Variation in egg size and nestling growth rate in relation to clutch size and laying sequence in great tits Parus major

作     者：Yuyan You a, Jiang Fenga, Haitao Wangb, Jilong Wang b, Chao Dong b, Xunrui Sub, Hanmei Sunc, Wei Gaob, a Key Laboratory for Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration of National Environmental Protection, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China b College of Life Science, Northeast Normal University, No. 5268, Renmin Street, Changchun 130024, China c College of Jilin Normal University (Siping Campus), Siping 136000, China 

作者机构：[a]Key Laboratory for Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration of National Environmental Protection Northeast Normal University Changchun 130024 China [b]College of Life Science Northeast Normal University No. 5268 Renmin Street Changchun 130024 China [c]College of Jilin Normal University (Siping Campus) Siping 136000 China 

出 版 物：《Progress in Natural Science:Materials International》 (自然科学进展·国际材料(英文))

年 卷 期：2009年第19卷第4期

页      面：427-433页

核心收录：

学科分类：07[理学] 0713[理学-生态学] 

基　　金：supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. 30370183) the Ministry of Education Doctoral Fund (20050200009) 

主　　题：Artificial nest box Infrared camera Egg morphology Laying sequence Hatching asynchrony 

摘      要：The objectives of this study were to examine (1) optimal clutch size in great tits (Parus major) nesting in nest boxes; (2) variation in egg morphology and nestling growth rate with position in the laying sequence; and (3) hatching asynchrony and nestling survival as determined by infrared nest cameras. We collected data from 73 clutches in artificial nest boxes in the Zuojia Natural Preserve area in Jilin Province, China, in 2005 and 2006, using infrared cameras to match laying order to hatching order for four nests. Egg morphology and growth rate were significantly affected by clutch size and position in the laying order. Overall, egg size and growth rate increased with position in the laying order. In general, it was diffcult to detect asynchronous hatching from observations alone, but data from our infrared cameras showed that early-laid eggs tended to hatch before later-laid eggs, leading to hatching asynchrony. However, females invested more into last-laid eggs and nestlings, reducing size asynchrony among the chicks and leading to higher survival rates of nestlings. Our results, therefore, provide support for the brood survival hypothesis rather than for thebrood reduction hypothesis.