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Provisioning behaviour of Macaroni Penguins Eudyptes chrysolophus.

Authors :
Barlow, Kate E.
Croxall, John P.
Source :
Ibis; 2002, Vol. 144 Issue 2, p248-258, 11p
Publication Year :
2002

Abstract

Understanding how parental expenditure reflects food availability and influences reproductive output is a key part of studies of breeding performance. Provisioning behaviour is an important aspect of parental expenditure. We show that Macaroni Penguins Eudyptes chrysolophus have clear sex-specific differences in provisioning behaviour. Females provision chicks throughout rearing and at higher rates than males, which only participate in the later stages. Female provisioning is consistent throughout chick-rearing and appears to relate to a threshold rate governing whether or not chicks survive. The additional expenditure by males (but not females) during the crèche period influenced chick growth and fledging mass of survivors. We suggest a very simple model to account for these sex-specific differences and effects. Interannual variation in parental expenditure resulted in differences in reproductive output between years. Years of lowest expenditure resulted in lowest growth rate of chicks. Sex-specific differences in provisioning were similar among years, however, with a consistent proportion of expenditure by males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00191019
Volume :
144
Issue :
2
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Ibis
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
91198119
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1474-919X.2002.00046.x