Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chick growth and prey quality in the European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

  1. 1.

    In each of four replicate experiments we fed three groups of bee-eater chicks for 24 h on different diets: bees, dragonflies, and a mixture of the two.

  2. 2.

    Dry weight assimilation efficiency did not differ between treatments and was in the region of 40–50%. Caloric assimilation efficiency was about 60% and did not differ significantly between diets.

  3. 3.

    Mean Growth efficiency (wt. gain/intake) was highest in all four replicates in chicks fed on the mixed diet.

  4. 4.

    When metabolic requirements are taken into account, growth efficiency on the mixed diet varies less with variation in intake than on the two pure diets.

  5. 5.

    The advantage of feeding chicks on a mixed diet may partly explain why parents do not show exclusive preferences for energy-maximising prey types.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al Jaborae FF (1979) The influence of diet on the gut morphology of the Starling (Sturnus vulgaris L. 1758) D. Phil thesis, Oxford

  • Belovsky G (1978) Diet optimisation in a generalist herbivore: the moose. Theoret Pop Biol 14:105–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Drodz A (1967) Food preference, food digestibility and the natural food supply of small rodents. In: Petrusewicz K (ed) Secondary productrivity of terrestrial ecosystems, vol 1. Polish Acad Sci, Warsaw, pp 323–330

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn EH (1975a) Caloric intake of nestling double-crested cormorants. Auk 92:553–565

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn EH (1975b) Growth, body components and energy contents of nestling double-crested cormorants. Condor 77:431–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeland WS, Janzen DH (1974) Strategies in herbivory by mammals: the role of plant secondary compounds. Am Natur 108:269–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibb J (1957) Food requirements and other observations on captive tits. Bird Study 4:207–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Goss-Custard J (1977) The energetics of prey selection by redshank Tringa totana (L.), in relation to prey density. J Anim Ecol 46:1–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenstone MH (1979) Spider feeding behaviour optimises dietary essential amino acid composition. Nature 282:501–503

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudson PJ (1983) The variation and synchronisation of daily weight increments of Puffin chicks Fratercula arctica. Ibis 125:557–561

    Google Scholar 

  • Kale HW II (1965) Ecology and bioenergetics of the large-billed marsh wren Telmatodytes palustris in Georgia salt marshes. Publ Nuttall Ornith Club 5:1–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleiber M (1975) The fire of life. 2nd edition. Kriege Publishing Co, Huntington N.Y., p 234

    Google Scholar 

  • Kluijver HN (1933) Bijdrage tot de biologie en de ecologie van de spreeaw (Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris L.) gedurende ziju voortpalantingstijd. Pub Plantenzieklenk Dienst Wageningen

  • Krebs JR, Avery MI (1985) Central-place foraging in a single-prey loader: the European Bee Eater Merops apiaster. L. J Anim Ecol (in press)

  • Krebs JR, McCleery R (1984) Optimisation in behavioural ecology. In: Krebs JR, Davies NB (eds) Behavioural Ecology: an evolutionary approach. Oxford, Blackwells Scientific Publications, pp. 91–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Krebs JR, Stephens DW, Sutherland WJ (1983) Perspectives in optimal foraging. In: Brush AH and Clark GA Jr (eds) Perspectives in Ornithology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp 165–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Lessells CM, Stephens DW (1983) Central place foraging: singleprey loaders again. Anim Behav 31:238–243

    Google Scholar 

  • Melnyk RB, Boshes M (1980) Efficiency of food utilization during body weight gain in Dormice (Glis glis). Physiol Behav 24:1017–1021

    Google Scholar 

  • Owen-Smith N, Novellie P (1982) What should a clever ungulate eat? Am Natur 119:151–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Rapport DJ (1980) Optimal foraging for complementary resources. Am Natur 116:324–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Royama T (1970) Factors affecting the hunting behaviour and selection of food by the great tit Parus major L. J Anim Ecol 39:619–668

    Google Scholar 

  • Tinbergen JM (1981) Foraging decisions in Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris L.). Ardea 69:1–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Westerterp K (1973) Energy budget of the nestling starling Sturnus vulgaris, a field study. Ardea 61:137–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman JL (1965) Bioenergetics of the dickcissel Spiza americana. Physiol Zool 38:370–389

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, South Parks Road, OX1 3PS, Oxford, Great Britain

    John R. Krebs & Mark I. Avery

Authors
  1. John R. Krebs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mark I. Avery
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Krebs, J.R., Avery, M.I. Chick growth and prey quality in the European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster). Oecologia 64, 363–368 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379134

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379134

Keywords

Search

Navigation