Influence of age and body condition on breeding performance in Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Cepková, Monika; Balážová, Mária; Melišková, Mária; Rubáčová, Lucia

doi:10.1007/s10336-021-01922-9

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…[Relación entre el número de pollos, el tamaño de la nidada (tratado como el número medio de pollos en la nidada producida por una pareja individual) y la estrategia (monogamia, poligamia, machos cornudos), la temporada (2016, 2017, 2018) we found no differences in body condition between males engaged in different mating strategies suggesting that this trait is not considered when a female chooses a second male. this result contrasts with our previous study where we showed that the breeding success was influenced by both the age of females and male condition (Cepková et al, 2022), but the males concerned were social partners not extra-pair males. when choosing an extra-pair partner, the female is probably looking for other traits, which is also indicated by our results.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Low Extra-Pair Paternity and Polygamy in the Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Cepková

Melišková

Rubáčová

2022

Ardeola

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SummaryMonogamy was considered to be the most common mating system in birds. However, molecular techniques revealed numerous cases of extra-pair fertilisations (EPFs) in most bird species as well as multiple partners during breeding season. In this study, we examined the population of the Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis breeding along the Danube River system in Slovakia during three consecutive breeding seasons (2016-2018). We analysed 618 individuals – 70 adults and 548 nestlings from 87 broods. Overall, six nestlings (1.09%) from three different broods (3.45%) were fathered by other than the pair male. None of the nestlings had a mother other than the pair female. Besides that, we detected two simultaneously polygamous males (5.13%). In seven cases (9.72%) we revealed mate change between different broods: female change in three cases (4.17%) and male change in four cases (5.55%). The occurrence of extra-pair nestlings as well as polygamy was not associated with the synchronicity of breeding attempts at the beginning of the season, while the type of mating strategy seems to be associated with nest density. At the same time, male body condition was unrelated to the type of mating strategy in which he was engaged. Conversely, polygamous males had higher genetic diversity (observed heterozygosity) than monogamous ones. No difference in genetic diversity was found between monogamous and polygamous females. There was no difference in breeding success before and after the change of partner. In addition, polygamous individuals did not have more young than monogamous birds, suggesting that having more than one partner does not ensure greater breeding productivity. This is probably why polygamy remains a minority strategy in the Common Kingfisher.—Cepková, M., Melišková, M. & Rubáčová, L. (2023). Low extra-pair paternity and polygamy in the Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis. Ardeola, 70: 41-58.

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confidence: 99%

“…Blood samples (20-40µl) were obtained by brachial venipuncture and preserved in 96% ethanol. For more details see Cepková et al (2019Cepková et al ( , 2022.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low Extra-Pair Paternity and Polygamy in the Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Cepková

Melišková

Rubáčová

2022

Ardeola

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Male’s age and plumage coloration predicts brood sex ratio in the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

Lucia,

Mária,

Monika

et al. 2023

J Ornithol

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Plumage ornaments of birds, both pigment-based and structural, are considered age or condition-dependent, honestly signalling male quality, sexually selected traits, influencing the variation in breeding performance as well as adaptive sex allocation. In the present study, we examine the effect of age of males on the plumage structural colour in Common Kingfisher, and evaluate the breeding output (laying date, total number of young per breeding season, mean number of young per nest, total number of broods) and sex ratio in relation to two ornamental traits (forehead and rump structural colour). During the three years 2016–2018 in the Danube river system (south-western Slovakia), we collected data from 49 males, 102 broods and 645 nestlings. Our data demonstrate that structural colour is a condition-related and age-sensitive signal, while males with increased weight expressed less saturated blue forehead feathers, and old males displayed more saturated cyan rump feathers than young ones. Moreover, the brood sex ratio varies with male coloration in an age-dependent manner. The plumage colour of young males did not affect the brood sex ratio, whereas old males with increasing intensity of cyan rump had more sons than duller ones. Neither single ornamental trait nor age predicted breeding output of kingfisher males. Nevertheless, our results indicate that the blue structural plumage of kingfisher males may serve as an indicator of age and a certain kind of quality with a consequence on adaptive sex allocation in this species.

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Influence of age and body condition on breeding performance in Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Cited by 2 publications

References 72 publications

Low Extra-Pair Paternity and Polygamy in the Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Low Extra-Pair Paternity and Polygamy in the Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Male’s age and plumage coloration predicts brood sex ratio in the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

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