Detailed Information on Publication Record

ČERNÝ, Martin, Dana RYMEŠOVÁ and Miroslav ŠÁLEK. Switches in covering of eggs in grey partridge Perdix perdix clutches during laying and incubation. Folia Zoologica. vol. 67, 3-4, p. 154-157. ISSN 0139-7893. doi:10.25225/fozo.v67.i3-4.a6.2018. 2018.

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Basic information
Original name	Switches in covering of eggs in grey partridge Perdix perdix clutches during laying and incubation
Authors	ČERNÝ, Martin (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Dana RYMEŠOVÁ (203 Czech Republic) and Miroslav ŠÁLEK (203 Czech Republic).
Edition	Folia Zoologica, 2018, 0139-7893.

Other information
Original language	English
Type of outcome	Article in a journal
Field of Study	10613 Zoology
Country of publisher	Czech Republic
Confidentiality degree	is not subject to a state or trade secret
WWW	URL
Impact factor	Impact factor: 0.594
RIV identification code	RIV/00216224:14310/18:00104909
Organization unit	Faculty of Science
Doi	http://dx.doi.org/10.25225/fozo.v67.i3-4.a6.2018
UT WoS	000456077400003
Keywords in English	birds; nesting phase; nest depredation; nest survival; antipredator tactic; testing egg
Changed by	Changed by: Mgr. Tereza Miškechová, učo 341652. Changed: 2/5/2019 16:18.

Abstract
Covering of eggs is important antipredator behaviour which is known for several bird species. Generally this behaviour is considered consistent throughout the whole nesting cycle but there can be exceptions in some species. We found two switches in egg covering during nesting in grey partridge: the first between two early laying phases, the second between later laying and incubation. The clutch containing only the first egg remained uncovered, larger clutches were covered with dry vegetation in the laying period, but the eggs remained uncovered during incubation breaks. There was a strong consistency of this behaviour among females. From four tested factors, only nesting period significantly affected egg covering. We assume that the fast uncovered egg may serve as a bait for predators to test nest-site safety whereas the motion in the course of egg covering during short incubation breaks may increase predator attraction.

Abstract

Covering of eggs is important antipredator behaviour which is known for several bird species. Generally this behaviour is considered consistent throughout the whole nesting cycle but there can be exceptions in some species. We found two switches in egg covering during nesting in grey partridge: the first between two early laying phases, the second between later laying and incubation. The clutch containing only the first egg remained uncovered, larger clutches were covered with dry vegetation in the laying period, but the eggs remained uncovered during incubation breaks. There was a strong consistency of this behaviour among females. From four tested factors, only nesting period significantly affected egg covering. We assume that the fast uncovered egg may serve as a bait for predators to test nest-site safety whereas the motion in the course of egg covering during short incubation breaks may increase predator attraction.