Patterns of postnatal growth in a small falcon, the lesser kestrel <i>Falco naumanni</i> (Fleischer, 1818) (Aves: Falconidae)

Following a dramatic decline, the lesser kestrel <i>Falco naumanni</i> global population has recently stabilised, although it is still fluctuating in several countries, including Greece. Nestling growth rates and size at fledging greatly influence future survival and reproductive success, and therefore the study of postnatal growth can aid the understanding of population dynamics and the conservation of avian populations. We quantified body mass and morphological traits in female and male lesser kestrel nestlings from a lowland Greek breeding population. Nonlinear mixed models were used to describe and compare growth trajectories. Growth in body mass, tarsus and bill reached asymptotic values before fledging and was best described by the logistic equation, whereas total length grew linearly beyond the fledging phase. Random variation was found in the asymptote in body mass, the inflection point in body mass, tarsus and bill lengths and the intercept in total length, being substantially higher between nests than amongst siblings, implying differences in parental quality between nests and also an even distribution of parental care amongst siblings. Random effects were not observed on the growth rate constant, supporting the hypothesis that it varies little within populations. Females were significantly heavier and had longer bills and total length than males, whereas males were similar to females in tarsus growth. Nonlinear mixed models allowed us to describe a stage of avian life vital for future survival and reproductive output and reveal variation between nests, nestlings and the sexes.

黄爪隼（Lesser Kestrel，*Falco naumanni*）的全球种群在经历剧烈下降后，近期已趋于稳定，但包括希腊在内的多个国家的种群仍处于波动状态。雏鸟的生长速率及离巢时的体型大小，对其未来的存活与繁殖成功率具有关键影响，因此对产后生长的研究可为种群动态解析与鸟类种群保护提供理论支撑。本研究针对希腊低地繁殖种群中的黄爪隼雌雄雏鸟，量化了其体重与多项形态性状指标。研究采用非线性混合模型（Nonlinear mixed models）对生长轨迹进行描述与比较：体重、跗跖及喙部的生长在离巢前即达到渐近值，其中逻辑斯蒂方程（logistic equation）对其拟合效果最佳；而总体长在离巢后仍呈线性生长趋势。研究发现，体重渐近值、体重拐点、跗跖与喙部长度拐点，以及总体长截距存在随机变异，且巢间变异显著高于同胞间变异，这暗示不同巢群间的亲代抚育质量存在差异，同时同胞间的亲代抚育分配较为均匀。生长速率常数未观测到随机效应，这支持了“种群内该参数变异程度较低”的假说。雌性雏鸟的体重显著高于雄性，喙部与总体长也更长；而雄性的跗跖生长与雌性无显著差异。本研究通过非线性混合模型，阐明了对鸟类未来存活与繁殖产出至关重要的生命阶段，并揭示了巢群间、雏鸟间以及不同性别间的生长差异。

搜集汇总

背景与挑战

背景概述

该数据集研究了小隼（Falco naumanni）出生后的生长模式，使用非线性混合模型分析了希腊低地繁殖种群中雌雄雏鸟的体重、跗跖、喙和总长度等形态特征。研究发现生长轨迹存在巢间差异和性大小二态性，雌性在体重、喙长和总长度上显著大于雄性，这有助于理解种群动态和制定保护策略。数据集包括原始数据文件，如PDF文档，涵盖生理学、生态学等类别，并采用CC BY 4.0许可。