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SOME ASPECTS OF INCUBATION IN THE MANX SHEARWATER PROCELLARIA PUFFINUS, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO CHILLING RESISTANCE IN THE EMBRYO
Author(s) -
Matthews. G. V. T.
Publication year - 1954
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.1954.tb02334.x
Subject(s) - incubation , hatching , biology , incubation period , zoology , burrow , embryo , egg incubation , ecology , fishery , biochemistry
Summary. 1. Large‐scale excavations and observations during homing experiments provided incidental data on incubation. 2. The main period (median 90%) of egg‐laying is from 25 April to 20 May, of hatching from 17 June to 12 July. The median dates for these processes are 6 May and 28 June. The average incubation period is 53 days. 3. Incubation shifts are long (average 5 days) and variable, 2 to 16 days if unrelieved. Temporarily deserted eggs were only found in about 1% of undisturbed nests. 4. Nevertheless many well‐developed eggs hatched after being chilled in the burrow for up to 7 days. Others remained viable for up to 13 days in the laboratory. The length of the chilling period and the stage of development at which it occurs have little effect on the proportion surviving. 5. The ecological and evolutionary significance of the faculty is considered, with a brief survey of chilling resistance in the embryos of other birds.