Effect of sex, temperature, time and flock size on the diving behavior of the wintering Scaly-sided Merganser (Mergus squamatus)
Abstract Background The foraging and diving behavior of waterfowl are affected by a number of important factors. Hence, learning more about these major factors is of great concern in order to protect endangered species. In this study, we verified the effect of sex, temperature, time and flock size o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2017-03-01
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| Series: | Avian Research |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40657-017-0067-4 |
| _version_ | 1797973086705811456 |
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| author | Mingqin Shao Bin Chen |
| author_facet | Mingqin Shao Bin Chen |
| author_sort | Mingqin Shao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The foraging and diving behavior of waterfowl are affected by a number of important factors. Hence, learning more about these major factors is of great concern in order to protect endangered species. In this study, we verified the effect of sex, temperature, time and flock size on the diving behavior of the Scaly-sided Merganser (Mergus squamatus). Methods The study was conducted by means of focal animal sampling in the Wuyuan section of the Poyang Lake watershed in Jiangxi Province, China from December 2015 to March 2016. We used one-way ANOVA and LSD tests to investigate the differences among these factors. Pearson correlations were used to test the relation between pause duration and the previous or subsequent dive duration. The relations between these factors and dive/pause duration are illustrated using Spearman correlations. Results Mean dive duration and mean time on the pause of males were significantly higher than those of females. With an increase in temperature, dive duration significantly increased. Along with the passage of time of year and daytime, dive duration significantly increased, while dive duration decreased significantly with the increase in flock size. Conclusions Sex, temperature, time and flock size have an effect on the diving behavior of the wintering Scaly-sided Merganser. The difference of diving behavior between males and females is related to differences in body mass. The difference of diving behavior among various temperatures and time periods may be related to a low minimum rate of oxygen consumption, while the difference among various flock sizes may be caused by rising intraspecific competition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T03:58:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8e01e669afc74bd4841e6bb739e6b3ca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2053-7166 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T03:58:35Z |
| publishDate | 2017-03-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Avian Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-8e01e669afc74bd4841e6bb739e6b3ca2023-01-02T00:07:32ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Avian Research2053-71662017-03-01811710.1186/s40657-017-0067-4Effect of sex, temperature, time and flock size on the diving behavior of the wintering Scaly-sided Merganser (Mergus squamatus)Mingqin Shao0Bin Chen1College of Life Science, Jiangxi Normal UniversityCollege of Life Science, Jiangxi Normal UniversityAbstract Background The foraging and diving behavior of waterfowl are affected by a number of important factors. Hence, learning more about these major factors is of great concern in order to protect endangered species. In this study, we verified the effect of sex, temperature, time and flock size on the diving behavior of the Scaly-sided Merganser (Mergus squamatus). Methods The study was conducted by means of focal animal sampling in the Wuyuan section of the Poyang Lake watershed in Jiangxi Province, China from December 2015 to March 2016. We used one-way ANOVA and LSD tests to investigate the differences among these factors. Pearson correlations were used to test the relation between pause duration and the previous or subsequent dive duration. The relations between these factors and dive/pause duration are illustrated using Spearman correlations. Results Mean dive duration and mean time on the pause of males were significantly higher than those of females. With an increase in temperature, dive duration significantly increased. Along with the passage of time of year and daytime, dive duration significantly increased, while dive duration decreased significantly with the increase in flock size. Conclusions Sex, temperature, time and flock size have an effect on the diving behavior of the wintering Scaly-sided Merganser. The difference of diving behavior between males and females is related to differences in body mass. The difference of diving behavior among various temperatures and time periods may be related to a low minimum rate of oxygen consumption, while the difference among various flock sizes may be caused by rising intraspecific competition.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40657-017-0067-4Diving behaviorFlock sizeScaly-sided MerganserSexTemperatureTime |
| spellingShingle | Mingqin Shao Bin Chen Effect of sex, temperature, time and flock size on the diving behavior of the wintering Scaly-sided Merganser (Mergus squamatus) Avian Research Diving behavior Flock size Scaly-sided Merganser Sex Temperature Time |
| title | Effect of sex, temperature, time and flock size on the diving behavior of the wintering Scaly-sided Merganser (Mergus squamatus) |
| title_full | Effect of sex, temperature, time and flock size on the diving behavior of the wintering Scaly-sided Merganser (Mergus squamatus) |
| title_fullStr | Effect of sex, temperature, time and flock size on the diving behavior of the wintering Scaly-sided Merganser (Mergus squamatus) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of sex, temperature, time and flock size on the diving behavior of the wintering Scaly-sided Merganser (Mergus squamatus) |
| title_short | Effect of sex, temperature, time and flock size on the diving behavior of the wintering Scaly-sided Merganser (Mergus squamatus) |
| title_sort | effect of sex temperature time and flock size on the diving behavior of the wintering scaly sided merganser mergus squamatus |
| topic | Diving behavior Flock size Scaly-sided Merganser Sex Temperature Time |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40657-017-0067-4 |
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