Assessing chick growth from a single visit to a seabird colony
Marine Ornithology: Journal of Seabird Research and Conservation
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Abstract
We tested an approach to the collection of seabird chick growth data that utilizes a one-time sampling of chick measurements obtained during a single visit to a seabird colony. We assessed the development of Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla chicks from a sample of measurements made on a single day during six years and compared these results to linear growth rates (g/day), determined from repeated measurements of the same chicks. We used two one-time sampling methods to obtain indices of chick-condition, 1) overall body-size (wing, head-plus-bill, tarsus) vs. mass, and 2) wing vs. mass; both were consistent with repeated measurements in identifying annual variations in chick growth. Thus, we suggest that chick-condition indices obtained from measurements collected on a single visit to a seabird colony are a useful tool for monitoring chick growth, especially at colonies where multiple visits and/or repeated measurements of individual chicks are impractical.
Suggested Citation
Benson, J., Suryan, R., and Piatt, J.F., 2003, Assessing chick growth from a single visit to a seabird colony: Marine Ornithology: Journal of Seabird Research and Conservation, v. 31, no. 2, p. 181-184.
ISSN: 2074-1235 (online)
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Assessing chick growth from a single visit to a seabird colony |
| Series title | Marine Ornithology: Journal of Seabird Research and Conservation |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Year Published | 2003 |
| Language | English |
| Contributing office(s) | Alaska Biological Science Center |
| Description | pp. 181-184 |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Marine Ornithology |
| First page | 181 |
| Last page | 184 |