Summary Maternal effects often explain a significant amount of variation in offspring phenotype, and can be important the evolution life histories. Incubation eggs is an maternal effect, optimal growth development avian embryos takes place within narrow range incubation temperatures, but effect microclimate on neonate phenotype remains relatively unexplored birds. In this study Wood Ducks ( Aix sponsa Linnaeus) we examined temperature length period quality. We monitored nest temperatures...

SUMMARY Early developmental experiences, such as incubation conditions, can have important consequences for post-hatching fitness in birds. Although the effects of temperature on phenotype avian hatchlings are poorly understood, recent research suggests that subtle changes conditions influence hatchling characteristics, including body size and condition. We designed an experiment to explore hatching success, survival 9 days post hatch, growth hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis wood...

An important topic of waterfowl ecology concerns the relationship between physiological condition ducks during nonbreeding season and fitness; i.e., survival future reproductive success. We investigated this subject using direct band recovery records mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) banded in autumn (1 Oct-15 Dec) 1981-83 Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV). A index, weight (g)/ wing length (mm), was calculated for each duck, we tested whether at time banding related to their probability hunting...

Summary 1. The developmental environment plays a key role in determining offspring phenotype, and the parents’ behaviour physiology often dictates conditions. Despite plethora of studies documenting importance incubation temperature on phenotype reptiles, very few have examined such relationships birds. 2. Because nearly all birds physically incubate their eggs, altering nest may be an important but previously overlooked way parents can influence offspring’s phenotype. Here, we tested...

Parental effects play a vital role in shaping offspring phenotype. In birds, incubation behaviour is critical parental effect because it influences the early developmental environment and can therefore have lifelong consequences for Recent studies that manipulated temperature found on hatchling body composition, condition growth, suggesting could also affect energetically costly physiological processes of young birds are important to survival (e.g. immune responses). We artificially...

Journal Article Dominance in Wintering Waterfowl (Anatini): Effects on Distribution of Sexes Get access Gary R. Hepp, Hepp Department Zoology, P.O. Box 5577, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 27650 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Jay D. Hair The Condor, Volume 86, Issue 3, 1 August 1984, Pages 251–257, https://doi.org/10.2307/1366992 Published: 01 1984 history Received: 25 April 1983 Accepted: 23 November

Avian parents that physically incubate their eggs must balance demands of self-maintenance with providing the proper thermal environment for egg development. Low incubation temperatures can lengthen period and produce changes in neonate phenotype may influence subsequent survival reproduction. We artificially incubated wood duck (Aix sponsa) at three temperature regimes (low, 35.0; mid, 35.9; high, 37.3°C) are within range naturally-incubated nests. tested effect on duckling body...

Recent research in birds suggests that investing incubation is one mechanism by which parents can enhance the phenotype of their offspring. Posthatch environmental conditions also shape an individual's phenotype, and it thus possible for pre- posthatch to have interactive effects on phenotype. In this study, we examined individual prehatch temperature food availability growth, consumption, thermoregulatory ability wood duck (Aix sponsa) ducklings. Eggs were incubated at three temperatures...

Data from a long—term study of Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) breeding in South Carolina were used to test whether reproductive performance was age specific and evaluate several hypotheses proposed for age—specific variation. We known—aged females 1 through 5 yr age. Yearling initiated nests 11—19 d later than older females; heavier independent age, nested earlier lighter females. One—way analyses covariance using female body mass nesting date as covariates indicated that clutch size, mean egg...

We collected 3 eggs from each of 35 female Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa). Fresh-egg mass averaged 44.2 g and consisted 53.1% albumen, 36.4% yolk, 9.6% shell. Albumen yolk contained 86.2% 44.9% water, respectively. Lipids comprised 65.1% the dry yolk. All egg components except albumen increased in direct proportion to fresh-egg mass. Variation among females explained 52-80% total variation composition eggs. Body hens during early incubation was correlated with estimates pre-egg-laying lipid...

We investigated the effects of body mass incubating female Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) on aspects their current and future reproduction, we examined factors that affect length incubation period. During three breeding seasons, averaged 578.0 g early 553.3 late in Body at start was not related to either hatching success or In one years, females were heavy end survived better next season than those light. Reduced survival light year coincided with a greater loss relative other which indicates can...

Recent research in birds has demonstrated that incubation temperature influences a suite of traits important for hatchling development and survival. We explored possible mechanism the effects on quality by determining whether embryonic energy expenditure wood ducks (Aix sponsa). Because avian embryos are ectothermic, we hypothesized eggs incubated at higher temperatures would have greater any given day incubation. However, because lower take longer to hatch than temperatures, former expend...

Incubation temperature influences a suite of traits in avian offspring. However, the mechanisms underlying expression these phenotypes are unknown. Given importance thyroid hormones orchestrating developmental processes, we hypothesized that they may act as an upstream mechanism mediating effects on hatchling phenotypic such growth and thermoregulation. We found plasma T 3 , but not 4 concentrations, differed among newly hatched wood ducks ( Aix sponsa ) from different embryonic incubation...

We tested whether hatch date and body mass at hatching affected recruitment of female Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) to a breeding population in South Carolina. During six seasons, day—old ducklings (n = 2945) were individually marked before leaving the nest. Females recaptured later while nesting, averaged 5.2% with no yearly differences. Most (82%) returning females nested as yearlings, but drought conditions one year postponed some until they 2 3 yr old. (60%) did not return nest on natal areas,...

Waterfowl often begin incubation during egg laying, thus creating developmental asynchrony within clutches. We investigated levels of intraclutch (IDA) early naturally incubated clutches Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) in South Carolina. IDA averaged 2.2 ± 1.0 SD days (n = 59) a 2-year study. A higher average level 1988 corresponded with larger clutch size that year. Date nesting did not affect IDA, but had increased IDA. In 1988, reduced hatching success was observed greater than 3 asynchrony,...

Incubation temperature is an important maternal effect in birds that can influence numerous offspring traits. For example, ducklings from eggs incubated at lower temperatures have growth rates, protein content, and are poorer body condition than higher temperatures. Based on these observations, we predicted incubation would indirectly performance through its direct effects size. Wood duck (Aix sponsa) were three ecologically relevant (35, 35.9, 37°C). After hatching, all housed under...

We examined sources of variation in incubation patterns among female Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa), and investigated the effect nest attentiveness on period. Data were collected from 44 females (n = 911 days) using temperature data loggers to monitor attendance throughout incubation. Mean (± SE) constancy was 86.9 ± 0.6% period averaged 30.9 0.2 days. Females took an average two bimodally-distributed recesses per day. Duration 98.6 3.4 min, but shorter morning than mid-day or late afternoon. Body...

We used nine years of nesting data from a population Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) using nest boxes to test predictions regarding proximate controls nest-site fidelity and the consequences returning same site. Overall, 41.9% females returned box in year t + 1, 37.5% nested different on wetland, 20.5% moved wetland nest. There were no yearly differences degree fidelity, wetlands between travelled median two an average distance 1.3 km. Females successfully greater extent 1 than that not successful....

Capture-recapture methods were used to estimate population size, survival rate, and recruitment a breeding of female wood ducks (Aix sponsa) in 1979-86. A total 181 females was captured nest boxes banded during the 8-year period. Population size averaged 44 individuals. Mean annual rate 0.55, 22 females. Data illustrate philopatric behavior season. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 51(2):401-404 Estimation waterfowl rates has been improved by developing using series models for analyzing band-recovery data...

Abstract I used captive young and adult American Black Ducks (Anas rubripes) during October-February 1984-1985 to test whether body weight age affected time of pair-bond formation. Eighty ducks were marked individually, 10 (6 males 4 females, half each class) assigned 8 experimental pens. in pens received an ad libitum diet commercial duck food, the other a restricted ration same food. During early winter both groups gained weight, but on less than birds diet; peak averaged 22% greater...

In many birds, egg viability declines the longer that eggs remain unincubated (i.e., incubation delay), possibly because of increased levels microbial infection. Reuse nests is common in cavity-nesting species and may also increase exposure to microbes. Starting before clutch complete help protect early-laid from this study, we tested effects nest cleaning, length delay, onset night on growth microbes Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) eggshells examined effect infection hatching success. We used boxes...