Investigating the possible change in breeding strategy of African black oystercatchers

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dc.contributor.advisorRyan, Peter Gen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorHockey, Phil A Ren_ZA
dc.contributor.authorPaijmans, Dane Matthewen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-05-28T07:02:09Z
dc.date.available2015-05-28T07:02:09Z
dc.date.issued2014en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAfrican Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus moquini) have a modal clutch size of two eggs but occasionally lay one or three eggs. It has been noted that an increase in frequency of larger threeand even four-egg clutches has occurred over the last few decades. By analysing extensive historical nest records dating back five decades I verified the occurrence of this increase in three-egg clutches over many of the sites within their breeding range. As African Black Oystercatchers are very territorial, co-operative polygyny was rejected as a sole cause (through observations). As eggs were found to be significantly similar (through intra-clutch egg shape comparisons) within clutches egg-dumping as a cause was also rejected. It was thus established that the increase in three-egg clutch frequency was indicating an increase in breeding effort. On further analysis of this increase, it was discovered that three-egg clutches offer no benefit to species fitness or breeding success as they do not result in an increased fledgling output to those of the smaller two-egg clutches. This is primarily due to inefficient incubation as a result of the extra egg, and the inability to maintain and feed a larger brood size. This study validates previous assertions that three-egg clutch frequency is increasing for African Black Oystercatchers.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationPaijmans, D. M. (2014). <i>Investigating the possible change in breeding strategy of African black oystercatchers</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12975en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationPaijmans, Dane Matthew. <i>"Investigating the possible change in breeding strategy of African black oystercatchers."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12975en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationPaijmans, D. 2014. Investigating the possible change in breeding strategy of African black oystercatchers. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Paijmans, Dane Matthew AB - African Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus moquini) have a modal clutch size of two eggs but occasionally lay one or three eggs. It has been noted that an increase in frequency of larger threeand even four-egg clutches has occurred over the last few decades. By analysing extensive historical nest records dating back five decades I verified the occurrence of this increase in three-egg clutches over many of the sites within their breeding range. As African Black Oystercatchers are very territorial, co-operative polygyny was rejected as a sole cause (through observations). As eggs were found to be significantly similar (through intra-clutch egg shape comparisons) within clutches egg-dumping as a cause was also rejected. It was thus established that the increase in three-egg clutch frequency was indicating an increase in breeding effort. On further analysis of this increase, it was discovered that three-egg clutches offer no benefit to species fitness or breeding success as they do not result in an increased fledgling output to those of the smaller two-egg clutches. This is primarily due to inefficient incubation as a result of the extra egg, and the inability to maintain and feed a larger brood size. This study validates previous assertions that three-egg clutch frequency is increasing for African Black Oystercatchers. DA - 2014 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2014 T1 - Investigating the possible change in breeding strategy of African black oystercatchers TI - Investigating the possible change in breeding strategy of African black oystercatchers UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12975 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/12975
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationPaijmans DM. Investigating the possible change in breeding strategy of African black oystercatchers. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2014 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12975en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherOrnithologyen_ZA
dc.titleInvestigating the possible change in breeding strategy of African black oystercatchersen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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