Summary
From 1995 to 1998 seven cases of prolonged incubation of unhatchable eggs by Red-necked Grebes (Podiceps grisegena) were observed in south east Poland, all of relatively constant duration (34–36 days). The regular occurrence of prolonged incubation can be attributed to low hatchability rates. It is argued that the failure in assessment of the current egg viability is a by-product of excessive nest attendance as a primary adaptation to irregularities in hatching spreads.
Zusammenfassung
In den Jahren 1995–1998 wurden in Südostpolen 102 Nester vom Rothalstaucher (Podiceps grisegena) regelmäßig kontrolliert. Von 60 Brutversuchen, die das Stadium des Schlüpfens erreichten, konnten sieben Fälle von velängerter Bebrütung nachgewiesen werden. Alle (16) ungewöhnlich lang bebrüteten Eier waren taub (unbefruchtet oder mit abgestorbenen Embryonen). Das verlängerte Bebrüten war vom Zeitpunkt des Legebeginns unabhängig. Die Bebrütungsdauer der nicht geschlüpften Eier (34–36 Tage) war mit ca. 150% der normalen Inkubationszeit relativ konstant. Die verlängerte Inkubation ist wohl als adaptive Anpassung an Unterschiede in den Entwicklungszeiten der Eier eines Geleges zu sehen. Das vermehrte Auftreten von verlängerter Bebrütung war mit einer niedrigen Schlupfrate (24,5% der Eier taub) assoziiert. Diese Bebrütungsstörungen dürften eine negative Auswirkung auf die Reproduktionsrate der Population haben.
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Kloskowski, J. Prolonged incubation of unhatchable eggs in Red-necked Grebes (Podiceps grisegena). J. Ornithol. 140, 101–104 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02462094
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02462094