A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Effect of ambient temperature on food provisioning and reproductive success in snow buntings Plectrophenax nivalis in the high arctic
Authors: Hoset KS, Espmark Y, Moksnes A, Haugan T, Ingebrigtsen M, Lier M
Publisher: NEDERLANDSE ORNITHOLOGISCHE UNIE
Publication year: 2004
Journal:: Ardea -Wageningen-
Journal name in source: ARDEA
Journal acronym: ARDEA
Volume: 92
Issue: 2
First page : 239
Last page: 246
Number of pages: 8
ISSN: 0373-2266
Abstract
Climatic conditions may have large implications for the reproductive cycle in birds, especially for a small songbird breeding in the high arctic. In three consecutive breeding seasons, the relationship between ambient temperature, and parental feeding rate and reproductive success was investigated in Snow Buntings Plectrophenax nivalis at Spitzbergen. Rates of food provisioning increased from 12 h(-1) to 22 h(-1) when temperatures during the previous incubation period varied between 0 degrees c and 5 degrees C. Parental feeding also increased when temperatures at feeding occasions were low. The temperature thus affected parental feeding, probably both through thermoregulatory demands of the chicks, and through an effect on the development of insects, the primary food source during summer. Mean temperature during incubation and parental feeding rate are both important factors describing reproductive success: between 0 and 5 degrees C, the number of fledglings per nest increased from 3.5 to 4.5. This indicates that food availability and related provisioning are key determinants for reproductive success.
Climatic conditions may have large implications for the reproductive cycle in birds, especially for a small songbird breeding in the high arctic. In three consecutive breeding seasons, the relationship between ambient temperature, and parental feeding rate and reproductive success was investigated in Snow Buntings Plectrophenax nivalis at Spitzbergen. Rates of food provisioning increased from 12 h(-1) to 22 h(-1) when temperatures during the previous incubation period varied between 0 degrees c and 5 degrees C. Parental feeding also increased when temperatures at feeding occasions were low. The temperature thus affected parental feeding, probably both through thermoregulatory demands of the chicks, and through an effect on the development of insects, the primary food source during summer. Mean temperature during incubation and parental feeding rate are both important factors describing reproductive success: between 0 and 5 degrees C, the number of fledglings per nest increased from 3.5 to 4.5. This indicates that food availability and related provisioning are key determinants for reproductive success.
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