Dissemin is shutting down on January 1st, 2025

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Temporal covariation of egg volume and breeding conditions in the Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) in the Mediterranean region

Journal article published in 2010 by David Costantini, Livia Carello, Giacomo Dell'Omo ORCID
This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

Full text: Download

Question mark in circle
Preprint: policy unknown
Question mark in circle
Postprint: policy unknown
Question mark in circle
Published version: policy unknown

Abstract

Most studies on variation in egg size in the Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) have been carried out in central and northern Europe, whereas less is known about populations in the Mediterranean basin. We investigated the variation in egg volume in a Mediterranean population of Common Kestrel over a six-year period in relation to clutch size, breeding time, hatching success, and weather conditions. Eggs were generally bigger in larger clutches, and egg volume tended to decrease over the breeding season, but these patterns were not consistent among breeding seasons. Egg volume did not significantly vary in relation to weather conditions and did not predict hatching or fledging success. This study showed that (a) the patterns of covariation among laying date, clutch size and egg volume varied inconsistently over multiple years, and (b) egg volume poorly predicted the probabilities of hatching and fledging in the studied population.