Predator-induced renesting and reproductive effort in indigo buntings: more work for less pay?

ABSTRACT: Renesting after nest predation is ultimately an adaptive response to increase productivity in birds. However, renesting also increases reproductive effort to replace lost clutches. We investigated the consequences of this increased reproductive effort by determining whether renesting in female indigo buntings (Passerina cyanea) is associated with a decline in body condition (size-corrected mass) and haematocrit and an increase in stress hormones and whether renesting or maternal body condition is associated with a decline in productivity (clutch size, nestling body condition). Next, because a consequence of multiple renesting attempts is a prolonged breeding season and later timing, we predicted that a population of post-breeding females and juveniles would have lower body condition in fra

SUBMITTER: Morris DL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4778466 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature