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Nestling body mass and nestling mortality associated with the application of the ligature method in the Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor)

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Summary

Nestling mortality and nestling mass in the Spotless StarlingSturnus unicolor is tested associated with the application of the ligature method to nestlings of 3–14 days old. Direct mortality during ligature application was 8.5%. Mortality was unaffected, because ligatured and control nestlings during the nestling period had similar mortality. Nestling mass at day 14 was negatively affected by the ligature method. Nestlings with ligatures were always lighter than control ones, these differences being more pronounced in late broods and in nests with 5 nestlings. Differences in mass between control and ligatured nestlings were observed in birds with 8 or more hours of ligature application. The possible consequences mass reduction in ligatured young on postfledging survival is discussed.

Zusammenfassung

Sterblichkeit und Körpermasse von 3–14 Tagen alten Nestjungen des Einfarbstars wurden im Zusammenhang mit der Anwendung der Halsringmethode untersucht. Die direkte Sterblichkeit während der Anwendungszeit betrug 8.5%. Die Sterblichkeit durch natürliche Faktoren wurde durch unsere Methode nicht beeinflußt, da Halsring- und Kontrollnestlinge eine ähnliche Sterblichkeit während der Nestlingszeit aufwiesen. Hingegen war die Masse bei den Halsringnestlingen am 14. Tag geringer. Nestlinge mit Halsring waren immer leichter als die der Kontrollgruppe, wobei der Unterschied bei Spätbruten und in Nestern mit 5 Nestlingen größer war. Statistisch signifikante Massenunterschiede zur Kontrollgruppe wurden bei einer Anwendungszeit des Halsringes von 8 oder mehr Stunden festgestellt. Die Folgen für das Überleben nach dem Ausfliegen werden kurz diskutiert.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología Animal, Ecología, Parasitología y Edafología. Zoología, Universidad de Salamanca, E-37071, Salamanca, Spain

    Juan Alberto Pascual & Salvador J. Peris

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  1. Juan Alberto Pascual
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  2. Salvador J. Peris
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Pascual, J.A., Peris, S.J. Nestling body mass and nestling mortality associated with the application of the ligature method in the Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor). J Ornithol 133, 381–387 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640466

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