Open Access
How to translate text using browser tools
1 December 2006 Abundance and Breeding Ecology of Brown Accentors Prunella fulvescens in Lhasa, Tibet
Xin Lu
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Data are presented for the first time on the abundance and breeding ecology of the Brown Accentor in Lhasa, Tibet. During the non-breeding periods, the accentors occurred across a wide altitudinal gradient in a variety of habitats and remained numerically abundant. When breeding, they were restricted to alpine zones (> 4300 m) with scattered shrubs, and the population density declined to a low level (0.02 nests per ha). Nests were built partially in lone-standing short, thorny bushes and at a low height (< 0.8 m) above the ground. Dates of clutch initiation ranged from early May to mid-July, a period of 80 days. Clutch size varied between 2 and 3 eggs, averaging 2.9 (± 0.1). Eggs hatched after 13–14 days of incubation, and young birds fledged at 13–17 days, when they reached 97% of the adult weight. In terms of the proportion of clutches from which at least one chick fledged, breeding success was 56.3%. No evidence of multiple mating was found in this species.

REFERENCES

1.

S. Ali , S. D. Ripley 1987. Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan. Oxford Univ. Press. Google Scholar

2.

A. V. Badyaev 1997. Avian life history variation along altitudinal gradients: An example with cardueline finches. Oecologia 111: 365–374. Google Scholar

3.

A. V. Badyaev , C. K. Ghalambor 2001. Evolution of life histories along elevational gradients: Tradeoff between parental care and fecundity. Ecology 82: 2948–2960. Google Scholar

4.

C. J. Bibby , N. D. Burgess , D. A. Hill 1992. Bird census techniques. Academic Press, London. Google Scholar

5.

G. Bishton 2001. Social structure, habitat use and breeding biology of hedgerow Dunnocks Prunella modularis. Bird Study 48: 188–193. Google Scholar

6.

F. G. Chen , S. Y. Luo 1998. Fauna Sinica, Aves. Vol. IX. Science Press, Beijing. Google Scholar

7.

S. Cramp 1988. The Birds of the Western Palearctic, Vol. V. Oxford Univ. Press. Google Scholar

8.

N. B. Davies 1985. Cooperation and conflict among dunnocks, Prunella modularis, in a variable mating system. Anim. Behav. 33: 628–648. Google Scholar

9.

N. B. Davies 1986. Reproductive success of dunnocks, Prunella modularis, in a variable mating system. I. Factors influencing provisioning rate, nestling weight and fledging success. J. Anim. Ecol. 55: 123–138. Google Scholar

10.

N. B. Davies 1992. Dunnock behaviour and social evolution. Oxford Univ. Press. Google Scholar

11.

N. B. Davies , I. R. Hartley , B. J. Hatchwell , A. Desrochers , J. Skeer , D. Nebel 1995. The polygynandrous mating system of the alpine accentor, Prunella collaris. I. Ecological causes and reproductive conflicts. Anim. Behav. 49: 769–788. Google Scholar

12.

N. B. Davies , B. J. Hatchwell 1992. The value of male parental care and its influence on reproductive allocation by male and female dunnocks. J. Anim. Ecol. 61: 259–272. Google Scholar

13.

N. B. Davies , A. Lundberg 1984. Food distribution and a variable mating system in the dunnock, Prunella modularis. J. Anim. Ecol. 53: 895–912. Google Scholar

14.

R. Grimmentt , C. Inskipp , T. Inskipp 1998. Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Christopher Helm, London. Google Scholar

15.

I. R. Hartley , N. B. Davies , B. J. Hatchwell , A. Desrochers , D. Nebel , T. Burke 1995. The polygynandrous mating system of the alpine accentor, Prunella collaris. II. Multiple paternity and parental effort. Anim. Behav. 49: 789–803. Google Scholar

16.

L. Heer 1994. Cooperative breeding, territoriality and parental care in the alpine accentor. J. Ornithol. 135: 109. Google Scholar

17.

L. Heer 1996. Cooperative breeding by Alpine accentors Prunella collaris: polygynandry, territoriality and multiple paternity. J. Ornithol. 137: 35–51. Google Scholar

18.

Y. X. Jiang , Z. L. Bi , Y. H. Sun 2002. Breeding notes on maroon-backed accentor Prunella immaculata in lianhuashan nature reserve. Sichuan J. Zool. 21: 94–95. Google Scholar

19.

Y. X. Jiang , Y. H. Sun , Z. L. Bi , J. N. Song 2003. Description of the nest and eggs of maroon-backed accentor. Sichuan J. Zool. 22: 91–92. Google Scholar

20.

D. Lack 1966. Population studies of birds. Oxford Univ. Press. Google Scholar

21.

D. Lack 1968. Ecological adaptations for breeding in birds. Methuen, London. Google Scholar

22.

X. Lu 2005. Reproductive ecology of blackbirds (Turdus merula maximus) in a high-altitude location, Tibet. J. Ornithol. 146: 72–78. Google Scholar

23.

M. Nakamura 1990. Cloacal protuberance and copulatory behavior of the alpine accentor (Prunella collaris). Auk 107: 284–295. Google Scholar

24.

M. Nakamura 1995a. Effects of supplemental feeding and female age on timing of breeding in the alpine accentor Prunella collaris. Ibis 137: 56–63. Google Scholar

25.

M. Nakamura 1995b. Effects of supplemental feeding and female age on reproductive success in the alpine accentor Prunella collaris. J. Yamashina Inst. Ornithol. 27: 1–11. Google Scholar

26.

M. Nakamura 1998a. Multiple mating and cooperative breeding in polygynandrous alpine accentors. I. Competition among females. Anim. Behav. 55: 259–275. Google Scholar

27.

M. Nakamura 1998b. Multiple mating and cooperative breeding in polygynandrous alpine accentors. II. Male mating tactics. Anim. Behav. 55: 277–289. Google Scholar

28.

X. A. Zhang 1982. Studies on breeding biology of 10 species of passerine birds in alpine meadow, northern Qinghai, China. Acta Zool. Sin. 28: 190–199. Google Scholar

29.

G. M. Zheng 2002. A Checklist on the classification and distribution of the birds of the World. Science Press, Beijing. Google Scholar

30.

Z. X. Zheng , D. H. Li , Z. X. Wang , Z. Y. Wang , Z. H. Jiang , T. C. Lu 1983. The avifauna of Tibet. Science Press, Beijing. Google Scholar
Xin Lu "Abundance and Breeding Ecology of Brown Accentors Prunella fulvescens in Lhasa, Tibet," Acta Ornithologica 41(2), 121-128, (1 December 2006). https://doi.org/10.3161/068.041.0208
Received: 1 September 2006; Accepted: 1 November 2006; Published: 1 December 2006
KEYWORDS
abundance
breeding biology
Brown Accentor
habitat selection
nestling diet
nest-site selection
Prunella fulvescens
Back to Top