Nesting Effort of Northern Pintails in Alberta
Abstract We studied nesting effort and success of Northern Pintails (Anas acuta) in southern Alberta. Annual nesting success estimates ranged from 6–18%. Clutch size averaged 7.2, and declined in a simple curvilinear fashion with nest initiation date. We found no relationship between egg size and cl...
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2000
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/condor/102.3.619 http://academic.oup.com/condor/article-pdf/102/3/619/29709953/condor0619.pdf |
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croxfordunivpr:10.1093/condor/102.3.619 2024-05-12T07:52:53+00:00 Nesting Effort of Northern Pintails in Alberta Guyn, Karla L. Clark, Robert G. 2000 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/condor/102.3.619 http://academic.oup.com/condor/article-pdf/102/3/619/29709953/condor0619.pdf en eng Oxford University Press (OUP) The Condor volume 102, issue 3, page 619-628 ISSN 0010-5422 1938-5129 Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 2000 croxfordunivpr https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/102.3.619 2024-04-18T08:17:03Z Abstract We studied nesting effort and success of Northern Pintails (Anas acuta) in southern Alberta. Annual nesting success estimates ranged from 6–18%. Clutch size averaged 7.2, and declined in a simple curvilinear fashion with nest initiation date. We found no relationship between egg size and clutch size or evidence from one year to the next of a trade-off between current and future investment in eggs. Within-year renesting rate ranged from 55%, based on a sample of 20 decoy-trapped females that lost their first nests to predators, to 85% based on a sample of 13 nest-trapped females forced to renest when we removed their clutches. Greater investment in initial clutches led to longer delays in laying replacement clutches. Because delays in renesting are costly (late-nesting females produce fewer offspring), females must contend with a trade-off between maximizing reproductive output in initial clutches versus the risk of delayed renesting if the first clutch should fail. We suggest that pintail reproductive traits have evolved primarily in response to short nesting seasons and variable environments. Article in Journal/Newspaper Anas acuta Oxford University Press The Condor 102 3 619 628 |
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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 Guyn, Karla L. Clark, Robert G. Nesting Effort of Northern Pintails in Alberta |
topic_facet |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
Abstract We studied nesting effort and success of Northern Pintails (Anas acuta) in southern Alberta. Annual nesting success estimates ranged from 6–18%. Clutch size averaged 7.2, and declined in a simple curvilinear fashion with nest initiation date. We found no relationship between egg size and clutch size or evidence from one year to the next of a trade-off between current and future investment in eggs. Within-year renesting rate ranged from 55%, based on a sample of 20 decoy-trapped females that lost their first nests to predators, to 85% based on a sample of 13 nest-trapped females forced to renest when we removed their clutches. Greater investment in initial clutches led to longer delays in laying replacement clutches. Because delays in renesting are costly (late-nesting females produce fewer offspring), females must contend with a trade-off between maximizing reproductive output in initial clutches versus the risk of delayed renesting if the first clutch should fail. We suggest that pintail reproductive traits have evolved primarily in response to short nesting seasons and variable environments. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Guyn, Karla L. Clark, Robert G. |
author_facet |
Guyn, Karla L. Clark, Robert G. |
author_sort |
Guyn, Karla L. |
title |
Nesting Effort of Northern Pintails in Alberta |
title_short |
Nesting Effort of Northern Pintails in Alberta |
title_full |
Nesting Effort of Northern Pintails in Alberta |
title_fullStr |
Nesting Effort of Northern Pintails in Alberta |
title_full_unstemmed |
Nesting Effort of Northern Pintails in Alberta |
title_sort |
nesting effort of northern pintails in alberta |
publisher |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
publishDate |
2000 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/condor/102.3.619 http://academic.oup.com/condor/article-pdf/102/3/619/29709953/condor0619.pdf |
genre |
Anas acuta |
genre_facet |
Anas acuta |
op_source |
The Condor volume 102, issue 3, page 619-628 ISSN 0010-5422 1938-5129 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/102.3.619 |
container_title |
The Condor |
container_volume |
102 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
619 |
op_container_end_page |
628 |
_version_ |
1798838296286068736 |