Costs, benefits and constraints in the evolution of avian reproductive tactics: a study on the blue tit
Author
Summary, in English
In this study I have investigated the various factors influencing reproductive tactics among breeding blue tits (Parus caeruleus). The study was carried out in a nestbox-breeding population of marked individuals at the Revinge Area, outside Lund, southern Sweden. I have especially investigated the energetic, physiological and temporal factors influencing the reproductive decisions. This included use of various physiological methods such as metabolic measurements of energy expenditure, measurements of immunocompetence using ELISA:s and sexing of nestlings using quantification of DNA-contents using flow cytometry. Three themes were explored: 1/Reproductive effort and costs of reproduction, 2/sex allocation and 3/reproductive timing in a seasonal environment.
Publishing year
1997
Language
English
Document type
Dissertation
Topic
- Biological Sciences
Keywords
- reproductive timing
- selection analysis
- natural selection
- mate quality
- nestlings
- sex ratio
- DNA-content
- flow cytometry
- ELISA
- BMR
- energetics
- immunocompetence
- immune system
- sexual conflict
- nestling mortality
- thermoregulation
- moult
- reproductive costs
- reproductive effort
- Parus caeruleus
- blue tit
- birds
- juvenile survival
- laying date
- food supply
- Animal ecology
- Djurekologi
Status
Published
Research group
- Evolution and Ecology of Phenotypes in Nature
Supervisor
- [unknown] [unknown]
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISBN: 91-7105-087-6
- ISRN: SE-LUNDBDS/NZBE-97/1072
Defence date
6 June 1997
Defence time
10:15
Defence place
N/A
Opponent
- Sievert Rohwer (Prof)