Early nesting does not result in greater productivity in the multi-brooded Woodlark Lullula arborea: Capsule Birds that started nesting early and made more nesting attempts did not produce more fledglings or recruits.
Authors: Mallord, John W.1; Dolman, Paul M.1; Brown, Andy2; Sutherland, William J.1
Source: Bird Study, Volume 55, Number 2, 1 July 2008 , pp. 145-151(7)
Publisher: British Trust for Ornithology
- Free Content
- New Content
- Subscribed Content
- Free Trial Content
Abstract:
Aims To investigate seasonal trends in reproductive performance of a multi-brooded ground-nesting passerine, and whether re-nesting compensates for loss of productivity to nest predation.Methods Nesting was observed in a Woodlark population breeding on heathlands in Dorset, southern England. Clutch and brood size, hatching success, chick weights, nestling starvation, fledging success and recruitment rates were compared between successive nests of individual females.Results There was a mid-season peak in clutch size, but no seasonal differences in most reproductive parameters. However, proportionally more juveniles that fledged from early nests were recruited into the breeding population.Conclusion Individuals that started nesting earlier had more nesting attempts. However, although such individuals are expected to achieve higher average annual fledging success and to contribute more recruits, neither effect was significant in a sample of 29 and 46 territories over two years, due to high levels of stochastic nest losses through predation.Keywords: Woodlark; Lullula arborea; breeding success
Document Type: Research article
Affiliations: 1: Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, Schools of Biological & Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK 2: Natural England, Northminster House, Peterborough, PE1 1UA, UK
- Free Content
- New Content
- Subscribed Content
- Free Trial Content
Click here for Page Help