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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 104(4)

Consequences of La Niña phase of ENSO for the survival and growth of nestling Burrowing Parrots on the Atlantic coast of South America

Juan F. Masello A B and Petra Quillfeldt A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Institut für Ökologie, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Germany, and Institute of Biochemical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK.

B Present address: Ecology of Vision Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK. Email: Juan.Masello@bristol.ac.uk

Emu 104(4) 337-346 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU03039
Submitted: 19 August 2003  Accepted: 22 June 2004   Published: 16 December 2004

Abstract

Birds are sensitive to perturbations in climate. Changes in reproductive ecology may reflect changes in food availability caused by environmental conditions. We studied the influence of the La Niña phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on breeding success and survival and growth of nestling Burrowing Parrots (Cyanoliseus patagonus) (Aves, Psittaciformes) in Patagonia. During the breeding season 1998−99, a severe drought affected the region as a consequence of a strong La Niña. We compare data from a La Niña event with an average year. Clutch sizes were similar in the two years. In both years, clutch size declined during the season. Our results suggest that environmental conditions are not the primary determinant of clutch size in Burrowing Parrots, and seasonal differences are more likely caused by differences in adult quality. Nestling mortality was higher during La Niña, while the surviving nestlings showed reduced growth. Hatching order had a stronger influence on growth and survival of nestlings during La Niña than during the average year. Last-hatched nestlings always showed reduced growth compared with middle- and first-hatched nestlings, but the difference between nestlings was greater during La Niña.


Acknowledgments

We thank Adrián Pagnossin, María Luján Pagnossin and Mara Marchesan for their help in the field, Roger Mundry for statistical advice, and the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (Argentina) for providing the precipitation data. This project was partially supported by the City Council of Viedma Río Negro, Argentina, and a grant of the state of Thuringia, Germany (Landesgraduiertenstipendium). The present study was carried out under permission of the Dirección de Fauna de la Provincia de Río Negro, Argentina (Exp. no. 143089-DF-98).


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