Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 6 abstract Rearing full siblings under different environmental conditions allows partitioning of the totalphenotypic variance of a trait into its genetic and environmental components. This, in naturalbird populations, is usually achieved by cross-fostering experimental designs. We estimatedgenetic and environmental components Liesbeth De Neve et al, Evolutionary Ecology Research, 2004, 6: […]
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Reduced immunocompetence of nestlings in replacement clutches of the European magpie (Pica pica)
Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 1 abstract Laying date is one of the most important determinants of reproductive success and recruitment probability in birds. Late breeders usually fledge fewer chicks than individuals with earlier breeding dates, and fledglings produced late in the season have high mortality rates. Food availability and nestling mass have been evoked […]
Magpies as Hosts for West Nile Virus, Southern France
Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 10 abstract European magpies (Pica pica) from southern France were tested for antibodies to West Nile virus (WNV) and viral shedding in feces during spring
The effect of nest usurpation on breeding success of the black-billed magpie Pica pica
Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 4 abstract The breeding of some birds, such as raptors or owls that do not build theirown nest, is often limited by the availability of nests constructed by otherbird species. When breeding habitats substantially lack natural nest sites(e.g., cavities in trees or cli s), a strong conflict over the nest […]
Maternal effects on offspring Igs and egg size in relationto natural and experimentally improved food supply
Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 8 abstract Maternal effects have been suggested to function as a mechanism for transgenerational plasticity,in which the environment experienced by the mother is translated into the phenotype of the offspring.In birds and other oviparous vertebrates where early development is within the egg, mothersmay be able to improve the viability prospects […]
Differential maternal investment counteracts for late breeding inmagpies Pica pica: an experimental study
Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 7 abstract Reproductive success in many avian populations declines throughout the breedingseason. Two hypotheses have gained attention to explain such a decline: the
Maternal antibodies in a wild altricial bird: effects onoffspring immunity, growth and survival
Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 11 abstract In many animals immunity is not fully developed until adulthood but the youngstill need protection against various sets of pathogens. Thus, bird nestlings are highlydependent on antibodies received from their mother (in the eggs) during their rapidearly growth period. MARJO PIHLAJA, HELI SIITARI and RAUNO V. ALATALO, Journal […]
Effects of begging on growth rates ofnestling chicks
Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 2 abstract We investigated whether an increase in begging levels delays growth of chicks. In experiment 1, we hand-reared nine pairs ofring dove squabs, divided into a control and a begging group. All squabs received similar amounts of food, but those in thebegging group had to beg for a prolonged […]
Nest size predicts the effect of foodsupplementation to magpie nestlings on theirimmunocompetence: an experimental test ofnest size indicating parental ability
Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 9 abstract Post-mating sexually selected signals are expected to indicate parental quality. The good parent model assumes that expression ofthe sexual character positively reflects parental ability, resulting in a potential link between the exaggeration of the character andnestling-fitness traits. We tested this prediction in a population of a monogamous passerine, […]
Antagonistic antiparasite defenses: nest defense and egg rejection in the magpie host of the great spotted cuckoo
Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 3 abstract Brood parasites dramatically reduce the reproductive success of their hosts, which therefore have developed defenses against brood parasites. The first line of defense is protecting the nest against adult parasites. When the parasite has successfully parasitized a host nest, some hosts are able to recognize and reject the […]