CSIRO Publishing blank image blank image blank image blank imageBooksblank image blank image blank image blank imageJournalsblank image blank image blank image blank imageAbout Usblank image blank image blank image blank imageShopping Cartblank image blank image blank image You are here: Journals > Emu   
Emu
http://www.birdlife.org.au
  A Journal of BirdLife Australia
 
blank image Search
 
blank image blank image
blank image
 
  Advanced Search
   

Journal Home
About the Journal
Editorial Board
Contacts
Content
Online Early
Current Issue
Just Accepted
All Issues
Special Issues
Research Fronts
Rowley Reviews
Sample Issue
For Authors
General Information
Notice to Authors
Submit Article
For Referees
Referee Guidelines
Review Article
Annual Referee Index
For Subscribers
Subscription Prices
Customer Service
Print Publication Dates

red arrow Complete Archive
blank image
With the complete digital archive of Emu now online, we have selected some of the most interesting and significant papers for readers to access freely.

blue arrow e-Alerts
blank image
Subscribe to our Email Alert or RSS feeds for the latest journal papers.

red arrow Connect with BirdLife
blank image
facebook   TwitterIcon

red arrow Connect with CP
blank image
facebook   youtube

 

Article << Previous     |     Next >>   Contents Vol 112(2)

Variation in the size of eggs of Chubut Steamer Ducks (Tachyeres leucocephalus)

Walter S. Svagelj A C, María Laura Agüero A and Pablo García Borboroglu A B

A Biología y Manejo de Recursos Acuáticos, Centro Nacional Patagónico – CONICET, Boulevard Brown 2915, Puerto Madryn (U9120ACD), Chubut, Argentina.
B University of Washington, Department of Biology, Box 351800, Seattle, WA 98195-1800, USA.
C Corresponding author. Email: tito@cenpat.edu.ar

Emu 112(2) 167-172 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/MU11068
Submitted: 26 August 2011  Accepted: 5 December 2011   Published: 14 May 2012


 
PDF (212 KB) $25
 Export Citation
 Print
  
Abstract

Although several studies have analysed spatial or temporal variation in the size of eggs in waterfowl (Anseriformes), no study has analysed variation throughout the breeding range of a species. Chubut Steamer Ducks (Tachyeres leucocephalus) are flightless marine waterfowl endemic to a small section of coastline in Patagonia, Argentina. We partitioned and analysed sources of variation in the size of 989 Chubut Steamer Duck eggs, from 175 clutches, obtained during the breeding seasons of 1998 and 2004–08 at 31 islands throughout the range of the species. In relation to other Anseriformes, we found a low level of variation (coefficient of variation = 6.4%) at the species level. Most variation in the size of eggs were within clutches (59.0%) and among clutches (34.5%); variation between islands within geographical areas accounted for only 6.5% of variation, and there was no variation among geographical areas. Variation in size of eggs was not related to year, apparent clutch-size or latitude. The low variation at the species level and the lack of variation in size of eggs between geographical areas could be a consequence of the low genetic diversity and restricted distribution of the species. This study highlights the potential importance of variation in egg-size for understanding ecological processes linked to the natural history of avian species.

Additional keywords: coefficient of variation, endemic, flightless marine duck, near threatened.


References

Agüero, M. L., García Borboroglu, J. P., and Esler, D. (2010). Nesting habitat of Chubut Steamer Ducks in Patagonia, Argentina. Emu 110, 302–306.
CrossRef |

Agüero, M. L., García Borboroglu, P., and Esler, D. (2011). Distribution and abundance of Chubut Steamerducks: an endemic species to Central Patagonia, Argentina. Bird Conservation International 21, .

Anderson, V. R., and Alisauskas, R. T. (2001). Egg size, body size, locomotion, and feeding performance in captive King Eider ducklings. Condor 103, 195–199.
CrossRef |

Ankney, C. D. (1980). Egg weight, survival, and growth of Lesser Snow Goose goslings. Journal of Wildlife Management 44, 174–182.
CrossRef |

Arnold, T. W., and Green, A. J. (2007). On the allometric relationship between egg size and composition of avian eggs: a reassessment. Condor 109, 705–714.
CrossRef |

Avise, J. C., and Hamrick, J. L. (1996). ‘Conservation Genetics.’ (Chapman and Hall: London.)

Badzinski, S. S., Ankney, C. D., Leafloor, J. O., and Abraham, K. F. (2002). Egg size as a predictor of nutrient composition of eggs and neonates of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis interior) and Lesser Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens caerulescens). Canadian Journal of Zoology 80, 333–341.
CrossRef |

BirdLife International (2011). White-headed Steamerduck Tachyeres leucocephalus. (BirdLife International: Cambridge, UK.) Available at http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=405 [Verified 29 March 2012].

Boswall, J. (1973). Supplementary notes on the birds of Point Tombo, Argentina. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 93, 33–36.

Boswall, J., and MacIver, D. (1979). Nota sobre el Pato Vapor Volador (Tachyeres patachonicus). Hornero 12, 75–78.

Chaulk, K. G., Robertson, G. J., and Montevecchi, W. A. (2004). Regional and annual variability in Common Eider nesting ecology in Labrador. Polar Research 23, 121–130.
CrossRef |

Christians, J. K. (2002). Avian egg size: variation within species and inflexibility within individuals. Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society 77, 1–26.
CrossRef |

Cooper, J. A. (1978). The history and breeding biology of the Canada Geese of Marshy Point, Manitoba. Wildlife Monographs 61, 3–87.

Corbin, K. W., Livezey, B. C., and Humphrey, P. S. (1988). Genetic differentiation among Steamer-ducks (Anatidae:Tachyeres): an electrophoretic analysis. Condor 90, 773–781.
CrossRef |

Crawley, M. J. (2007). ‘The R Book.’ (Wiley: Chichester, UK.)

Daciuk, J. (1976). Notas faunísticas y bioecológicas de Península Valdés y Patagonia. XVIII. Comportamiento del “Pato Vapor Volador” observado durante el ciclo reproductivo en costas e islas de Chubut (Rep. Argentina) – (Anserif., Anatidae). Neotropica 22, 27–29.

Encabo, S. I., Barba, E., Gil-Delgado, J. A., and Monrós, J. S. (2002). Geographical variation in egg size of the Great Tit Parus major: a new perspective. Ibis 144, 623–631.
CrossRef |

Flint, P. L., and Grand, J. B. (1996). Variation in egg size of the Northern Pintail. Condor 98, 162–165.
CrossRef |

Flint, P. L., and Grand, J. B. (1999). Patterns of variation in size and composition of Greater Scaup eggs: are they related? Wilson Bulletin 111, 465–471.

Flint, P. L., and Sedinger, J. S. (1992). Reproductive implications of egg-size variation in the Black Brant. Auk 109, 896–903.

Flint, P. L., Rockwell, R. F., and Sedinger, J. S. (2001). Estimating repeatability of egg size. Auk 118, 500–503.
CrossRef |

Geffen, E., and Yom-Tov, Y. (2001). Factors affecting the rates of intraspecific nest parasitism among Anseriformes and Galliformes. Animal Behaviour 62, 1027–1038.
CrossRef |

Hõrak, P., Mänd, R., Ots, I., and Leivits, A. (1995). Egg size in the Great Tit Parus major: individual, habitat and geographic differences. Ornis Fennica 72, 97–114.

Hoyt, D. F. (1979). Practical methods of estimating volume and fresh weight of bird eggs. Auk 96, 73–77.

Humphrey, P. S., and Livezey, B. C. (1985). Nest, eggs, and downy young of the White-headed Flightless Steamer-duck. Ornithological Monographs 36, 944–953.

Humphrey, P. S., and Thompson, M. C. (1981). A new species of steamer-duck (Tachyeres) from Argentina. University of Kansas Musuem of Natural History Occasional Papers 95, 1–12.

IUCN (2011). ‘IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.’ Version 2011.1. (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources: Cambridge, UK.) Available at http://www.iucnredlist.org [Verified 5 December 2011].

Krist, M. (2011). Egg size and offspring quality: a meta-analysis in birds. Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society 86, 692–716.
CrossRef |

Lack, D. (1968). ‘Ecological Adaptations for Breeding in Birds.’ (Methuen: London.)

Leblanc, Y. (1989). Variation in size of eggs of captive and wild Canada Geese. Ornis Scandinavica 20, 93–98.
CrossRef |

Manning, T. H. (1978). Measurements and weights of eggs of the Canada Goose, Branta canadensis, analyzed and compared with those of other species. Canadian Journal of Zoology 56, 676–687.
CrossRef |

Newell, L. C. (1988). Causes and consequences of egg weight variation in the Lesser Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens caerulescens). M.Sc. Thesis, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Pelayo, J. T., and Clark, R. G. (2003). Consequences of egg size for offspring survival: a cross-fostering experiment in Ruddy Ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis). Auk 120, 384–393.
CrossRef |

Pinheiro, J. C., and Bates, D. M. (2000). ‘Mixed-effects Models in S and S-Plus.’ (Springer: New York.)

R Development Core Team (2011). ‘R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing.’ (R Foundation for Statistical Computing: Vienna.) Available at http://www.R–project.org [Verified 5 December 2011].

Robertson, G. J., and Cooke, F. (1993). Intraclutch egg-size variation and hatching success in the Common Eider. Canadian Journal of Zoology 71, 544–549.
CrossRef |

Robertson, G. J., Reed, A., and Gilchrist, H. G. (2001). Clutch, egg and body size variation among common eiders breeding in Hudson Bay, Canada. Polar Research 20, 85–94.
CrossRef |

Rohwer, F. C. (1986). Composition of Blue-winged Teal eggs in relation to egg size, clutch size and the timing of laying. Condor 88, 513–519.
CrossRef |

Rohwer, F. C. (1988). Inter- and intraspecific relationships between egg size and clutch size in waterfowl. Auk 105, 161–176.

Rohwer, F. C., and Eisenhauer, D. I. (1989). Egg mass and clutch size relationships in geese, eiders, and swans. Ornis Scandinavica 20, 43–48.
CrossRef |

Sjöberg, G., and Sjöberg, K. (1992). Geographical variation in reproductive investment in Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) in Sweden. Journal für Ornithologie 133, 403–412.
CrossRef |

Stearns, S. C. (1992). ‘The Evolution of Life Histories.’ (Oxford University Press: New York.)

Swennen, C., and van der Meer, J. (1992). Variation in egg size of Common Eiders. Ardea 80, 363–373.

Thomas, V. G., and Peach Brown, H. C. (1988). Relationships among egg size, energy reserves, growth rate, and fasting resistance of Canada Goose goslings from southern Ontario. Canadian Journal of Zoology 66, 957–964.
CrossRef |

Williams, T. D. (1994). Intraspecific variation in egg size and egg composition in birds: effects on offspring fitness. Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society 68, 35–59.
CrossRef |

Yom-Tov, Y. (2001). An updated list and some comments on the occurrence of intraspecific nest parasitism in birds. Ibis 143, 133–143.
CrossRef |


   
Subscriber Login
Username:
Password:  

 
    
Legal & Privacy | Contact Us | Help

CSIRO

© CSIRO 1996-2013