European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) Science Article 3 abstract In this study the relationship between the number of European Stonechats Saxicola rubicola at a winter site in Israel and the local rainfall, air temperature, and arthropod abundance was examined. In some years population size declined to about one third of the initial size, while in others […]
Sex-specific growth in the European Shag Stictocarbo aristotelis, a sexually dimorphic seabird
European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) Science Article 1 abstract The European Shag Stictocarbo aristotelis is dimorphic in body size : males are 22% heavier than females . We used molecular techniques to sex of 25 male and 18 female chicks in colonies from the Cies Islands (NW Spain). Discriminant functions were then obtained based on morphometric […]
Chick mortality in European Shag Stictocarbo aristotelis related to food limitations during adverse weather events.
European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) Science Article 3 abstract This study analyses the mortality of chicks of the European Shag Stictocarbo aristotelis in the Cies Islands (NW Spain). Chick mortality on this island is the main cause of the yearly variation in chick production. By visiting the nests after hatching occurred we determined the periods of […]
Extrinsic and intrinsic determinants of winter foragingand breeding phenology in a temperate seabird
European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) Science Article 2 abstract In temperate regions, winter presents animals with a number of challenges including depressed food abundance, increased daily energy requirements, higher frequency of extreme weather events and shortened day length. Overcoming these constraints is critical for overwintering survival and scheduling of future breeding of long-lived species and is […]
Parental age and offspring ectoparasite load in European Shags Stictocarbo aristotelis
European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) Science Article 4 abstract While age related improvements in breeding success have been reported in many avian species, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Ectoparasite load can have a significant deleterious effect on many aspects of host fitness. If younger breeders carry high parasite loads, and this has a detrimental […]
Morphometric similarities between central and peripheral populations of the European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis
European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) Science Article 5 abstract We compared morphometrics and discriminant functions for sexing European Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis in a central (British) population and a peripheral (NW Iberia) population within its distribution range, to account for structural differences between populations and sexes. Overall, British shags were structurally larger than Iberian shags, except in […]
Food availability as a determinant of pairing behaviour in the European robin.
European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) Science Article 4 abstract no abstract Tobias, J.A, Journal of Animal Ecology 66: 629-639 Download article download full text (pdf)
Territoriality as a paternity guard in the European robin,Erithacus rubecula
European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) Science Article 5 abstract To investigate the relative importance of paternity defences in the European robin we used behaviouralobservations, simulated intrusions and temporary male removal experiments. Given that paired malesdid not increase their mate attendance, copulation rate or territory size during the female’s fertile period,the most frequently quoted paternity assurance strategies […]
Reduced take-off ability in robins (Erithacus rubecula)due to migratory fuel load
European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) Science Article 1 abstract Recent studies have shown that large fuelloads in small birds impair
Distribution of Robins Erithacus rubecula in wintering grounds: Effects of conspecific density, migratory status and age.
European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) Science Article 2 abstract This paper studies how population density affects the dynamics of habitat occupation by Robins in a wintering area of southern Spain (Gibraltar area), and how the between-habitat distribution is influenced by the age and migratory behaviour of birds (whether they are year-round residents or wintering migrants). We […]