Acid rain and eggshells

Drent, P. J.; Woldendorp, J. W.

doi:10.1038/339431a0

Cited by 97 publications

(57 citation statements)

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“…Nearly half of the eggs with a developed shell dried out during incubation. This is a known consequence of excessive evaporation from eggs with abnormal shell structure, as is known to occur in acidified areas (Drent and Woldendorp 1989). The overall breeding performance of the aviary birds at least doubled during the second study period, when woodlice were provided in the diet.…”

Section: Calcium Availability and Breeding Successmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sources and timing of calcium intake during reproduction in flycatchers

Bureš

Weidinger

2003

Oecologia

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Calcium availability may limit the reproductive output of birds and snail shells are considered to be the main source of calcium in many passerine species. This study of collared ( Ficedula albicollis) and pied ( F. hypoleuca) flycatchers evaluates calcium intake of a natural diet in Central Europe, and sex differences in the utilization of experimentally supplemented sources of calcium during the entire breeding period in aviary birds. The study provides the first evidence that successful reproduction of these species depends on the availability of woodlice (Isopoda) and millipedes (Diplopoda). Each of these two components provided about 3 times more calcium than the snail shells contained in a natural nestling diet. The breeding performance of aviary birds was poor when only snail shells and the fragments of eggshells were provided in food, i.e., irregular laying, smaller clutches, eggshell defects (25 of 53 eggs), and eggs dried-up during incubation. In contrast, no defective eggshell or dried-up eggs were found and the overall breeding performance increased 2-3 times when woodlice were added to the food. Females increased their intake of woodlice during both the pre-laying and laying periods, and both sexes did so during the nestling period. Both sexes took more woodlice in the evening than in the morning, independent of the nesting stage. Intake by females was low until 4 days before laying the first egg, then increased to the highest level, dropping immediately after laying the last egg. Intake of woodlice by both sexes increased steadily from hatching until the nestling age of about 10-12 days decreasing thereafter, which corresponds with the period of rapid skeletal growth. In contrast, the intake of mealworms increased until the nestling age of 13-14 days leveling off thereafter which corresponds with the growth curve of nestling body mass.

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Section: Calcium Availability and Breeding Successmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sources and timing of calcium intake during reproduction in flycatchers

Bureš

Weidinger

2003

Oecologia

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“…We determined the calcium content of a wide variety of arthropod taxa and of seeds, and the calcium content of adult females, eggs and nestlings of the Great Tit, Parus major. Arthropods and seeds were collected in forests on calcium-rich and calcium-poor soils, since Great Tits suffered from calcium deficiency on poor soils, but not on rich soils, and the calcium contents of caterpillars and leaves were related to the calcium content of the soil (Drent & Woldendorp 1989). Females may store Ca for egg-laying in their skeleton (Simkiss 1967, Ankney & Scott 1980, Turner 1982, Pinowska & Krasnicki 1985 and thus reduce the need for Carich items during the laying period.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arthropods and Seeds are not Sufficient as Calcium Sources for Shell Formation and Skeletal Growth in Passerines

Graveland

Gijzen

2002

Ardea

115

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“…This can be associated with the presumed occurrence of calcium shortage in the eggshells of Great Tits and several other passerines, that has been recently observed in Buunderkamp, another study area with coniferous and mixed deciduous forest on poor sandy soils. Here, the percentage of females without eggs or with eggs of inferior quality has increased sharply in recent years (Drent and Woldendorp 1989). Observations made in 1989 have shown that egg volume and eggshell weight in the Great Tits from Hoge Veluwe are slightly than the values for Buunderkamp, but lower than in Oosterhout and Liesbos (Graveland, pel's.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Reproductive Biology of Four Blue Tit Populations in the Netherlands

Balen¹,

Potting²

1990

Population Biology of Passerine Birds

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After a long period in which research on the population biology of holenesting birds was mainly conducted on the Great Tit (parus major), recently more attention is being given to its counterpart, the Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus). This is partly due to the increasing number of studies from the mediterranean region (Blondel et al. 1987), where the Blue Tit is often the most numerous tit species. As this species seems to be a promising subject for a comparative demographical study over a large area of Europe, an analysis of data collected in several populations from the Netherlands is of interest. Correlative studies in contrasting habitats can give us clues about the factors that influence parameters such as date of eggJaying, clutch size and breeding success, but they need experimental verification.In this paper we will first compare the values obtained for each parameter in the various areas. Next we wi!! examine if there are trends in the course of the study period, and analyse the correlations of the annual figures for the diflerent areas. This will show us whether the factors that influence the parameter under study are general or rather local factors. Thirdly the relationships with environmental variables and with population characteristics will be considered, and the presumed causes of the established relationships will be discussed. If appropriate, a comparison will be made with the Great Tit, or Great Tit parameters will be used in the analyses. STUDY AREA AND METHODSData were collected in f(lUr areas, distributed throughout the country, two are mature deciduous oak forests and the others are a mixture of deciduous and coniferous forest plots:Vlieland: all the wooded areas (292 hal on the island (53.17 N, 5.03 E) are included. The forest was planted about 1900, and is mainly Pine (Pinus ssp.) with local patches of Birch (Betula ssp.), Oak (Quercus robur), and other deciduous trees. Since the early sixties selective felling has increased the proportion of deciduous trees. The number of nestboxes has gradually increased from 125 (1956) to 200 (1966) and to 350 (1986), to keep in pace with the increased suitability of the habitat. For some purposes the total area is divided into Vlieland-East (the 214 ha forest north of the village) and Vlieland-West (the remaining four small forest plots). The vegetation of the two areas is NATO AS! Series, Vol. G 24 Population Biology of Passerine Birds Edited by 1. Blondel et al.

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Acid rain and eggshells

Cited by 97 publications

References 1 publication

Sources and timing of calcium intake during reproduction in flycatchers

Sources and timing of calcium intake during reproduction in flycatchers

Arthropods and Seeds are not Sufficient as Calcium Sources for Shell Formation and Skeletal Growth in Passerines

Comparative Reproductive Biology of Four Blue Tit Populations in the Netherlands

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