GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN CLUTCH SIZE AMONG Lophura AND Syrmaticus PHEASANTS ON TAIWAN AND MAINLAND OF CHINA

Authors

  • Zuhao Huang
  • Naifa Liu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7213/reb.v28i63.22721

Keywords:

Lophura, Syrmaticus, Clutch size, Reproductive strategy, Geographic variation

Abstract

Clutch size, the important parameters of bird reproduction, directly influences bird reproductive result. The difference of interspecific or/and intraspecific clutch size has been widely applied to explain life history evolution. In order to know the factors limiting clutch size of pheasants on island and examine Ashmole’s hypothesis and Cody’s hypothesis,clutch size and egg size of Lophura swinhoii and Syrmaticus mikado on Taiwan were compared with those of relative species on mainland of China. The average clutch size of L.swinhoii and S.mikado on Taiwan were significantly less than those of relative species on mainland. But the egg size of the two pheasants on Taiwan was notably bigger than those of relative species on mainland. They reduced clutch size and increased egg sizes, their reproductive strategies tended to k-selection. While the relative species on mainland laid more and smaller eggs, their reproductive strategies tended to rselection. The analysis on environmental factors showed the pheasants on Taiwan didn’t support Ashmole’s and Cody’s hypotheses. Unexpected weather condition on island might lead to the breeding strategy on island tend to k-selection. Among Gallinaceous birds, there was a highly significant positive correlation between clutch size and their distributed area, and the number of subspecies. The breeding strategy of pheasants on island was determined by the effects of area and heredity.

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Published

2006-11-24

How to Cite

Huang, Z., & Liu, N. (2006). GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN CLUTCH SIZE AMONG Lophura AND Syrmaticus PHEASANTS ON TAIWAN AND MAINLAND OF CHINA. Revista Estudos De Biologia, 28(63). https://doi.org/10.7213/reb.v28i63.22721

Issue

Section

Fluxo Contínuo