Seasonal timing of reproduction in a tropical bird, the Seychelles warbler: a field experiment using translocation. 1996

J Komdeur
Zoological Laboratory, University of Groningen, Netherlands.

Reproduction of the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis), a single-island endemic species living close to the equator, is characterized by a pronounced annual rhythm. The bird usually raises only one or two clutches of one egg each per year. Observational data suggest that seasonal changes in feeding conditions are an important proximate factor controlling reproduction. This hypothesis could be tested by transferring breeding pairs from Cousin Island to islands previously unoccupied at the same latitude. These islands, Aride and Cousine, have a higher food supply but similar vegetation and climate. After translocation to Aride Island, with high food availability year-round, individual breeding pairs prolonged their reproductive season (some bred year-round), increased the annual number of broods, and improved the reproductive success per nest-building attempt. Annual production of yearlings per pair on Aride was on average 23 times higher than that of the same pair on Cousin before the transfer. After translocation to Cousine Island, where food availability varied seasonally and was intermediate between Cousin and Aride, individual pairs increased the annual number of broods, but reproductive success per nest-building attempt remained the same. Annual production of yearlings per pair on Cousine was on average 5 times higher than that of the same pair on Cousin before the transfer. Thus the experiments, controlled for group size, breeding partner, breeder age, and experience, showed that food supply can be an important proximate factor in the timing of reproduction in the tropics. The differences in reproductive timing and success by warblers on the three islands are due not to genetic differences but entirely to differences in environmental conditions.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010058 Oviposition The process of laying or shedding fully developed eggs (OVA) from the female body. The term is usually used for certain INSECTS or FISHES with an organ called ovipositor where eggs are stored or deposited before expulsion from the body. Larviposition,Larvipositions,Ovipositions
D011157 Population Dynamics The pattern of any process, or the interrelationship of phenomena, which affects growth or change within a population. Malthusianism,Neomalthusianism,Demographic Aging,Demographic Transition,Optimum Population,Population Decrease,Population Pressure,Population Replacement,Population Theory,Residential Mobility,Rural-Urban Migration,Stable Population,Stationary Population,Aging, Demographic,Decrease, Population,Decreases, Population,Demographic Transitions,Dynamics, Population,Migration, Rural-Urban,Migrations, Rural-Urban,Mobilities, Residential,Mobility, Residential,Optimum Populations,Population Decreases,Population Pressures,Population Replacements,Population Theories,Population, Optimum,Population, Stable,Population, Stationary,Populations, Optimum,Populations, Stable,Populations, Stationary,Pressure, Population,Pressures, Population,Replacement, Population,Replacements, Population,Residential Mobilities,Rural Urban Migration,Rural-Urban Migrations,Stable Populations,Stationary Populations,Theories, Population,Theory, Population,Transition, Demographic,Transitions, Demographic
D012098 Reproduction The total process by which organisms produce offspring. (Stedman, 25th ed) Human Reproductive Index,Human Reproductive Indexes,Reproductive Period,Human Reproductive Indices,Index, Human Reproductive,Indexes, Human Reproductive,Indices, Human Reproductive,Period, Reproductive,Periods, Reproductive,Reproductive Index, Human,Reproductive Indices, Human,Reproductive Periods
D005260 Female Females
D005523 Food Supply The production and movement of food items from point of origin to use or consumption. Food Supply Chain,Chain, Food Supply,Food Supplies,Food Supply Chains,Supplies, Food,Supply Chain, Food,Supply Chains, Food,Supply, Food
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000824 Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena Nutritional physiology of animals. Animal Nutrition Physiology,Animal Nutritional Physiology Phenomena,Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomenon,Animal Nutritional Physiology,Animal Nutritional Physiology Phenomenon,Veterinary Nutritional Physiology,Nutrition Physiologies, Animal,Nutrition Physiology, Animal,Nutritional Physiology, Animal,Nutritional Physiology, Veterinary,Physiology, Animal Nutrition,Physiology, Animal Nutritional,Physiology, Veterinary Nutritional
D001717 Birds Warm-blooded VERTEBRATES possessing FEATHERS and belonging to the class Aves. Aves,Bird
D012621 Seasons Divisions of the year according to some regularly recurrent phenomena usually astronomical or climatic. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed) Seasonal Variation,Season,Seasonal Variations,Variation, Seasonal,Variations, Seasonal
D012726 Sexual Behavior, Animal Sexual activities of animals. Mating Behavior, Animal,Sex Behavior, Animal,Animal Mating Behavior,Animal Mating Behaviors,Animal Sex Behavior,Animal Sex Behaviors,Animal Sexual Behavior,Animal Sexual Behaviors,Mating Behaviors, Animal,Sex Behaviors, Animal,Sexual Behaviors, Animal

Related Publications

Copied contents to your clipboard!