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Auk.: Effects of incubation delay on viability and
microbial growth of wood duck (Aix sponsa) eggs.
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| Article Type: | Reprint |
| Subject: |
Ducks
(Growth) Birds (Eggs and nests) Birds (Growth) |
| Authors: |
Walls, J.G. Hepp, G.R. Eckhardt, L.G. |
| Pub Date: | 03/01/2012 |
| Publication: | Name: Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery Publisher: Association of Avian Veterinarians Audience: Academic Format: Magazine/Journal Subject: Health Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2012 Association of Avian Veterinarians ISSN: 1082-6742 |
| Issue: | Date: March, 2012 Source Volume: 26 Source Issue: 1 |
| Topic: | Event Code: 310 Science & research Computer Subject: Company growth |
| Product: | Product Code: 0259100 Ducks NAICS Code: 11239 Other Poultry Production SIC Code: 0259 Poultry and eggs, not elsewhere classified |
| Geographic: | Geographic Scope: United States Geographic Code: 1USA United States |
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| Accession Number: | 288978093 |
| Full Text: |
Egg viability in birds declines with increasing length of the delay
in the start of incubation (ie, incubation delay) and may be influenced
by microbial infection and exposure of eggs to temperatures above
physiological zero (>24[degrees]C). Onset of incubation during egg
laying results in developmental asynchrony of embryos but may help to
maintain viability of early-laid eggs. We manipulated incubation delay
of wood duck (Aix sponsa) eggs and tested for effects of incubation
delay and ambient temperature on egg viability and microbial infection.
We also examined onset of incubation by egg-laying females. Hatching
success declined slowly with increasing length of incubation delay and
was very weakly affected by increasing exposure to temperatures
>24[degrees]C. On average, females began incubation at night 7 days
after nest initiation, but egg viability had declined only 8.6% (95%
confidence interval, 4.3-15.2) by day 7. Microbial infection of
eggshells was not related to length of incubation delay or mean daily
temperature of the exposure period. Clutch size declined as the breeding
season progressed, and nocturnal incubation began earlier in the laying
sequence with declining clutch sizes. Laying females, regardless of
clutch size, incubated for 3 nights before starting full incubation. We
suggest that early onset of incubation may be more important in reducing
incubation period and predation risk than in maintaining viability of
early-laid eggs. 2011;128:663-670. |
| Gale Copyright: | Copyright 2012 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. |