Incubation parameters, offspring growth, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) in a Neotropical inland colony (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae)

Abstract This study focuses on incubation parameters, egg morphometrics, and body mass development, hatching, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress within a colony of freshwater-breeding Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) located in the private nature reserve of Serviço Social do Comércio (SESC) in...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Karl-Ludwig Schuchmann, Martin Schley, Mona Hegmann, Filipe Ferreira de Deus, Ana Silvia de Oliveira Tissiani, André-A. Weller, Marinêz Isaac Marques
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade de São Paulo 2022-10-01
Series:Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0031-10492022000100245&lng=en&tlng=en
_version_ 1811230152729821184
author Karl-Ludwig Schuchmann
Martin Schley
Mona Hegmann
Filipe Ferreira de Deus
Ana Silvia de Oliveira Tissiani
André-A. Weller
Marinêz Isaac Marques
author_facet Karl-Ludwig Schuchmann
Martin Schley
Mona Hegmann
Filipe Ferreira de Deus
Ana Silvia de Oliveira Tissiani
André-A. Weller
Marinêz Isaac Marques
author_sort Karl-Ludwig Schuchmann
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study focuses on incubation parameters, egg morphometrics, and body mass development, hatching, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress within a colony of freshwater-breeding Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) located in the private nature reserve of Serviço Social do Comércio (SESC) in the northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Temperatures of nest, eggs, and surface substratum, as well as the development of embryos, were surveyed using thermal imaging, a method allowing digital recording from a distance and in a fraction of the time of traditional measuring techniques. The mean egg dimensions (n = 71) were 4.48 (± 0.13) × 3.27 (± 0.07) cm; the mean mass at hatching was 24.3 (± 1.9) g, with a significant decrease over incubation time. The mean surface temperature of eggs varied from 30.9℃ to 39.7℃, while the sand surface temperature was 20℃ at 06:00 h, rising to 47.7℃ at 11:00 h. There was a significant increase (7%) in egg surface temperature throughout incubation. Incubation-bout durations (n = 2108) were correlated with the microclimatic conditions of the substratum, becoming shorter with increasing sand-surface temperature around midday. Egg hatching lasted one day, and siblings hatched no more than 24 h apart. The mean body mass on Day 1 after hatching was 16.8 (± 1.6) g (n = 6). Three days after hatching, chicks moved to new sand depressions provided by parents near the original nest, where they remained motionless or tried to hide under riparian vegetation. The single chick that fledged had a growth rate of K = 0.117 and a t₁?₀₋₉₀ value of 37.3 days. On Day 7, dorsal pintail feathers and primaries appeared, which were open on Day 15. After 14 days, the chick was able to regulate its body temperature, and no more feeding by parental birds during the daytime was observed. On Day 21, the immature plumage was fully developed. Fledging was completed on Day 27. Our study demonstrates that thermal imaging is a useful method of surveying egg and embryo development in the Black Skimmer, reducing nest disturbance and observation efforts.
first_indexed 2024-04-12T10:25:25Z
format Article
id doaj.art-f21dd2fc078c43e895b080d9e6c62444
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1807-0205
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-12T10:25:25Z
publishDate 2022-10-01
publisher Universidade de São Paulo
record_format Article
series Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia
spelling doaj.art-f21dd2fc078c43e895b080d9e6c624442022-12-22T03:36:59ZengUniversidade de São PauloPapéis Avulsos de Zoologia1807-02052022-10-016210.11606/1807-0205/2022.62.045Incubation parameters, offspring growth, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) in a Neotropical inland colony (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae)Karl-Ludwig Schuchmannhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3233-8917Martin Schleyhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1354-4173Mona Hegmannhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5521-4052Filipe Ferreira de Deushttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2936-8074Ana Silvia de Oliveira Tissianihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5128-2592André-A. Wellerhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3479-311XMarinêz Isaac Marqueshttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9890-8505Abstract This study focuses on incubation parameters, egg morphometrics, and body mass development, hatching, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress within a colony of freshwater-breeding Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) located in the private nature reserve of Serviço Social do Comércio (SESC) in the northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Temperatures of nest, eggs, and surface substratum, as well as the development of embryos, were surveyed using thermal imaging, a method allowing digital recording from a distance and in a fraction of the time of traditional measuring techniques. The mean egg dimensions (n = 71) were 4.48 (± 0.13) × 3.27 (± 0.07) cm; the mean mass at hatching was 24.3 (± 1.9) g, with a significant decrease over incubation time. The mean surface temperature of eggs varied from 30.9℃ to 39.7℃, while the sand surface temperature was 20℃ at 06:00 h, rising to 47.7℃ at 11:00 h. There was a significant increase (7%) in egg surface temperature throughout incubation. Incubation-bout durations (n = 2108) were correlated with the microclimatic conditions of the substratum, becoming shorter with increasing sand-surface temperature around midday. Egg hatching lasted one day, and siblings hatched no more than 24 h apart. The mean body mass on Day 1 after hatching was 16.8 (± 1.6) g (n = 6). Three days after hatching, chicks moved to new sand depressions provided by parents near the original nest, where they remained motionless or tried to hide under riparian vegetation. The single chick that fledged had a growth rate of K = 0.117 and a t₁?₀₋₉₀ value of 37.3 days. On Day 7, dorsal pintail feathers and primaries appeared, which were open on Day 15. After 14 days, the chick was able to regulate its body temperature, and no more feeding by parental birds during the daytime was observed. On Day 21, the immature plumage was fully developed. Fledging was completed on Day 27. Our study demonstrates that thermal imaging is a useful method of surveying egg and embryo development in the Black Skimmer, reducing nest disturbance and observation efforts.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0031-10492022000100245&lng=en&tlng=enBehaviorEmbryonal developmentGrowth rateIncubationThermal imaging
spellingShingle Karl-Ludwig Schuchmann
Martin Schley
Mona Hegmann
Filipe Ferreira de Deus
Ana Silvia de Oliveira Tissiani
André-A. Weller
Marinêz Isaac Marques
Incubation parameters, offspring growth, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) in a Neotropical inland colony (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae)
Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia
Behavior
Embryonal development
Growth rate
Incubation
Thermal imaging
title Incubation parameters, offspring growth, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) in a Neotropical inland colony (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae)
title_full Incubation parameters, offspring growth, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) in a Neotropical inland colony (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae)
title_fullStr Incubation parameters, offspring growth, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) in a Neotropical inland colony (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae)
title_full_unstemmed Incubation parameters, offspring growth, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) in a Neotropical inland colony (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae)
title_short Incubation parameters, offspring growth, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) in a Neotropical inland colony (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae)
title_sort incubation parameters offspring growth and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of black skimmers rynchops niger in a neotropical inland colony aves charadriiformes laridae
topic Behavior
Embryonal development
Growth rate
Incubation
Thermal imaging
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0031-10492022000100245&lng=en&tlng=en
work_keys_str_mv AT karlludwigschuchmann incubationparametersoffspringgrowthandbehavioraladaptationstoheatstressofblackskimmersrynchopsnigerinaneotropicalinlandcolonyavescharadriiformeslaridae
AT martinschley incubationparametersoffspringgrowthandbehavioraladaptationstoheatstressofblackskimmersrynchopsnigerinaneotropicalinlandcolonyavescharadriiformeslaridae
AT monahegmann incubationparametersoffspringgrowthandbehavioraladaptationstoheatstressofblackskimmersrynchopsnigerinaneotropicalinlandcolonyavescharadriiformeslaridae
AT filipeferreiradedeus incubationparametersoffspringgrowthandbehavioraladaptationstoheatstressofblackskimmersrynchopsnigerinaneotropicalinlandcolonyavescharadriiformeslaridae
AT anasilviadeoliveiratissiani incubationparametersoffspringgrowthandbehavioraladaptationstoheatstressofblackskimmersrynchopsnigerinaneotropicalinlandcolonyavescharadriiformeslaridae
AT andreaweller incubationparametersoffspringgrowthandbehavioraladaptationstoheatstressofblackskimmersrynchopsnigerinaneotropicalinlandcolonyavescharadriiformeslaridae
AT marinezisaacmarques incubationparametersoffspringgrowthandbehavioraladaptationstoheatstressofblackskimmersrynchopsnigerinaneotropicalinlandcolonyavescharadriiformeslaridae