Nesting ecology and nest site selection of green-legged partridge
Journal article
Authors/Editors
Strategic Research Themes
No matching items found.
Publication Details
Author list: Ong-In T., Pierce A.J., Gale G.A., Browne S.J., Savini T.
Publication year: 2016
Journal: Raffles bulletin of Zoology (0217-2445)
Volume number: 64
Start page: 89
End page: 97
Number of pages: 9
ISSN: 0217-2445
Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)
View in Web of Science | View citing articles in Web of Science
Abstract
The ecology of the hill partridges, comprising the genera Arborophila and the recently revived Tropicoperdix, is poorly known and field-based studies are required to increase our understanding and facilitate the development of conservation action plans. We examined the nesting ecology and nest site selection of the green-legged partridge (Tropicoperdix chloropus) in Khao Yai National Park, northeastern Thailand from 2007 to 2010. Nests were monitored using 24-hour video cameras and habitat characteristics at nest sites and random sites were examined to determine nest site selection. Eighteen nests were found, all on the ground between the buttresses of large trees. Nesting took place during the rainy season (May–September). The average incubation period was 19.2 ± 0.5 SE days (range = 18–20 days, N = four nests). Nest survival was 26.7 ± 11.1 SE % (N = 16), which was within the range of other galliformes species at the study site. Clutch size was two to four eggs and mean clutch size was 3.19 ± 0.14 SE eggs (N = 16); however, clutch size was larger and breeding started earlier (~6 weeks) in the year that precipitation started unseasonably early. Nest predators included macaques (N = five nests) and treeshrews (N = one nest). The female partridge incubated alone and showed high incubation constancy of 98%. The position of their nests between the buttresses of large trees likely has the potential to serve as concealment from potential predators. Our nest site selection model indicated that green-legged partridge preferred to place nests in an area associated with dense vegetation and higher coverage of small trees, higher density of large trees, and a higher number of woody climber stems. An enhanced understanding of how nest site selection relates to environmental factors will facilitate insight into the ecology of this species and will be beneficial for understanding potential ecological differences between Arborophila and those suggested to belong to Tropicoperdix. © National University of Singapore.
Keywords
Arborophila chloropus, Incubation behaviour, Nest predation, nest survival
Contact Information