Does foraging habitat quality affect reproductive performance in the Little Egret, Egretta garzetta?

In order to understand the role of foraging habitat quality on fecundity parameters we measured habitat use, breeding parameters, and body condition of chicks in six colonies of Little Egrets in southern France. The foraging habitat available differed between colonies; it was mainly natural marshes...

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Main Authors: Tourenq, C., Barbraud, C., Sadoul, N., Sandoz, A., Lombardini, K., Kayser, Y., Martín, J.-L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona 2001-06-01
Series:Animal Biodiversity and Conservation
Subjects:
Online Access:http://abc.museucienciesjournals.cat/files/ABC-24-1-pp-107-116.pdf
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author Tourenq, C.
Barbraud, C.
Sadoul, N.
Sandoz, A.
Lombardini, K.
Kayser, Y.
Martín, J.-L.
author_facet Tourenq, C.
Barbraud, C.
Sadoul, N.
Sandoz, A.
Lombardini, K.
Kayser, Y.
Martín, J.-L.
author_sort Tourenq, C.
collection DOAJ
description In order to understand the role of foraging habitat quality on fecundity parameters we measured habitat use, breeding parameters, and body condition of chicks in six colonies of Little Egrets in southern France. The foraging habitat available differed between colonies; it was mainly natural marshes around the Carrelet colony, agricultural lands (rice fields and dry crops) around the Agon colony, a mix of agricultural and natural lands around the Redon and Fiélouse colonies, a mix of natural and urbanised/industrial lands around the Palissade colony, and mainly cultivated and urbanised lands around the Chaumont colony. The habitat attractiveness to adult Little Egret breeding was higher for natural marshes than for other habitat types. Agricultural marshes (rice fields) came next. Other human¿made habitats came last. Clutch size and body condition index of chicks did not differ between colonies. Brood size was influenced by both the association of the proportion of natural marshes in the foraging area and clutch size, and the association of clutch size and the total number of heron pairs in the colony. The effect of the proportion of natural marshes could not be distinguished from the effects of the colony size. The potential influence of other parameters not taken into account in this study is discussed.
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spelling doaj.art-7777c9455d92496692ff834eb15525e42022-12-22T01:36:45ZengMuseu de Ciències Naturals de BarcelonaAnimal Biodiversity and Conservation1578-665X2001-06-01241107116Does foraging habitat quality affect reproductive performance in the Little Egret, Egretta garzetta?Tourenq, C.Barbraud, C.Sadoul, N.Sandoz, A.Lombardini, K.Kayser, Y.Martín, J.-L.In order to understand the role of foraging habitat quality on fecundity parameters we measured habitat use, breeding parameters, and body condition of chicks in six colonies of Little Egrets in southern France. The foraging habitat available differed between colonies; it was mainly natural marshes around the Carrelet colony, agricultural lands (rice fields and dry crops) around the Agon colony, a mix of agricultural and natural lands around the Redon and Fiélouse colonies, a mix of natural and urbanised/industrial lands around the Palissade colony, and mainly cultivated and urbanised lands around the Chaumont colony. The habitat attractiveness to adult Little Egret breeding was higher for natural marshes than for other habitat types. Agricultural marshes (rice fields) came next. Other human¿made habitats came last. Clutch size and body condition index of chicks did not differ between colonies. Brood size was influenced by both the association of the proportion of natural marshes in the foraging area and clutch size, and the association of clutch size and the total number of heron pairs in the colony. The effect of the proportion of natural marshes could not be distinguished from the effects of the colony size. The potential influence of other parameters not taken into account in this study is discussed.http://abc.museucienciesjournals.cat/files/ABC-24-1-pp-107-116.pdfEgretta garzetaForaging habitatReproductive parametersBody conditionNatural marshes
spellingShingle Tourenq, C.
Barbraud, C.
Sadoul, N.
Sandoz, A.
Lombardini, K.
Kayser, Y.
Martín, J.-L.
Does foraging habitat quality affect reproductive performance in the Little Egret, Egretta garzetta?
Animal Biodiversity and Conservation
Egretta garzeta
Foraging habitat
Reproductive parameters
Body condition
Natural marshes
title Does foraging habitat quality affect reproductive performance in the Little Egret, Egretta garzetta?
title_full Does foraging habitat quality affect reproductive performance in the Little Egret, Egretta garzetta?
title_fullStr Does foraging habitat quality affect reproductive performance in the Little Egret, Egretta garzetta?
title_full_unstemmed Does foraging habitat quality affect reproductive performance in the Little Egret, Egretta garzetta?
title_short Does foraging habitat quality affect reproductive performance in the Little Egret, Egretta garzetta?
title_sort does foraging habitat quality affect reproductive performance in the little egret egretta garzetta
topic Egretta garzeta
Foraging habitat
Reproductive parameters
Body condition
Natural marshes
url http://abc.museucienciesjournals.cat/files/ABC-24-1-pp-107-116.pdf
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