Data from: Ecological drivers and fitness consequences of incubation period in Ficedula albicollis (Collared Flycatcher): Insights from a long-term data set

Using a 37-year dataset of collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis), we
examined how incubation duration is influenced by environmental conditions
and female characteristics. In our study, we clearly demonstrated that the
length of the incubation period exhibits variability and may be subject to
selection. Our findings indicate that the duration of the incubation
period tended to affect hatching success but played a more substantial
role in recruitment, which is a key indicator of fitness. We found that
incubation duration is significantly affected by laying date, clutch size,
female body condition, and ambient temperature, including its variability.
Interestingly, both low and high ambient temperatures are linked to
shorter incubation periods. In turn, an increase in temperature
variability is associated with shortening incubation periods. Further
research is needed to explore the long-term impacts of these incubation
strategies on population viability, particularly in the face of increasing
climate variability.