The Effect of Age, Sex and Winter Severity on Return Rates and Apparent Survival in the Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Rubáčová, Lucia; Čech, Pavel; Melišková, Mária; Čech, Martin; Procházka, Petr

doi:10.5253/arde.v109i1.a2

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Social, as well as genetic, monogamy is more likely to be assumed in some non-passerine groups that share such traits as longevity and where parental care is essential for successful breeding (Marks et al , 1999; Quillfeldt et al , 2001; Masello et al , 2002). The lifespan of the Common Kingfisher seems unrelated to monogamy as it is a short-lived species with high annual mortality (Rubáčová et al , 2021). However, the form of parental care could play a role since females leave the young about a week after hatching to start a new clutch and the fathers take care of the fledglings for another two weeks (Cramp, 1985; Woodall, 2001; Čech, 2007, 2009; own obs.).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Parents and their offspring were sampled during three consecutive breeding seasons (2016-2018) along the Danube River system in south-western Slovakia, from Bratislava (48°06′13.5″ N, 17°09′31.3″ E) to Gabčíkovo (47°52′32.1″ N, 17°31′18.0″ E;). The breeding density in our study population is 0.45 pair/km (Rubáčová et al, 2021). However, pairs are not evenly distributed throughout the entire area, and some localities (e.g.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…This is enabled by equal sharing of parental care (both parents incubate and feed young), availability of rich food sources, the overlapping of breeding attempts and the rapid growth to independence of fledglings (Woodall, 2001; Čech, 2007; Rubáčová et al , 2020). Parents expend immense effort on reproduction, which may account for the observed low annual survival (Rubáčová et al , 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

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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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

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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“…First, they move through and explore new, unfamiliar, and potentially inhospitable environments during natal dispersal (Bowler & Benton, 2005 ; Clobert et al., 2012 ; Low & Pärt, 2009 ; Robinson et al., 2004 ; Roque et al., 2021 ; Stillman et al., 2021 ). Second, they face the reduced availability and accessibility of food, and simultaneously increased thermoregulatory costs during winter (Altwegg et al., 2006 ; Rubáčová et al., 2021 ; Thorup et al., 2013 ). However, whether mortality is mainly associated with the post‐fledging and dispersal phases, or with the environmentally challenging period during winter is poorly studied and may be moderated by the occurrence of extreme events (Dybala et al., 2013 ; Grüebler, Korner‐Nievergelt, & Naef‐Daenzer, 2014 ; Rushing et al., 2017 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…First, we predicted that survival during autumn, when juveniles dispersed from parental territories, would be lower than in winter and the following spring because of the risk of exploring unfamiliar environments. Second, we predicted that survival during winter would be reduced depending on the severity of winter conditions because of limited access to food resources (Altwegg et al., 2006 ; Le Gouar et al., 2011 ; Rubáčová et al., 2021 ). We estimated survival probabilities from the post‐fledging period to the first breeding season and could thus identify how environmental conditions determine the most important seasonal bottleneck within the first year of juvenile little owls.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Juvenile survival of little owls decreases with snow cover

Perrig,

Oppel,

Tschumi

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Global environmental changes are associated with warmer average temperatures and more extreme weather events, potentially affecting wildlife population dynamics by altering demographic processes. Extreme weather events can reduce food resources and survival in all seasons of the year. Estimates of season‐specific survival probabilities are therefore crucial to understand the moderating effect of extreme events on annual mortality. Here, we analysed survival probabilities of 307 radio‐tracked juvenile little owls (Athene noctua) over two‐week periods from fledging to their first breeding attempt in the following spring to assess the contribution of extreme weather events. Survival probabilities were typically lowest during the first weeks after fledging in summer but were moderated by seasonal extremes in winter. The duration of snow cover in winter had a strong negative effect on survival probability, while being food supplemented during the nestling stage increased survival during the first weeks after fledging in summer and ultimately led to a larger proportion of birds surviving the first year. Overall annual survival probability over the first year varied by 34.3% between 0.117 (95% credible interval 0.052–0.223) and 0.178 (0.097–0.293) depending on the severity of the winter, and was as high as 0.233 (0.127–0.373) for food‐supplemented fledglings. In years with mild winters, the season with the lowest survival was the summer post‐fledging period (0.508; 0.428–0.594), but in years with extensive snow cover the winter was the season with the lowest survival (0.481; 0.337–0.626). We therefore show that extreme weather events occurring in a particular season reduced the proportion of first‐year survivors. Increasing extreme weather events can moderate seasonal survival probability through altering food supply of juvenile little owls either during the nestling period or in winter, with similarly large effects on annual survival and the viability of populations.

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