Effect of light intensity in the nest site on eggshell pigmentation in a hole-nesting passerine.

ABSTRACT: Daylight is an important factor necessary for the proper embryonic development of birds, which raises the question, what happens when birds nest in relatively dim sites? The study experimentally tested whether there is a relationship between light conditions at the nesting site and the protoporphyrin-based pigmentation in the eggshell of the Great Tit (Parus major). We hypothesised that at lower light levels, eggs are less pigmented to increase the amount of light reaching the embryo. Our study system consisted of two types of nest boxes: "dark", in which the only source of light was the entrance hole, and "bright", which had two additional side windows. Photographs of clutches taken during the incubation period were used to quantify eggshell pigmentation. Multispectral image analyses were

SUBMITTER: Malinowska K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10276044 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature