吉林省白城地区干草原栗斑腹鹀的繁殖生态

栗斑腹鹀在吉林省为留鸟,一年可繁殖两次,其雏鸟为典型的晚成鸟.4月末开始有求偶追逐和争雌行为,5月中旬产卵.雌雄鸟筑巢时间分别是43min/d和36min/d(筑巢第4天).平均窝卵数为5.09±0.58枚/巢(n=31),孵卵前、中、后期雌鸟孵卵占白天活动时间的35%、74.5%和67.6%, 孵化期为12d,孵化率为36.3%, 2、8日龄喂雏分别为4.5次/h和9.0次/h.雏鸟的体重及外部器官的发育除嘴峰外,生长曲线均符合Logistic方程,而嘴峰长的生长近似直线,栗斑腹FDA1雏鸟生长发育体重的生长模型为W=14.95/1+(e-0.552(t-3.63)),雏鸟11日龄后出飞,繁殖成活率为27.7%.     

陕西汉中野生朱鹮雏鸟的生长发育特征

2014年和2015年监测朱鹮保护区野生朱鹮(Nipponia nippon)15只雏鸟的生长发育,拟合其生长发育数据的生长曲线和相对生长公式,与1989年研究结果进行对比。结果显示,野生朱鹮雏鸟的生长发育不受孵化顺序的影响,雄性体长的生长速度快于雌性。目前朱鹮雏鸟体重、体长、翅长、嘴峰长、跗跖长和中趾长的生长均符合逻辑斯谛生长曲线,雏鸟体重生长率在13日龄左右达到最大。与1989年的研究结果比较发现,目前野生朱鹮幼鸟总体生长发育有所放缓。这可能与近年野生朱鹮种群的增长和扩散导致的环境压力加大以及繁殖期食物资源不足有关。     

吉林省白城地区干草原栗斑腹的繁殖生态

栗斑腹在吉林省为留鸟 ,一年可繁殖两次 ,其雏鸟为典型的晚成鸟。 4月末开始有求偶追逐和争雌行为 ,5月中旬产卵。雌雄鸟筑巢时间分别是 43 min/d和 3 6min/d(筑巢第 4天 )。平均窝卵数为 5 .0 9± 0 .5 8枚 /巢 (n=3 1 ) ,孵卵前、中、后期雌鸟孵卵占白天活动时间的 3 5 %、74.5 %和 67.6% ,孵化期为 1 2 d,孵化率为 3 6.3 % ,2、8日龄喂雏分别为 4.5次 /h和 9.0次 /h。雏鸟的体重及外部器官的发育除嘴峰外 ,生长曲线均符合 Logistic方程 ,而嘴峰长的生长近似直线 ,栗斑腹雏鸟生长发育体重的生长模型为 :W =1 4.95 /1 +(e- 0 .552 ( t- 3.6 3) ) ,雏鸟 1 1日龄后出飞 ,繁殖成活率为 2 7.7%。     

模拟增加潜在巢捕食风险对2种鸟类雏鸟生长发育产生不同影响

捕食风险是影响鸟类生活史对策的重要因素之一。为应对捕食风险,鸟类进化出多样的反捕食策略。为探究北热带石灰岩森林地区鸟类生长发育对高巢捕食风险的适应机制,本研究通过利用蛇类模型模拟巢捕食者,增加潜在巢捕食风险,设置实验组,将未放置蛇类模型的实验设置为对照组。测量育雏期内黄腹山鹪莺（Prinia flaviventris）雏鸟与红耳鹎（Pycnonotus jocosus）雏鸟每日的体重、跗跖长与翼长,分别比较分析黄腹山鹪莺雏鸟与红耳鹎雏鸟上述体型特征在实验组与对照组中的生长发育规律。对符合正态分布的各日龄雏鸟生长参数进行t检验,不符合正态分布的参数进行非参数检验（Wilcox秩和检验）并求均值,使用SPSS 26.0统计软件包对雏鸟各日龄参数均值进行Logistic曲线拟合,比较各雏鸟相同生长参数在实验组和对照组实验的“S”发育曲线。结果显示,黄腹山鹪莺雏鸟在实验组的体重、跗跖长与翼长的渐近线分别占成鸟量度的71.57%、94.10%与55.29%,对照组分别占成鸟量度的78.05%、97.49%与55.67%,在实验组和对照组育雏期分别为11.1 d与10.6 d。实验组和对照组黄腹山...     

艾比湖大白鹭的繁殖及雏鸟生长发育模式

2009年3—10月对新疆艾比湖大白鹭(Egretta alba alba)的巢、卵及雏鸟的生长发育模式进行了研究。结果表明,大白鹭的巢基厚度大于巢深(t=6.06,P0.01),巢外径远大于巢内径(t=21.53,P0.01),其目的是增加巢的稳定性和减少幼鸟跌出巢外的概率;窝卵数3～5枚(3.86±0.69),卵重44.00～60.00g(53.94±3.96),卵体积47.18～62.00cm3(55.19±4.09);双亲孵卵(26～28d),共同育雏(55～60d)。测量了4巢13雏26日龄以内的生长发育数据,并利用Gompertz方程对雏鸟的主要生长指标进行拟合,拟合结果将雏鸟生长发育划分为3个阶段:1)器官形成,生长速度准备加快的时期;2)物质积累,生长速度加快并逐渐过渡到中速时期;3)由物质积累逐渐过渡到物质消耗大于积累,生长速度较慢,雏鸟准备出飞。     

鸬鹚雏鸟的生长发育

对青海省青海湖国家级自然保护区内鸬鹚（Phalacrocorax carbo)雏鸟的生长发育进行了观察和研究。结果表明,在发育过程中,鸬鹚雏鸟跗足迹和嘴峰的发育早于翅和尾;通过体长与其它各生长指标的相对生长指数的计算。得出跗足迹和翅长的生长比体长快,嘴峰和尾长的生长比体长慢,另外,根据各生长指标特性的变化,将整个生长期划分为0-9日龄,10-23日龄,24-33日龄和34-离巢出飞4个生长阶段。     

人工育雏大紫胸鹦鹉生长发育的观察

对2000～2002年成都动物园人工孵化及人工育雏的8只大紫胸鹦鹉的生长发育情况进行了125天的观察分析.经回归分析表明,大紫胸鹦鹉雏鸟的平均出壳重为12.4±0.4 g,人工饲育下56日龄体重达到最高值,平均体重为259.55±2.45 g;鹦鹉体重(W)与日龄(D)的关系为W=259.55/(1 45.2227e-0.1297D).出壳时,嘴峰短于嘴裂,长度分别为7.75±0.25 mm和10.0±1.0 mm;35日龄时,嘴峰长度超过嘴裂,其长度分别为19.0±1.0 mm和18.75±0.75 mm;110日龄时,嘴峰和嘴裂的长度达生长期峰值,其长度分别为29.0±1.5 mm和25.0±1.5 mm;嘴峰长和嘴裂长与日龄的关系分别为L=29/(1 4.1023e-0.0636D)和L=25/(1 1.7967e-0.0473D).出壳时,跗跖长于中趾,长度分别为8.25±0.25 mm和7.25±0.25 mm;15日龄时,中趾长度超过跗跖,其长度分别为13.5±0.5 mm和13.0±0.5 mm;100日龄时,中趾与跗跖的长度达到峰值,其长度分别为24.5±0.5 mm和30±1.0 mm;跗跖和中趾长与日龄的关系分别为L=24.5/(1 1.4536e-0.0569D)和L=30/(1 2.941733e-0.0638122D).雏鸟孵化时,翅长10.5±0.5 mm;30日龄长出飞羽羽芽,平均翅长40.5±2.5 mm,35日龄羽鞘破樱,120日龄平均翅长201.0±6.0 mm;翅长与日龄的关系为L=201/(1 30.0624e-0.0780D).30日龄生出尾羽羽芽,125日龄时尾长为190.0±8.0 mm;尾长与日龄的关系为L=190/(1 177.1306e-0.07533D).     

灰冠鹤雏鸟的生长发育

1999~2000年对哈尔滨动物园8只灰冠鹤(Balerica regulorum)雏鸟的生长发育进行了观察,并对雏鹤恒温能力的发育进行测定。发现灰冠鹤体重、嘴峰、跗跖和翼4个生长指标的增长曲线均呈“S”型。利用Logistic、Gompertz和Von Bertalanffy生长曲线分别对其进行回归分析,发现3种曲线的回归效果均较好,其中Logistic曲线的回归效果最佳。显示出雏鹤外部体征发育呈现一定的顺序,符合重要功能优先发育的原则。灰冠鹤雏鸟的体温调节能力在5~10日龄发育最快,到40日龄体温基本恒定,达到成鸟体温。根据灰冠鹤的发育规律,可将其生长分为4个阶段:(1)0~5日龄,体重下降,体温调节能力很低;(2)6~30日龄,体重开始增长,嘴峰增长速度达到顶峰,体温调节能力明显增强;(3)31~80日龄,体重、跗跖和翼快速生长,体温基本恒定;(4)81~135日龄(离巢),体重及各外部体征的生长都很缓慢,体型已接近成体,不断完善身体各部的机能。     

不同性别杂色山雀血浆活性氧和超 氧化物歧化酶与繁殖成效的关系

氧化应激是指活性氧等氧化剂的产生大于抗氧化防御系统清除能力时的不平衡状态,是个体应对内外环境刺激的适应性生理机制,是衡量个体身体状况的综合性生理指标。为探究氧化应激对鸟类繁殖的预测作用,本研究测量了育雏前期(雏鸟6～8日龄)杂色山雀(Sittiparus varius)亲鸟血浆氧化应激分子活性氧和超氧化物歧化酶含量,通过巢箱监测获得了杂色山雀的繁殖参数,采用偏最小二乘回归法分析杂色山雀氧化应激对其雏鸟出飞率和繁殖成功率的预测作用。结果显示,雌性杂色山雀亲鸟血浆活性氧浓度与雏鸟出飞率(n=13,P 0.05)、繁殖成功率(n=13,P 0.01)均呈显著负相关关系,即血浆活性氧水平越低的雌性杂色山雀,其繁殖巢雏鸟出飞率和繁殖成功率越高;雌性杂色山雀亲鸟血浆超氧化物歧化酶浓度与雏鸟出飞率(n=13,P0.05)、繁殖成功率(n=13,P 0.05)无显著相关关系。本研究中这两项血浆氧化应激标记物与杂色山雀雄性亲鸟繁殖成效间均无显著的相关关系。该结果表明,杂色山雀雌性亲鸟活性氧水平对其繁殖成效具有显著的预测作用。     

白琵鹭雏鸟的生长和恒温能力的发育

1994年和 1995年 4～ 6月在扎龙自然保护区 (4 7°2 9′N ,12 4°0 2′E)测定了 13只白琵鹭 (Platalealeucorodia)雏鸟的体重、体长、翅长、跗长和体温 ,以及环境温度。雏鸟生长符合逻辑斯谛模型 ,而 4～ 8日龄相对生长率最大。随着雏鸟日龄增大 ,体温稳步增加而且不随环境温度局部波动改变 ;冷暴露 2 5min后体温下降的幅度减小。孵出至 2 8日 ,雏鸟的体重与在巢内和冷暴露后的体温正相关 ,其体重和体长也与恒温指数正相关 ,雏鸟身体生长和恒温能力发育有某种同步关系 ,体现了晚成鸟的发育特点。     

Influence of hatching order on growth rate and resting metabolism of kestrel nestlings

Hatching asynchrony in altricial birds may result in a competitive disadvantage for the youngest nestlings compared to older siblings. We studied the effects of a size hierarchy on the growth rate of Eurasian kestrels Falco tinnunculus chicks in nests with and without access to supplemented food in western Finland. Body mass stopped increasing on the 19th day after hatching while body size, estimated by a combination of bone and feather lengths continued to increase at least until fledging at 26 days. Body condition, reflecting muscle and fat, did not change markedly during the growth period from the 12th day to fledging. Body temperature and resting metabolism were usually lower in nestlings 12 days old than in nestlings at fledging. Growth of body mass, size and condition, and resting metabolism were delayed in last-hatched nestlings aged 19 days. Just before fledging, last-hatched nestlings attained a similar body mass and size, and had a similar resting metabolism to those of older siblings. At fledging, only in nests without access to supplemented food was the body condition of last-hatched chicks lower than that of its siblings, but in nests with access to supplemented food no such difference was detected. Our results highlight that the level of lipids in the last-hatched nestling can be affected by the food restriction imposed by hatching order.     

Effect of Brood Age on Nestling Diet and Prey Composition in a Hedgerow Specialist Bird,the Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria

The composition and quality of food provided to nestling birds influence their growth and development and offers key insight into the ecological requirements of birds. One bird species whose feeding ecology is poorly understood is the Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria), which utilizes semi-natural shrubby vegetation in agroecosystems. Because Barred Warbler nestlings vary greatly in body mass we hypothesised that diet and prey properties (size, diversity, taxonomic composition, and chitin content and resulting body hardness and digestibility) would differ as the nestlings aged. We quantified the diet based on faecal analysis, sampling faecal sacs from the nestlings pooled into three age classes: 2-3 days old, 4-6 d old, and 7-9 d old. Nestlings were provided a wide diversity of food and a strong relationship existed between food characteristics and nestling age. The youngest nestlings (2-3 d old) had the lowest values of each dietary characteristic (diversity, number and total biomass of prey, and individual prey weight), that were significantly lower than the oldest nestlings (7-9 d old). Nestlings aged 4-6 d exhibited intermediate dietary characteristics. Differences in dietary composition of the six major food types showed marked differences between the individual broods and age categories. Percentages of the number and biomass of soft-bodied prey were highest in the diet of 2-3 d and 4-6 d old nestlings, and decreased with increasing age, whereas the opposite trend was observed in the percentage of intermediately and heavily chitinised prey. Parent Barred Warblers probably preferentially select soft-bodied prey for the youngest nestlings, and satisfy the greater energy demands of the older ones by providing them with a greater variety of prey containing more chitin, as well as plant food. The provisioning of less-readily digestible prey to older nestlings suggests that as the quality of food decreases the quantity increases, implying that the youngest nestlings may be physiologically limited as regards their ability to digest more heavily chitinised prey.     

Environmental factors shape cloacal bacterial assemblages in great tit Parus major and blue tit P. caeruleus nestlings

Despite their potential ecological and evolutionary importance, factors shaping the composition of bacterial communities in wild vertebrate populations remain poorly understood. The goal of this study was to examine the relative contributions of environmental factors and genetic factors (e.g. species and common origin) to the variation of cloacal bacterial assemblages in wild bird nestlings. We conducted a partial cross-fostering experiment with two passerine species, the great tit Parus major and the blue tit P. caeruleus, sharing similar habitats and breeding biology. Nestlings of the two species were exchanged four days after hatching and cloacal bacteria were sampled nine days later. The structure of cloacal bacterial communities was determined by Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis. Our results showed that each nestling displayed a unique bacterial community. Furthermore, nestlings raised in the same nest shared significantly similar bacterial communities. The similarity of bacterial community was higher among heterospecific siblings raised within the same nest than between biological siblings raised in separate nests. Effects of common origin between species could not be detected and, if present, were dominated by nest-based short-term environmental effects. Our results show that growth conditions within nests and individually based endogenous factors have significant effects on cloacal bacteria assemblages and could affect post-fledging condition.     

Prudent investment in rearing nestlings in bull-headed shrikes

I investigated seasonal changes in the relationships between brood size, body mass of nestlings and body mass of parents of the bull-headed shrike, Lanius bucephalus, in Ishikari, northern Japan. When the broods were 12days old, the body mass of the heaviest nestling in a brood did not differ among brood sizes, or throughout the season. However, the body mass of the lightest nestlings in a brood was different among brood sizes. The body mass of the lightest nestling in five- and six-nestling broods decreased throughout the season. The lightest nestling in four-nestling broods, and the lightest and the second lightest nestlings in five-nestling broods, were significantly lighter than the heaviest nestling in broods of this size. It is likely that pairs with six nestlings at 12days old can feed at least five of these nestlings enough to ensure their survival . The standardized body mass of parents (SBM), which was defined as the body mass divided by the length of the tarsus, did not differ among brood sizes, or throughout the season. It is possible that the relationship between the constancy of the SBM and the seasonal decline in the body mass of nestlings indicates that bull-headed shrikes have a limit to their parental efforts.     

First captive breeding of the imperial parrot (Amazona imperialis)

We describe the rearing and development of the first imperial parrot (Amazona imperialis) hatched and raised in captivity. A single egg was hen-incubated for 28 days, and the chick was parent-fed for ～14 days, after which it was removed for hand-rearing. Similar to wild, parent-reared imperial nestlings, the chick developed fully within 12 weeks, weaning at 540 g body weight. Endangered and endemic to Dominica, the imperial is a vital flagship for oceanic rainforest conservation. Chronicling the neonatal development of A. imperialis helps illuminate the natural history of this enigmatic species, whose secretive nesting habits and low population density have frustrated a detailed understanding of its ecology and reproduction.     

Thermoregulation in Antarctic fulmarine petrels

We measured resting metabolic rates at air temperatures between ca. −5 and 30 °C in snow petrels (Pagodroma nivea), cape petrels (Daption capense), Antarctic petrels (Thalassoica antarctica), and Antarctic fulmars (Fulmarus glacialoides). We measured seven age classes for each species: adults, and nestlings that were 3, 8, 15, 28, 35, and 42 days old. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) and thermal conductance (C) of adults averaged, respectively, 140% and 100% of values predicted allometrically for nonpasserine birds. Minimum metabolic rates of unfasted nestlings aged 15–42 days averaged, respectively, 97% and 98% of predicted adult BMR in Antarctic petrels and snow petrels, versus 119% and 126% of predicted in Antarctic fulmars and cape petrels. Nestlings of the southerly breeding snow petrel and Antarctic petrel were relatively well insulated compared with nestlings of other high-latitude seabirds. Adult lower critical temperature (T_lc) was inversely related to body mass and averaged 9 °C lower than predicted allometrically. As nestlings grew, their T_lc decreased with increasing body mass from ca. 14 to 22 °C (depending upon species) at 3 days of age, to −4 to 8 °C when nestlings attained peak mass. Nestling T_lc subsequently increased as body mass decreased during pre-fledging weight recession. Nestling T_lc was close to mean air temperature from the end of brooding until fledging in the three surface nesting species. Accepted: 12 July 2000     

Stable isotopes identify the natal origins of a generalist brood parasite, the brown-headed cowbird Molothrus ater

Identifying the natal origins of brood parasites is a major challenge that usually requires labor-intensive searching for nests of host species. Stable isotope analysis of feathers and other body tissues of parasitic young could be a possible tool for determining natal origins if tissues reflect the isotopic composition of the diet fed to nestlings. We measured the carbon (¹³C) and nitrogen (¹⁵N) isotope compositions of feathers for two age-classes of brown-headed cowbirds Molothrus ater at the Konza Prairie Biological Station near Manhattan, Kansas: nestlings raised by five species of songbird hosts in two different habitats, and juveniles captured after independence. Isotope values from cowbird nestlings did not differ among host species and we were unable to assign juvenile cowbirds to their natal hosts. However, nestlings raised in grassland habitat had feathers that contained significantly higher δ¹³C values and lower δ¹⁵N values than nestlings raised in shrub habitats. In addition, independent juveniles had isotopic signatures that were similar to cowbird nestlings raised on shrub habitats. Although dickcissel Spiza americana comprised the majority of samples from shrub habitats, our conclusions reflect the natural pattern of parasitism at the site and should be representative of cowbirds raised at Konza. We conclude that stable isotope analysis of feathers is effective for determining the natal origins of parasitic young if isotope values from nestlings are isotopically distinct among habitats.     

Experimental heating reveals nest temperature affects nestling condition in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor)

Investment in one life-history stage can have delayed effects on subsequent life-history stages within a single reproductive bout. We experimentally heated tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nests during incubation to test for effects on parental and nestling conditions. Females incubating in heated boxes maintained higher body condition and fed nestlings at higher rates. We cross-fostered nestlings and found that young nestlings (4-7 days old) incubated in heated nests had higher body condition and body mass, regardless of treatment status of their rearing parent. However, older nestlings which were fed by heated females maintained higher condition and body mass regardless of treatment status of their incubating parent. These results indicate that investment in one life-history stage can have multiple pathways of carry-over effects on future life-history stages.     

Patterns of serum carotenoid accumulation and skin colour variation in kestrel nestlings in relation to breeding conditions and different terms of carotenoid supplementation

Carotenoids are pigments synthesised by autotrophic organisms. For nestlings of raptorial species, which obtain carotenoids from the consumption of other heterotrophic species, the access to these pigments can be crucial. Carotenoids, indeed, have fundamental health maintenance functions, especially important in developing individuals as nestling kestrels. The aim of this study was to investigate how body carotenoid levels and skin pigmentation vary in kestrel nestlings (Falco tinnunculus) in relation to nesting parameters. Furthermore, we experimentally altered carotenoid availability (short- medium- and long-term) for nestlings and investigated skin and serum variance. The skin colour variance of 151 nestlings was explained by nest of origin, age and by the body condition (body mass corrected by age), older nestlings with higher body condition being redder. No difference in skin colour was detected between sexes. Differences in hue (skin “redness”) between treatments did not emerge during the first week, but did occur 15 days after administration between long-term supplemented and control chicks. In contrast, the serum carotenoid concentration showed a treatment-dependent increase after 5 days from the first carotenoid administration and at least after two supplemented feedings. In general, hue but not serum carotenoids, was correlated with the body condition of nestlings. Based on the increased skin pigmentation of nestling kestrels in the long-term experimental group, we suggest carotenoid availability to be limited for colour expression. The small increase of serum carotenoids due to supplementation is consistent with the hypothesis that there is a physiological constraint on these pigments, as well as an environmental limitation. The presented results are useful for the understanding of carotenoid uptake and accumulation by a wild raptorial species, located at the top of the food web, highlighting that carotenoids are a limited resource for kestrel nestlings.