Patterns of Variation in Clutch Sizes in a Guild of Temperate-Nesting Dabbling Ducks
Abstract We investigated patterns and causes of variation in clutch sizes in a guild of five species of temperate-nesting dabbling ducks (Mallard [Anas platyrhynchos], Northern Pintail [“pintail,” A. acuta], Gadwall [A. strepera], Blue-winged Teal [“teal,” A. discors], and Northern Shoveler [“shovel...
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/auk/121.3.695 http://academic.oup.com/auk/article-pdf/121/3/695/29688801/auk0695.pdf |
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croxfordunivpr:10.1093/auk/121.3.695 2024-04-07T07:54:52+00:00 Patterns of Variation in Clutch Sizes in a Guild of Temperate-Nesting Dabbling Ducks Krapu, Gary L. Reynolds, Ronald E. Sargeant, Glen A. Renner, Randy W. Haukos, D. A. 2004 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/auk/121.3.695 http://academic.oup.com/auk/article-pdf/121/3/695/29688801/auk0695.pdf en eng Oxford University Press (OUP) The Auk volume 121, issue 3, page 695-706 ISSN 1938-4254 0004-8038 Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 2004 croxfordunivpr https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/121.3.695 2024-03-08T03:09:01Z Abstract We investigated patterns and causes of variation in clutch sizes in a guild of five species of temperate-nesting dabbling ducks (Mallard [Anas platyrhynchos], Northern Pintail [“pintail,” A. acuta], Gadwall [A. strepera], Blue-winged Teal [“teal,” A. discors], and Northern Shoveler [“shoveler,” A. clypeata]) during 1993-1995 in the Prairie Pothole Region of midcontinental North America. Clutch sizes (mean ± SE) were largest for teal (10.80 ± 0.03), followed in descending order by those of shoveler (10.31 ± 0.05), Gadwall (9.92 ± 0.04), Mallard (8.91 ± 0.04), and pintail (7.66 ± 0.06). In Mallard, pintail, and shoveler, predicted clutch sizes at onset of nesting exhibited minimal variation. Clutch sizes of Gadwall and teal displayed statistically significant variation among years at onset of nesting; pintail clutch sizes showed significant variation late in the nesting season. Clutch sizes declined seasonally in all species. Declines in clutch sizes of teal and shoveler were approximately linear; whereas clutch sizes of Mallard, pintail, and Gadwall usually declined at progressively decreasing rates. Linear declines in teal and shoveler clutches suggest that those species experienced greater difficulty securing lipids for egg production late in the nesting season than did Mallard, pintail, and Gadwall. That disparity may result because egg-laying female teal and shoveler feed almost exclusively on animal foods, which are primarily protein; whereas female Mallard, pintail, and Gadwall consume more carbohydrate-rich plant foods. Our findings, when examined in context with existing information, suggest that interspecific variation in clutch sizes results from innate differences in several traits—including body size, diet, timing of lipid acquisition, and nesting—all of which can affect the amount of lipid available for egg production. Temperate-nesting dabbling ducks have evolved traits that facilitate laying of large clutches early in the nesting season, because risk of mortality is lower among ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Northern Shoveler Shoveler Oxford University Press The Auk 121 3 695 706 |
institution |
Open Polar |
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Oxford University Press |
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croxfordunivpr |
language |
English |
topic |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
spellingShingle |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Krapu, Gary L. Reynolds, Ronald E. Sargeant, Glen A. Renner, Randy W. Patterns of Variation in Clutch Sizes in a Guild of Temperate-Nesting Dabbling Ducks |
topic_facet |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
Abstract We investigated patterns and causes of variation in clutch sizes in a guild of five species of temperate-nesting dabbling ducks (Mallard [Anas platyrhynchos], Northern Pintail [“pintail,” A. acuta], Gadwall [A. strepera], Blue-winged Teal [“teal,” A. discors], and Northern Shoveler [“shoveler,” A. clypeata]) during 1993-1995 in the Prairie Pothole Region of midcontinental North America. Clutch sizes (mean ± SE) were largest for teal (10.80 ± 0.03), followed in descending order by those of shoveler (10.31 ± 0.05), Gadwall (9.92 ± 0.04), Mallard (8.91 ± 0.04), and pintail (7.66 ± 0.06). In Mallard, pintail, and shoveler, predicted clutch sizes at onset of nesting exhibited minimal variation. Clutch sizes of Gadwall and teal displayed statistically significant variation among years at onset of nesting; pintail clutch sizes showed significant variation late in the nesting season. Clutch sizes declined seasonally in all species. Declines in clutch sizes of teal and shoveler were approximately linear; whereas clutch sizes of Mallard, pintail, and Gadwall usually declined at progressively decreasing rates. Linear declines in teal and shoveler clutches suggest that those species experienced greater difficulty securing lipids for egg production late in the nesting season than did Mallard, pintail, and Gadwall. That disparity may result because egg-laying female teal and shoveler feed almost exclusively on animal foods, which are primarily protein; whereas female Mallard, pintail, and Gadwall consume more carbohydrate-rich plant foods. Our findings, when examined in context with existing information, suggest that interspecific variation in clutch sizes results from innate differences in several traits—including body size, diet, timing of lipid acquisition, and nesting—all of which can affect the amount of lipid available for egg production. Temperate-nesting dabbling ducks have evolved traits that facilitate laying of large clutches early in the nesting season, because risk of mortality is lower among ... |
author2 |
Haukos, D. A. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Krapu, Gary L. Reynolds, Ronald E. Sargeant, Glen A. Renner, Randy W. |
author_facet |
Krapu, Gary L. Reynolds, Ronald E. Sargeant, Glen A. Renner, Randy W. |
author_sort |
Krapu, Gary L. |
title |
Patterns of Variation in Clutch Sizes in a Guild of Temperate-Nesting Dabbling Ducks |
title_short |
Patterns of Variation in Clutch Sizes in a Guild of Temperate-Nesting Dabbling Ducks |
title_full |
Patterns of Variation in Clutch Sizes in a Guild of Temperate-Nesting Dabbling Ducks |
title_fullStr |
Patterns of Variation in Clutch Sizes in a Guild of Temperate-Nesting Dabbling Ducks |
title_full_unstemmed |
Patterns of Variation in Clutch Sizes in a Guild of Temperate-Nesting Dabbling Ducks |
title_sort |
patterns of variation in clutch sizes in a guild of temperate-nesting dabbling ducks |
publisher |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
publishDate |
2004 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/auk/121.3.695 http://academic.oup.com/auk/article-pdf/121/3/695/29688801/auk0695.pdf |
genre |
Northern Shoveler Shoveler |
genre_facet |
Northern Shoveler Shoveler |
op_source |
The Auk volume 121, issue 3, page 695-706 ISSN 1938-4254 0004-8038 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/121.3.695 |
container_title |
The Auk |
container_volume |
121 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
695 |
op_container_end_page |
706 |
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1795671672394612736 |