Pattern of covariation between life-history traits of European birds |
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Authors: | B E Saether |
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Institution: | Game Research Division, Directorate for Nature Management, Trondheim, Norway. |
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Abstract: | A large amount of variation is found in most reproductive traits of birds. Clutch size for instance, can vary from 1 to 15 between species of similar body weight. The adaptive significance of this variation is only poorly understood. According to life-history theory, large clutch size and early onset of reproduction are expected when the chances of survival are low. There is some support for the existence of such a relationship from studies of single species. Here I present evidence that, in European birds, clutch size is increased, and onset of reproduction occurs earlier in life, when the probability of survival is low. |
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