earlier in nest bowls that contained feather down versus nest bowls with little or no nesting material. Nest bowls containing feathers or vegetation may be selected first if they increase nest survival, perhaps by enhancing egg concealment during the critical early-laying period. The presence of material for egg concealment may be particularly important in nesting environments where tall or dense vegetation is not available to provide nest cover. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Fast, Peter L.F. Gilchrist, H. Grant Clark, Robert G. |
author_facet |
Fast, Peter L.F. Gilchrist, H. Grant Clark, Robert G. |
author_sort |
Fast, Peter L.F. |
title |
Nest-site materials affect nest-bowl use by Common Eiders ( Somateria mollissima ) |
title_short |
Nest-site materials affect nest-bowl use by Common Eiders ( Somateria mollissima ) |
title_full |
Nest-site materials affect nest-bowl use by Common Eiders ( Somateria mollissima ) |
title_fullStr |
Nest-site materials affect nest-bowl use by Common Eiders ( Somateria mollissima ) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Nest-site materials affect nest-bowl use by Common Eiders ( Somateria mollissima ) |
title_sort |
nest-site materials affect nest-bowl use by common eiders ( somateria mollissima ) |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
2010 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z09-131 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/Z09-131 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/Z09-131 |
genre |
Somateria mollissima |
genre_facet |
Somateria mollissima |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 88, issue 2, page 214-218 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z09-131 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
88 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
214 |
op_container_end_page |
218 |
_version_ |
1797569343281692672 |