Nutritional quality of prebreeding diet influences breeding performance of the Florida scrub-jay
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Published source details
Reynolds S.J., Schoech S.J & Bowman R. (2003) Nutritional quality of prebreeding diet influences breeding performance of the Florida scrub-jay. Oecologia, 134, 308-316.
Published source details Reynolds S.J., Schoech S.J & Bowman R. (2003) Nutritional quality of prebreeding diet influences breeding performance of the Florida scrub-jay. Oecologia, 134, 308-316.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Provide supplementary food for songbirds to increase reproductive success Action Link |
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Provide supplementary food for songbirds to increase reproductive success
A continuation of Reynolds et al. 2003 in 2001 and 2002 (Reynolds et al. 2003) found that Florida scrub jay Aphelocoma coerulescens chicks from second and third-laid eggs had significantly higher fledging rates from territories provided with high-fat, high-protein supplements compared to those from controls in 2001 but not 2002 (2001: 100% of eleven 2nd and 3rd-hatched chicks fledged from fed nests vs. 53% of seventeen 2nd-hatched and 40% of ten third-hatched chicks from controls; 2002: 63% of eight 2nd-hatched and 71% of seven 3rd-hatched vs. 81% of 16 and 60% of ten for controls). In addition, more third-hatched chicks survived to independence in fed territories in 2001 (50% of four vs. 0% of ten) but not 2002 (43% of seven vs. 30% of ten). Fed chicks also grew flight feathers significantly faster, but there were no other differences in growth (body mass and leg length) or survival between the groups.
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