Reproductive success of Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida in eastern Spain in relation to water level variation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A study on the Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida was carried out between 2002 and 2009 in wetlands of eastern Spain to evaluate how water level fluctuation affects its reproductive success (hatching, fledgling and breeding success). This species is catalogued as Vulnerable in Spain and has an unfavorable conservation status in Europe.

Methods

Our study includes 18 sampling areas from five wetlands, covering a total of 663 nests, 1,618 eggs, 777 nestlings and 225 fledglings. The colonies were visited at least twice per week in breeding period. The number of eggs and/or nestlings present in each nest were annotated each time the colonies were visited with the aim to compare the evolution of these parameters with time. Hatching success was calculated as the pr

SUBMITTER: Ortiz Lledo A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5911388 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature