AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Clutch Defense by Male and Female Willow Ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1993
Authors:Martin, K, Horn, AG
Journal:Ornis Scandinavica
Volume:24
Issue:4
Date Published:1993
ISBN Number:00305693
Keywords:Lagopus, Lagopus lagopus, Lagopus muta, Phasianidae
Abstract:We analyzed variation in anti-predator behaviors by Willow Ptarmigan during the incubation period, in relation to several characteristics of the nest and parents. Defense behaviors were ranked in terms of the risk taken by parents, i.e. their proximity and conspicuousness to the predator. Defense levels by females increased with stage among first nests, were higher overall for first than for second nests (renests), increased with the age class of the pair, and correlated positively with the female's condition before incubation. Female clutch defense did not vary with clutch size or any measure of realized nesting success. Male defense levels and the distance males were initially found from the nest did not correlate with any features of the nest or parents, and male and female defense levels were not correlated. We suggest that defense by females is related to the value of the present brood, weighed against the female's body condition. Together with previous experiments, our results suggest that males do not fine-tune their level of defense to the potential contribution of offspring to the parents' reproductive success.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/3676788
Short Title:Ornis Scandinavica
Taxonomic name: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith