Laying a big egg on a little ledge: does it help a female Common Guillemot if Dad's there?
Female Common Guillemots Uria aalge face the challenge of laying a large egg on a cliff ledge, often surrounded by tetchy neighbours. We documented the laying of 754 eggs, during 82% of which the male was present. The presence of the male had no effect on either the short-term survival of the egg or...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | unknown |
| Published: |
2006
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/355/ http://www.britishbirds.co.uk/may2006.htm |
| Summary: | Female Common Guillemots Uria aalge face the challenge of laying a large egg on a cliff ledge, often surrounded by tetchy neighbours. We documented the laying of 754 eggs, during 82% of which the male was present. The presence of the male had no effect on either the short-term survival of the egg or the chances of a chick successfully leaving the colony. Male attendance at laying may be largely fortuitous, resulting from the long periods that he is present for other purposes. |
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