Regulation of incubation shifts near hatching by giant petrels: a timed mechanism, embryonic signalling or food availability?

• Published in: Animal Behaviour
• Main Author: González-Solís, Jacob
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Elsevier 2004
• Subjects: Biology and Microbiology; Ecology and Environment; Giganteus; Giant Petrel; Giant Petrels
• Online Access: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/12169/; http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003347203004536

In most seabird species incubation shifts shorten when hatching approaches, a behavioural response allowing the chick to be fed soon after hatching. Three mechanisms have been proposed to explain these shortened absences: endogenous timing, a response to embryo signals or a seasonal increase in food...