Title:

Breeding in calcium-poor habitats: are there any extra costs?

Subtitle:

Acta Ornithologica, vol. 34, no. 2 ; Gniazdowanie ptaków w środowiskach ubogich w wapń

Creator:

Tilgar, Vallo (1973– ) ; Mänd, Raivo (1954– ) ; Leivits, Agu

Contributor:

Polska Akademia Nauk. Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii ; Meeting of the European Ornithologists' Union (2 ; 1999 ; Gdańsk)

Publisher:

Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii PAN

Place of publishing:

Warszawa

Date issued/created:

1999

Description:

Referat wygłoszony na Second Meeting of the European Ornithologists' Union ; Bibliogr. p. 217-218 ; P. [215]-218 ; 27 cm ; Abstract in Polish

Type of object:

Journal/Article

Subject and Keywords:

Great Tit ; Pied Flycatcher ; eggs ; Estonia ; congresses ; calcium ; calcium-poor habitat ; Old World flycatcher ; birds ; Ficedula hypoleuca ; Muscicapidae ; Parus major ; Paridae ; Aves

Abstract:

Wild birds breeding in acidified areas may have difficulties obtaining sufficient calcium for their eggshells, and shortage of land snails is shown to be the cause. The study found experimental evidence that Ca deficiency may affect reproductive traits also in birds breeding in non-acidified but naturally base-poor habitats. Positive effects of calcium supplementation on the egg volume, shell thickness, start of laying and fledglings' parameters of Great Tits Parus major and Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca breeding in base-poor pine forests in Estonia were revealed. The adverse effects of calcium shortage seem to be more pronounced in the years with the most unfavourable breeding conditions. Authors suggest that in such years birds may respond to calcium shortage by postponing egg-laying. The cost of egg formation in base-poor areas might be much higher than has been estimated on the basis of the energy and protein content of eggs. This fact should be considered more seriously in life history models of wild birds.

Relation:

Acta Ornithologica

Volume:

34

Issue:

2

Start page:

215

End page:

218

Resource type:

Text

Detailed Resource Type:

Article

Format:

application/pdf

Source:

MiIZ PAN, call no. P.257, Vol. 34, No 2 ; MiIZ PAN, call no. P.4568, Vol. 34, No 2 ; click here to follow the link

Language:

eng ; pol

Rights:

Rights Reserved - Restricted Access

Terms of use:

Copyright-protected material. Access only on terminals at the Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, may be used within the limits of statutory user freedoms.

Digitizing institution:

Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Original in:

Library of the Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Projects co-financed by:

Programme Innovative Economy, 2010-2014, Priority Axis 2. R&D infrastructure ; European Union. European Regional Development Fund

Access:

Closed