Breeding biology of the Small Bee-eater <i>Merops orientalis</i> (Latham, 1801) in Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India
The breeding biology of Small Bee-eater Merops orientalis was studied in Nagapattinam District of Mannampandal, Tamil Nadu, India between 2005 and 2006. A total of 34 nests were studied and the bee-eaters were found to excavate long tunnels ranging in length from 79 to 125cm (104.9±123.48 cm) and e...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society
2010-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Threatened Taxa |
| Online Access: | http://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/481 |
| _version_ | 1818291255824613376 |
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| author | S. Asokan A.M.S. Ali R. Manikannan |
| author_facet | S. Asokan A.M.S. Ali R. Manikannan |
| author_sort | S. Asokan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The breeding biology of Small Bee-eater Merops orientalis was studied in Nagapattinam District of Mannampandal, Tamil Nadu, India between 2005 and 2006. A total of 34 nests were studied and the bee-eaters were found to excavate long tunnels ranging in length from 79 to 125cm (104.9±123.48 cm) and ending in widened egg chambers. The mean diameter and circumference of the entrance hole opening was 8.94±1.03 cm and 26.9±3.55 cm respectively. They excavated nest holes at a mean height of 52.1±2.69 cm from the bottom and 158.7±4.11 cm from the top of sandy river banks. The clutch size varied from 3 to 6 with a mean of 3.5±0.88 and clutches of three were very common. The egg dimensions ranged between 23.0 x 20.0 mm and 18.0 x 14.0 mm. The weight of the eggs varied between 2.0 and 5.0 g (3.3±0.65 g). The mean incubation period of the Small Bee-eater was 14.4±1.01 days and both sexes took part in the incubation. The Small Bee-eater laid 56 eggs, of which 43 hatched (76.7%) and 36 flewout of the nest, making the fledgingsuccess 83.7%. The newly hatched nestlings were 3.16 g in weight and reached a maximum of 23.16 g on day 24. A reduction in weight was noticed in the last few days and 20.75g was reached on day 27. The other body parts attained maximum maturity from hatching to fledging. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T02:41:10Z |
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| id | doaj.art-f4979758de254d1489c83c13e86fbfe6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0974-7893 0974-7907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T02:41:10Z |
| publishDate | 2010-04-01 |
| publisher | Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Threatened Taxa |
| spelling | doaj.art-f4979758de254d1489c83c13e86fbfe62022-12-22T00:02:18ZengWildlife Information Liaison Development SocietyJournal of Threatened Taxa0974-78930974-79072010-04-012479780410.11609/JoTT.o2273.797-804467Breeding biology of the Small Bee-eater <i>Merops orientalis</i> (Latham, 1801) in Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, IndiaS. AsokanA.M.S. AliR. ManikannanThe breeding biology of Small Bee-eater Merops orientalis was studied in Nagapattinam District of Mannampandal, Tamil Nadu, India between 2005 and 2006. A total of 34 nests were studied and the bee-eaters were found to excavate long tunnels ranging in length from 79 to 125cm (104.9±123.48 cm) and ending in widened egg chambers. The mean diameter and circumference of the entrance hole opening was 8.94±1.03 cm and 26.9±3.55 cm respectively. They excavated nest holes at a mean height of 52.1±2.69 cm from the bottom and 158.7±4.11 cm from the top of sandy river banks. The clutch size varied from 3 to 6 with a mean of 3.5±0.88 and clutches of three were very common. The egg dimensions ranged between 23.0 x 20.0 mm and 18.0 x 14.0 mm. The weight of the eggs varied between 2.0 and 5.0 g (3.3±0.65 g). The mean incubation period of the Small Bee-eater was 14.4±1.01 days and both sexes took part in the incubation. The Small Bee-eater laid 56 eggs, of which 43 hatched (76.7%) and 36 flewout of the nest, making the fledgingsuccess 83.7%. The newly hatched nestlings were 3.16 g in weight and reached a maximum of 23.16 g on day 24. A reduction in weight was noticed in the last few days and 20.75g was reached on day 27. The other body parts attained maximum maturity from hatching to fledging.http://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/481 |
| spellingShingle | S. Asokan A.M.S. Ali R. Manikannan Breeding biology of the Small Bee-eater <i>Merops orientalis</i> (Latham, 1801) in Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India Journal of Threatened Taxa |
| title | Breeding biology of the Small Bee-eater <i>Merops orientalis</i> (Latham, 1801) in Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India |
| title_full | Breeding biology of the Small Bee-eater <i>Merops orientalis</i> (Latham, 1801) in Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India |
| title_fullStr | Breeding biology of the Small Bee-eater <i>Merops orientalis</i> (Latham, 1801) in Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Breeding biology of the Small Bee-eater <i>Merops orientalis</i> (Latham, 1801) in Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India |
| title_short | Breeding biology of the Small Bee-eater <i>Merops orientalis</i> (Latham, 1801) in Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India |
| title_sort | breeding biology of the small bee eater i merops orientalis i latham 1801 in nagapattinam district tamil nadu india |
| url | http://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/481 |
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