Hatching, Growth, and Mortality of Magnificent Frigatebird Chicks in Southern Baja California

We studied growth and development of chicks of the Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) in 1985, 1986, and 1988 at a colony on Isla Santa Margarita, Baja California Sur, México. Hatching peaked at weeks 7, 12, 17.5, and 23.3 of the calendar year. Hatching frequencies around each peak were d...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Wilson bulletin (Wilson Ornithological Society) 1995-06, Vol.107 (2), p.328-337
Main Authors: Carmona, Roberto, Juan Guzmán, Juan F. Elorduy
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal nesting
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Asymptotes
Autoecology
Aves
Biological and medical sciences
Bird nesting
Breeding
Breeding seasons
Chicks
Female animals
Fregata magnificens
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hatching
Male animals
Marine
Mortality
Vertebrata
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We studied growth and development of chicks of the Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) in 1985, 1986, and 1988 at a colony on Isla Santa Margarita, Baja California Sur, México. Hatching peaked at weeks 7, 12, 17.5, and 23.3 of the calendar year. Hatching frequencies around each peak were distributed normally. Growth was analyzed using Richards' model. Total length had the lowest growth rate and mass the highest. The asymptote for mass was reached before 150 days, as was the asymptote for culmen; the asymptotes for wing and wingspan were reached later. Chick mortality, recorded over a six-month period, was considered to be low (46%). During the same period there was 90% replacement and new occupation of nests, which resulted in temporal and spatial clustering of the clutches laid during the season.
ISSN:0043-5643
2162-5204