Breeding biology of a kentish plover (charadrius alexandrin us) population in an inland saline lake
Breeding biology of a kentish plover (charadrius alexandrin us) population in an inland saline lake
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发表时间:
1996
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通讯作者:
R. Fraga;J. Amat
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作者:
R. Fraga;J. Amat
Su~!.ln~v.-Breeding biology of o Kentish Plouer (Charadrius aleaandrinus) popubtion in on inlond roline loke. We siudicd the breedine. bioloev oi Kentish Plovers (Clnrodrius ale.~ondrinusl in Fuente de Piedra lake (southem Spain) in 1997 and G92. Breeders showed sexual dimorphism in tarsal length and body mas: body mass decreased throughout the breeding season only in males. Laying dates spanned 88 days in 1991 and 110 in 1992. Eggs deposited in the late nesting season were larger than those in the begining of the season. Females incubated during daylime and males during the night. Apparent clutches of 1-2 eggs occurred mostly lale in the nesting season and reflect a high incidence of partial predation (recorded in 17 % of 288 2-3 egg clutches). Nest predalion increased in the course of the breeding season, and only 19 % of al1 clutches produced chicks. Variables measured for each nest site (nest cover, distances lo water and <o nearest neighbour) did no8 inlluence nest predation. Kentish Plover pairs that los1 clutches usually renested together, on average 11-24 days after loss o i fheir previous clutch. The body masses of females were similar between firsl and subsequent replacement nestings. Biparental care of chicks lasted longer than in several olher populations of Kentish Plovers. When the chicks were 15-20 days old one of the adults, usually the iemale, desened the brood. Gull-billed Terns (Gelochelidon niloticn) preyed on chicks up lo 16 days ofage. 00th sexes showed antipredator behaviours (alarm calls, mobbing). Possibly. the greater maternal protection of the brood at Fuente de Piedra compared lo other breeding locations results from an interreiationship between high predation pressure and type of predaiors, since mobbing of Gull-billed Terns by adult plovers was ellective in deterring the terns. After deseriing broods. some females mated lo new males (sequential polyandry). Sequential polygyny was recorded in males that fledged chicks early enough lor a suhsequent nesting attempt. We propose that the duration o l the breeding season and high clutch iailure rates constrained the frequency of sequential polygamy in our populalion. Key ivords: breeding biology, brood desenion, Chadrius olexondrinrrs, parental m e , mating system, sequential polygamy.