Female pied flycatchers fail to respond to variations in nest humidity

Kern, M. D. and Cowie, Richard J. 2000. Female pied flycatchers fail to respond to variations in nest humidity. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-Molecular & Integrative Physiology 127 (1) , pp. 113-119. 10.1016/S1095-6433(00)00242-7

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Abstract

We examined the possibility that a cavity-nesting passerine, the Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), can modify the permeability of its eggs to water vapor facultatively in response to variations in nest humidity (PN). We found no significant relationship between the water-vapor conductance (GE) of flycatcher eggs and PN. In addition, incubating female flycatchers failed to change their patterns of incubation when we modified PN experimentally. These data, coupled with large variations that occur in the GE of the eggs within individual clutches, suggest that Pied Flycatchers do not alter the structure of their eggs as they lay them and may not be aware of differences in PN. It is more likely that GE is determined genetically and has been established by natural selection for eggs with high degrees of hatchability.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Biosciences
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	1095-6433
Last Modified:	06 Jul 2023 02:29
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/65622

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