Journal of Natural Environment

Journal of Natural Environment

Calculation of Breeding Success in Birds, with Having Missing Information which Occurred due to Irregular Visits: Breeding Success of Iranian Ground-Jay (Podoces pleskei), Turan Biosphere Reserve, Semnan province, Iran

Authors
Noushin Satei
Mohammad Kaboli
Saeed Cheraghi
Mahmoud Karami
Mitra Shariati Najafabadi
Abstract
Knowing the exact time of first-laying and hatching has great importance in breeding success studies. For this purpose, it is necessary to have regular nest visits. There might be conditions, such as long distance between nests and/o their low densities that lead to regular visits become impossible; this will cause a lack of information for the estimation of probability of breeding success. Mayfield provided a method which works for estimation of survival rate in different reproduction periods, as well as estimation of nest success despi f missing data. This study was conducted during February to May 2008, in Mehrano plain (in Touran B.R.).Mayfield'sld method was performed for breeding success of Iranian Ground-Jay "Podoces pleskei". Based on results, the probability of eggs' survival during the incubation period, survival of chicks during hatching period and nestling probability was 0.435, 0.86, and 0.963 respectively. The overall success from the begthe incubation period incubation period to nestling time was calculated 0.36. Our result showed that the eggs are faced with several threats during the breeding period. The maximum mortality rate was detected during the incubation period. Predators such as Great Monitor (Varanus griseus) are playing a key role in this concern. Reducing such treats during the incubation period plays a fundamental act to increase the breeding success and in result improve population.
Keywords
Breeding success
Mayfield method
Podoces pleskei
Turan biosphere reserve
Journal of Natural Environment
Volume 64, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
Autumn 2011
Pages 209-217