Nest-site selection, energetics of reproduction and comparative behaviour of mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and blue-winged teal (A.discors) / Mark L. Gloutney
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TextPublication details: Saskatoon, SK : University of Saskatchewan, 1996.Description: xvii, 225 leaves : ill. ; 29 cmOnline resources: Abstract: An organism's reproductive success may be affected by choice of breeding habitats and subsequent investment in offspring. Nest microclimate may profoundly influence energetic costs of incubation or embryonic survival, but few studies have evaluated whether birds select nest-sites based on microclimate. Likewise, increased investment of nutrients in eggs may have costs in terms of future survival and reproduction. These ideas have received only limited testing, particularly behavioural and physiological responses to clutch size variation of precocial birds.Therefore, I evaluated whether: 1) ducks select nest-sites for thermal features; and, 2) incubation behaviours, incubation periods, or energetic costs of incubation are related to clutch size. Blue-winged teal (A. discors; hereafter teal) nested most often in grass or short shrub habitats, while mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) nested in all habitats. Within nesting habitats, microclimate followed a gradient from hot and sunny in grass-
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Thesis(Ph.D.)--University of Saskatchewan, 1996.
Includes bibliographical references.
An organism's reproductive success may be affected by choice of breeding habitats and subsequent investment in offspring. Nest microclimate may profoundly influence energetic costs of incubation or embryonic survival, but few studies have evaluated whether birds select nest-sites based on microclimate. Likewise, increased investment of nutrients in eggs may have costs in terms of future survival and reproduction. These ideas have received only limited testing, particularly behavioural and physiological responses to clutch size variation of precocial birds.Therefore, I evaluated whether: 1) ducks select nest-sites for thermal features; and, 2) incubation behaviours, incubation periods, or energetic costs of incubation are related to clutch size. Blue-winged teal (A. discors; hereafter teal) nested most often in grass or short shrub habitats, while mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) nested in all habitats. Within nesting habitats, microclimate followed a gradient from hot and sunny in grass-