Field Experiments On the Adaptive Significance of Avian Eggshell Pigmentation

Montevecchi, William A.

doi:10.1163/156853976x00226

Cited by 63 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Therefore, nest construction strategies that inXuence embryo temperature during laying or other occasions of nest exposure (e.g., predator avoidance, feeding), may be important for precocial birds like Charadriiformes that are exposed to temperature extremes (Grant 1982;Bergstrom 1989) and where behavioral mechanisms that synchronize hatching improve chick survival (Stoleson and Beissinger 1999;Nicolai et al 2004;Beissinger et al 2005). Piping plover eggs are light colored and highly reXective in the NIR spectra based on data presented here, and were the most reXective among 14 species of Charadriiformes (P. M. Mayer, unpublished data), possibly an evolutionary response to overheating (Montevecchi 1976;Bakken et al 1978;Grant 1982;Kilner 2006). Thus, both nest construction and egg coloration may function to moderate embryonic temperature.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…Rather, egg coloration in a particular context likely provides the greatest anti-predation beneWt to nesting plovers. Therefore, piping plover eggs are probably best camouXaged when nest pebbles are similar in color to the eggs but not too dissimilar in color to surrounding substrates (Montevecchi 1976;Solís and de Lope 1995;Blanco and Bertellotti 2002;Kilner 2006;Castilla et al 2007). For example, Cairns (1982 observed anecdotally that piping plover nests were depredated when rain made nests pebbles more visible.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Experimental evidence shows that predation selects against conspicuous colors in bird eggs (Tinbergen 1963;Montevecchi 1976;Westmoreland and Best 1986;Kilner 2006). Likewise, predation selects for highly cryptic nest construction (Collias and Collias 1984;Collias 1997;Hansell 2000).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Nest construction by a ground-nesting bird represents a potential trade-off between egg crypticity and thermoregulation

Mayer¹,

Smith

Ford³

et al. 2009

Oecologia

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Predation selects against conspicuous colors in bird eggs and nests, while thermoregulatory constraints select for nest-building behavior that regulates incubation temperatures. We present results that suggest a trade-off between nest crypticity and thermoregulation of eggs based on selection of nest materials by piping plovers (Charadrius melodus), a ground-nesting bird that constructs simple, pebble-lined nests highly vulnerable to predators and exposed to temperature extremes. Piping plovers selected pebbles that were whiter and appeared closer in color to eggs than randomly available pebbles, suggesting a crypsis function. However, nests that were more contrasting in color to surrounding substrates were at greater risk of predation, suggesting an alternate strategy driving selection of white rocks. Near-infrared reflectance of nest pebbles was higher than randomly available pebbles, indicating a direct physical mechanism for heat control through pebble selection. Artificial nests constructed of randomly available pebbles heated more quickly and conferred heat to model eggs, causing eggs to heat more rapidly than in nests constructed from piping plover nest pebbles. Thermal models and field data indicated that temperatures inside nests may remain up to 2-6 degrees C cooler than surrounding substrates. Thermal models indicated that nests heat especially rapidly if not incubated, suggesting that nest construction behavior may serve to keep eggs cooler during the unattended laying period. Thus, pebble selection suggests a potential trade-off between maximizing heat reflectance to improve egg microclimate and minimizing conspicuous contrast of nests with the surrounding substrate to conceal eggs from predators. Nest construction behavior that employs light-colored, thermally reflective materials may represent an evolutionary response by birds and other egg-laying organisms to egg predation and heat stress.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nest construction by a ground-nesting bird represents a potential trade-off between egg crypticity and thermoregulation

Mayer¹,

Smith

Ford³

et al. 2009

Oecologia

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“…Therefore, birds might experience a trade-off between predation risk and information transfer. Furthermore, bright eggs such as white ones reflect more sunlight (including UV) compared to dark eggs (Montevecchi 1976). This explains why many bird species that build open-cup nests lay spotted eggs while many holenesting birds lay immaculate white eggs (Kilner 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blocking of ultraviolet reflectance on bird eggs reduces nest predation by aerial predators

2015

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Visual sensitivity in ultraviolet (UV) light is widespread in the animal kingdom and occurs in all major taxonomic groups, including birds, which possess UVsensitive photoreceptors and thus perceive UV light and use it in food selection, mate choice, offspring care and egg discrimination. However, no studies have been conducted to elucidate whether birds (aerial predators) could detect nests by UV light reflectance of eggs. In the present study, we performed artificial tree nest experiments in which pairs of pigeon eggs were treated with either a UV-blocker or a control substance before being exposed to nest predators in a tropical forest. The results showed that nest predation increased with duration of exposure, and that blocking UV reflectance of eggs could significantly reduce nest predation on tree nests. This provides experimental evidence for nest predation risk being linked to UV reflectance, and implies that aerial nest predators may detect nests by UV reflectance of eggs. Die Blockierung ultravioletter Reflexion von Vogeleiern verringert die Nestprädation durch VögelDas Vermögen, ultraviolettes (UV) Licht wahrzunehmen, ist im Tierreich weit verbreitet und tritt in allen großen Taxa, inklusive der Vögel auf. Vögel haben UV-Licht empfindliche Photorezeptoren und nutzen diese Wahrnehmung für die Nahrungs-und Partnersuche, bei der Aufzucht der Jungen und zum Unterscheiden von Eiern. Es gibt jedoch keine Studien, die untersucht haben, ob Vögel, die Nester räubern, die UV-Lichtreflexion von Eiern für das Aufspüren derselben nutzen. Wir haben in unserer Studie ein experimentelles Nestdesign benutzt und paarweise Taubeneier entweder mit UV-Lichtblockern oder einer Kontrollsubstanz behandelt, bevor wir sie im tropischen Regenwald in Baumnestern potentiellen Nestpräda-toren überließen. Die Nestprädation nahm zu, je länger die Eier exponiert waren, und Eier, die mit UV-Lichtblockern behandelt waren, wurden weniger beraubt. Wir konnten daher experimentell nachweisen, dass es eine Verbindung zwischen dem Risiko der Nestprädation und der UVLichtreflexion gibt. Das könnte bedeuten, dass nestraubende Vögel die Nester mittels der UV-Lichtreflexion der Eier aufspüren.

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“…Cryptic egg coloration could be explained as an adaptive anti-predator strategy in ground-nesting birds (Montevecchi 1976; Solís and de Lope 1995;Lloyd et al 2000), although coloured eggs may impose a predation risk to some bird species, an idea for which there is support (Montevecchi 1976;Götmark 1992;Weidinger 2001). It has been argued that Ostriches lay white eggs because they are powerful enough to defend their nests (Wallace 1889).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The white colour of the Ostrich (Struthio camelus) egg is a trade-off between predation and overheating

Magige

Moe

2008

J Ornithol

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Most ground nesters lay pigmented eggs, and egg pigmentation generally matches the environment. Pigmentation of eggs has evolved as a protective device against predation, but dark-pigmented eggs can be susceptible to overheating when exposed to solar radiation. The Ostrich (Struthio camelus) lays white eggs that are unattended for the first few weeks before incubation, and are quite visible to predators. To evaluate the effect of colour on the surface and core temperatures, we painted some Ostrich eggs dark brown or white, and left some unpainted (control), and exposed all of them directly to the sun during the day. The surface and core temperatures of brown eggs were significantly higher than those of the white-painted and control eggs. In addition, the core temperature of brown eggs exceeded 37.5°C, which is the temperature at which embryo mortality starts to increase. In a second experiment, we placed eggs (brownpainted and control) in various types of vegetation to study their visibility to an observer walking towards them. The white eggs were discovered from a significantly longer distance than the brown eggs, indicating that the predation risk may be much higher for white eggs. The results thus suggest that white eggs minimise overheating and allow the Ostrich to leave its eggs unattended before incubation starts, but they are more susceptible to predation.

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Field Experiments On the Adaptive Significance of Avian Eggshell Pigmentation

Cited by 63 publications

References 41 publications

Nest construction by a ground-nesting bird represents a potential trade-off between egg crypticity and thermoregulation

Nest construction by a ground-nesting bird represents a potential trade-off between egg crypticity and thermoregulation

Blocking of ultraviolet reflectance on bird eggs reduces nest predation by aerial predators

The white colour of the Ostrich (Struthio camelus) egg is a trade-off between predation and overheating

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