Metabolic rate of nocturnal incubation in female great tits, Parus major, in relation to clutch size measured in a natural environment

Maaike E. de Heij*, Alexandra J. van der Graaf, Dennis Hafner, Joost M. Tinbergen

*Corresponding author voor dit werk

OnderzoeksoutputAcademicpeer review

28 Citaten (Scopus)
292 Downloads (Pure)

Samenvatting

To study the energetic costs of incubation in relation to clutch size, clutch sizes were manipulated and the metabolic rate of female great tits, Parus major (Linnaeus), during nocturnal incubation (MRinc) was measured using mobile oxygen analysers. Individuals were measured on consecutive nights while incubating their own or manipulated clutches. The experiment was performed under field conditions in order to place possible effects of clutch size manipulation within the context of other factors explaining variation in MR inc. Females spent more energy when incubating enlarged clutches as compared with controls (6-10% more energy for three additional eggs) but did not spend significantly less energy when incubating reduced clutches. MR inc was strongly negatively related to ambient temperature. The effect of clutch enlargement is consistent with previous studies whereas the absence of an effect of clutch reduction is not. The small effect of clutch enlargement on MRinc highlights the need for further studies to include measurements of daily energy expenditure in order to judge how important energy expenditure can be in explaining fitness consequences of incubating experimentally enlarged clutches.

Originele taal-2English
Pagina's (van-tot)2006-2012
Aantal pagina's7
TijdschriftJournal of Experimental Biology
Volume210
Nummer van het tijdschrift11
DOI's
StatusPublished - jun.-2007

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