Parental quality and egg size affect chick survival in a precocial bird, the lapwing Vanellus vanellus |
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Authors: | Donald Blomqvist O C Johansson Frank Götmark |
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Institution: | Department of Zoology, Section of Animal Ecology, University of G?teborg, Medicinaregatan 18, S-413 90 G?teborg, Sweden e-mail: d.blomqvist@zool.gu.se, SE
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Abstract: | Effects of egg size and parental quality on lapwing Vanellus vanellus chick survival were studied in southwestern Sweden over 6 years. Chicks from large eggs were heavier at hatching and survived
significantly better than those from small eggs. To control for the confounding effect of parental quality on egg size and
chick survival, we performed a cross-fostering experiment during 2 years, exchanging clutches between nests with large and
small eggs. In control clutches, chicks from large eggs survived better than those from small eggs, but we found no significant
difference in chick survival between exchanged clutches. Thus, egg size did not affect chick survival independently of parental
quality. Fledging success increased with parental age and/or experience, and with female body mass. Hence, both egg size and
parental quality affect chick survival in the lapwing.
Received: 22 February 1996 / Accepted: 30 September 1996 |
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Keywords: | Chick survival Egg size Parental quality Cross-fostering Lapwing |
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