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Impaired flight ability prior to egg-laying: a cost of being a capital breeder
Article first published online: 15 MAR 2005
DOI: 10.1111/j.0269-8463.2005.00932.x
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How to Cite
KULLBERG, C., JAKOBSSON, S., KABY, U. and LIND, J. (2005), Impaired flight ability prior to egg-laying: a cost of being a capital breeder. Functional Ecology, 19: 98–101. doi: 10.1111/j.0269-8463.2005.00932.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 15 MAR 2005
- Article first published online: 15 MAR 2005
- Received 17 August 2004; accepted 2 September 2004
- Abstract
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Keywords:
- Bird;
- capital breeding;
- predation risk;
- Taeniopygia guttata
Summary
- 1To investigate flight ability in captive Zebra Finches during reproduction we compared change in escape take-off ability and wing load of reproducing females with their mates and non-reproducing females when attacked by a model raptor.
- 2Initially females had 18% higher wing load than males. Non-reproducing females and females that had started egg-laying flew slower than males. Reproducing females reduced wing load during egg-laying and flew faster when the clutch was completed. Non-breeding females remained on high wing load and flow slower than breeding females that had completed their clutch.
- 3The increase in flight speed of breeding females was explained by a reduction in wing load during egg-laying.
- 4Zebra Finches use accumulated reserves to produce eggs and pay a cost in terms of reduced flight ability, but then regain flight performance when the clutch is laid, probably demonstrating a predation cost of capital breeding in birds.