An unusual homing behavior found in the Sichuan Partridge during the early brooding period

Abstract In this study, we report an unusual homing behavior of the Sichuan Partridge (Arborophila rufipectus) at the Laojunshan National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, China. Hen Sichuan Partridges led the chicks back to the nests where they hatched in the evening and roosted there over night. T...

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Main Authors: Yiqiang Fu, Shufang Wang, Benping Chen, Simon Dowell, Zhengwang Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2020-12-01
Series:Avian Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-020-00233-6
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author Yiqiang Fu
Shufang Wang
Benping Chen
Simon Dowell
Zhengwang Zhang
author_facet Yiqiang Fu
Shufang Wang
Benping Chen
Simon Dowell
Zhengwang Zhang
author_sort Yiqiang Fu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In this study, we report an unusual homing behavior of the Sichuan Partridge (Arborophila rufipectus) at the Laojunshan National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, China. Hen Sichuan Partridges led the chicks back to the nests where they hatched in the evening and roosted there over night. This behavior lasted 6.7 ± 4.3 nights (range = 1–15; n = 13) after the chicks hatched. At this stage, the hens became very vigilant to predators and human disturbance. If disturbed, they often abandoned the nests immediately and no longer returned thereafter. The ambient temperature at night during the early brooding period of Sichuan Partridge at our study site was ~ 12.4 °C. Our findings suggest that hen Sichuan Partridges may make trade-offs between nest predation risks versus the thermoregulatory needs of their young.
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spelling doaj.art-6c0933c4b6ed4032ab7cfff05f43fa6f2023-01-02T03:55:19ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Avian Research2053-71662020-12-011111410.1186/s40657-020-00233-6An unusual homing behavior found in the Sichuan Partridge during the early brooding periodYiqiang Fu0Shufang Wang1Benping Chen2Simon Dowell3Zhengwang Zhang4College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Normal UniversityCollege of Life Sciences, Sichuan Normal UniversityLaojunshan National Nature Reserve AdministrationNorth of England Zoological Society, Chester ZooMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal UniversityAbstract In this study, we report an unusual homing behavior of the Sichuan Partridge (Arborophila rufipectus) at the Laojunshan National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, China. Hen Sichuan Partridges led the chicks back to the nests where they hatched in the evening and roosted there over night. This behavior lasted 6.7 ± 4.3 nights (range = 1–15; n = 13) after the chicks hatched. At this stage, the hens became very vigilant to predators and human disturbance. If disturbed, they often abandoned the nests immediately and no longer returned thereafter. The ambient temperature at night during the early brooding period of Sichuan Partridge at our study site was ~ 12.4 °C. Our findings suggest that hen Sichuan Partridges may make trade-offs between nest predation risks versus the thermoregulatory needs of their young.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-020-00233-6Arborophila rufipectusEarly brooding periodHoming behaviorPredation riskThermoregulation
spellingShingle Yiqiang Fu
Shufang Wang
Benping Chen
Simon Dowell
Zhengwang Zhang
An unusual homing behavior found in the Sichuan Partridge during the early brooding period
Avian Research
Arborophila rufipectus
Early brooding period
Homing behavior
Predation risk
Thermoregulation
title An unusual homing behavior found in the Sichuan Partridge during the early brooding period
title_full An unusual homing behavior found in the Sichuan Partridge during the early brooding period
title_fullStr An unusual homing behavior found in the Sichuan Partridge during the early brooding period
title_full_unstemmed An unusual homing behavior found in the Sichuan Partridge during the early brooding period
title_short An unusual homing behavior found in the Sichuan Partridge during the early brooding period
title_sort unusual homing behavior found in the sichuan partridge during the early brooding period
topic Arborophila rufipectus
Early brooding period
Homing behavior
Predation risk
Thermoregulation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-020-00233-6
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