An unusual homing behavior found in the Sichuan Partridge during the early brooding period
Abstract In this study, we report an unusual homing behavior of the Sichuan Partridge (Arborophila rufipectus) at the Laojunshan National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, China. Hen Sichuan Partridges led the chicks back to the nests where they hatched in the evening and roosted there over night. T...
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BMC
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Avian Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-020-00233-6 |
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doaj-6c0933c4b6ed4032ab7cfff05f43fa6f2020-12-06T12:16:20ZengBMCAvian Research2053-71662020-12-011111410.1186/s40657-020-00233-6An unusual homing behavior found in the Sichuan Partridge during the early brooding periodYiqiang Fu0Shufang Wang1Benping Chen2Simon Dowell3Zhengwang Zhang4College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Normal UniversityCollege of Life Sciences, Sichuan Normal UniversityLaojunshan National Nature Reserve AdministrationNorth of England Zoological Society, Chester ZooMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal UniversityAbstract In this study, we report an unusual homing behavior of the Sichuan Partridge (Arborophila rufipectus) at the Laojunshan National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, China. Hen Sichuan Partridges led the chicks back to the nests where they hatched in the evening and roosted there over night. This behavior lasted 6.7 ± 4.3 nights (range = 1–15; n = 13) after the chicks hatched. At this stage, the hens became very vigilant to predators and human disturbance. If disturbed, they often abandoned the nests immediately and no longer returned thereafter. The ambient temperature at night during the early brooding period of Sichuan Partridge at our study site was ~ 12.4 °C. Our findings suggest that hen Sichuan Partridges may make trade-offs between nest predation risks versus the thermoregulatory needs of their young.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-020-00233-6Arborophila rufipectusEarly brooding periodHoming behaviorPredation riskThermoregulation |
| collection |
DOAJ |
| language |
English |
| format |
Article |
| sources |
DOAJ |
| author |
Yiqiang Fu Shufang Wang Benping Chen Simon Dowell Zhengwang Zhang |
| spellingShingle |
Yiqiang Fu Shufang Wang Benping Chen Simon Dowell Zhengwang Zhang An unusual homing behavior found in the Sichuan Partridge during the early brooding period Avian Research Arborophila rufipectus Early brooding period Homing behavior Predation risk Thermoregulation |
| author_facet |
Yiqiang Fu Shufang Wang Benping Chen Simon Dowell Zhengwang Zhang |
| author_sort |
Yiqiang Fu |
| title |
An unusual homing behavior found in the Sichuan Partridge during the early brooding period |
| title_short |
An unusual homing behavior found in the Sichuan Partridge during the early brooding period |
| title_full |
An unusual homing behavior found in the Sichuan Partridge during the early brooding period |
| title_fullStr |
An unusual homing behavior found in the Sichuan Partridge during the early brooding period |
| title_full_unstemmed |
An unusual homing behavior found in the Sichuan Partridge during the early brooding period |
| title_sort |
unusual homing behavior found in the sichuan partridge during the early brooding period |
| publisher |
BMC |
| series |
Avian Research |
| issn |
2053-7166 |
| publishDate |
2020-12-01 |
| description |
Abstract In this study, we report an unusual homing behavior of the Sichuan Partridge (Arborophila rufipectus) at the Laojunshan National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, China. Hen Sichuan Partridges led the chicks back to the nests where they hatched in the evening and roosted there over night. This behavior lasted 6.7 ± 4.3 nights (range = 1–15; n = 13) after the chicks hatched. At this stage, the hens became very vigilant to predators and human disturbance. If disturbed, they often abandoned the nests immediately and no longer returned thereafter. The ambient temperature at night during the early brooding period of Sichuan Partridge at our study site was ~ 12.4 °C. Our findings suggest that hen Sichuan Partridges may make trade-offs between nest predation risks versus the thermoregulatory needs of their young. |
| topic |
Arborophila rufipectus Early brooding period Homing behavior Predation risk Thermoregulation |
| url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-020-00233-6 |
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