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The energetic costs of incubation

Nord, Andreas LU and Williams, Joseph B. (2015) p.152-170
Abstract
This chapter discusses several different aspects of the energy balance and physiological homeostasis of incubating birds, ranging from systematic, geographical and life history related variation in energy costs of incubation, to thermal considerations for birds on the nest, links between energy expenditure and fitness, and non-energetic costs of incubation. Our review of the literature shows that, across all bird species, this energy costs amounts to 3.4 times the basal metabolic rate (BMR). This is 15% lower than the cost of chick rearing (2.9 × BMR) for all birds, but is roughly equal to chick-rearing costs in those species in which only the female incubates. Energy costs are typically higher in challenging conditions, such as during... (More)
This chapter discusses several different aspects of the energy balance and physiological homeostasis of incubating birds, ranging from systematic, geographical and life history related variation in energy costs of incubation, to thermal considerations for birds on the nest, links between energy expenditure and fitness, and non-energetic costs of incubation. Our review of the literature shows that, across all bird species, this energy costs amounts to 3.4 times the basal metabolic rate (BMR). This is 15% lower than the cost of chick rearing (2.9 × BMR) for all birds, but is roughly equal to chick-rearing costs in those species in which only the female incubates. Energy costs are typically higher in challenging conditions, such as during incubation in harsh climates. This can impair fitness of parents and offspring, but little is understood about the physiological basis for such costs. We highlight and discuss possible mechanisms by which increased energy expenditure in incubating birds might hamper adult survival and, independently, carry over to also affect nestling phenotype and performance. We end by drawing attention to situations where the primary currency for incubation is not energy-based, which we exemplify by a discussion on the water economy of incubation in desert birds. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
body temperature, egg temperature, energy expenditure, incubation, metabolic rate, immune function, oxidative stress, total evaporative water loss
host publication
Nests, Eggs, and Incubation: New Ideas About Avian Reproduction
editor
Deeming, D. Charles and Reynolds, James S.
pages
152 - 170
publisher
Oxford University Press
ISBN
978-0-19-871866-6
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
2cb2ec8f-eedb-46ff-8f91-052e94aeb1a9 (old id 4813226)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 11:12:24
date last changed
2021-01-06 02:51:55
@inbook{2cb2ec8f-eedb-46ff-8f91-052e94aeb1a9,
  abstract     = {{This chapter discusses several different aspects of the energy balance and physiological homeostasis of incubating birds, ranging from systematic, geographical and life history related variation in energy costs of incubation, to thermal considerations for birds on the nest, links between energy expenditure and fitness, and non-energetic costs of incubation. Our review of the literature shows that, across all bird species, this energy costs amounts to 3.4 times the basal metabolic rate (BMR). This is 15% lower than the cost of chick rearing (2.9 × BMR) for all birds, but is roughly equal to chick-rearing costs in those species in which only the female incubates. Energy costs are typically higher in challenging conditions, such as during incubation in harsh climates. This can impair fitness of parents and offspring, but little is understood about the physiological basis for such costs. We highlight and discuss possible mechanisms by which increased energy expenditure in incubating birds might hamper adult survival and, independently, carry over to also affect nestling phenotype and performance. We end by drawing attention to situations where the primary currency for incubation is not energy-based, which we exemplify by a discussion on the water economy of incubation in desert birds.}},
  author       = {{Nord, Andreas and Williams, Joseph B.}},
  booktitle    = {{Nests, Eggs, and Incubation: New Ideas About Avian Reproduction}},
  editor       = {{Deeming, D. Charles and Reynolds, James S.}},
  isbn         = {{978-0-19-871866-6}},
  keywords     = {{body temperature; egg temperature; energy expenditure; incubation; metabolic rate; immune function; oxidative stress; total evaporative water loss}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{152--170}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  title        = {{The energetic costs of incubation}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}