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Influence of age and body condition on breeding performance in Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

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Abstract

Theory predicts that organisms are apt to optimize their resource allocation strategy and since rearing offspring is costly, condition might predict individual fitness as individuals in better condition hold more resources to allocate towards maximizing their reproductive success. We use a 3 year study (29 pairs, 58 broods, 366 nestlings) of Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis to examine how parents’ age, scaled mass index (SMI) and heterophile-to-lymphocyte ratio (H/L ratio) influence breeding success of this species. Fieldwork was carried out on the Danube River system from Bratislava to Gabčíkovo (south-western Slovakia) during 2016–2018. We observed that males and females differed in values of H/L ratio and SMI with better overall physical condition for females. At the same time, these two variables neither correlated with each other nor was there a difference between age groups. Further analyses revealed that females mated with males of lower H/L ratio tended to initiate their clutches earlier in the season. Concurrently, pairs which had laid their first brood earlier in the breeding season reared nestlings from more broods during that season. Number of broods was also significantly affected by age of female and male SMI, with older females and males in good condition more likely to produce more broods. Contrary to that, females in higher condition tended to have fewer nestlings per brood. In addition, neither SMI nor H/L ratio of females were connected to any other aspects of breeding success. Altogether, our results suggest that body condition and age can be relevant to breeding performance of Common Kingfishers but their predictive value is only partial.

Zusammenfassung

Einfluss von Alter und Körperkondition auf den Bruterfolg von Eisvögeln Alcedo atthis

Die Theorie besagt, dass Organismen dazu neigen, ihre Ressourceneinsatzstrategie zu optimieren, und da die Jungenaufzucht kostspielig ist, könnte die Körperkondition ein Indiz für die individuelle Fitness sein, weil Individuen mit besserer Kondition über mehr Ressourcen verfügen, welche sie in die Maximierung ihres Reproduktionserfolges investieren können. Anhand einer dreijährigen Studie (29 Paare, 58 Bruten, 366 Nestlinge) an Eisvögeln Alcedo atthis untersuchten wir, inwiefern das Alter der Elternvögel, der Skalierte Körpermassenindex (engl.: scaled mass index, SMI) und das Verhältnis Heterophilen zu Lymphozyten (H/L-Verhältnis) des Bruterfolg dieser Art beeinflussen. Die Feldarbeit wurde von 2016–2018 am Flusssystem der Donau zwischen Bratislava und Gabčíkovo (Südwest-Slowakei) durchgeführt. Wir stellten fest, dass sich Männchen und Weibchen bezüglich des H/L-Verhältnisses und des SMI unterschieden, wobei die Weibchen eine bessere Gesamtkondition aufwiesen. Gleichzeitig korrelierten weder die beiden Variablen miteinander, noch gab es Unterschiede zwischen Altersgruppen. Weiterführende Analysen zeigten, dass mit einem Männchen mit niedrigerem H/L-Verhältnis verpaarte Weibchen dazu neigten, früher in der Brutsaison mit der Eiablage zu beginnen. Zudem zogen Paare, welche ihre Erstgelege früher in der Brutsaison begonnen hatten, während dieser Saison Nestlinge aus mehr Bruten auf. Auch die Anzahl der Bruten wurde signifikant durch das Alter des Weibchens und den SMI des Männchens beeinflusst, wobei ältere Weibchen und Männchen mit guter Kondition mit einer höheren Wahrscheinlichkeit mehr Bruten hervorbrachten. Im Gegensatz dazu neigten Weibchen mit besserer Kondition dazu, weniger Nestlinge pro Brut zu haben. Darüber hinaus standen weder SMI noch H/L-Verhältnis der Weibchen in irgendeiner Beziehung zu anderen Aspekten des Bruterfolges. Insgesamt legen unsere Ergebnisse nahe, dass Körperkondition und Alter bei Eisvögeln relevant für den Bruterfolg sein können, aber nur teilweise für Vorhersagen geeignet sind.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to P. Čech for advice with the fieldwork. We would like to thank P. Mikulíček for supervising of laboratory procedures. This research was founded by grants LIFE12 NAT/SK/001137, UK/138/2019, UK/162/2020. Study methods complied with the current laws of the country in which they were performed. Permissions to carry out the study were granted by the relevant national authorities of the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic.

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  1. Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Zoology, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, Bratislava 4, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

    M. Cepková, M. Melišková & L. Rubáčová

  2. Faculty of Education, Department of Biology and Ecology, Catholic University, Hrabovská cesta 1, 034 01, Ružomberok, Slovak Republic

    M. Balážová

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Cepková, M., Balážová, M., Melišková, M. et al. Influence of age and body condition on breeding performance in Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis. J Ornithol 163, 251–261 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-021-01922-9

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