Title:

Mate choice in the great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo: a zoo study

Subtitle:

Acta Ornithologica, vol. 35, no. 1 ; Wybór partnera u kormoranów w warunkach ogrodu zoologicznego

Creator:

Grieco, Fabrizio (1969– ) ; Kortlandt, Adriaan (1918–2009)

Contributor:

Polska Akademia Nauk. Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii ; Meeting of the European Ornithologists' Union (2 ; 1999 ; Gdańsk)

Publisher:

Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii PAN

Place of publishing:

Warszawa

Date issued/created:

2000

Description:

Referat wygłoszony na Second Meeting of the European Ornithologists' Union ; Bibliogr. p. 78 ; P. [73]-78 : ill. ; 27 cm ; Abstract in Polish

Type of object:

Journal/Article

Subject and Keywords:

Great Cormorant ; reproduction ; Netherlands ; Amsterdam ; congresses ; pair-formation process ; divorce rate ; zoo study ; cormorants ; birds ; Phalacrocorax carbo ; Phalacrocoracidae ; Aves ; 1982-97

Abstract:

Study (1982-1997) in the small cormorants' colony of the Amsterdam Zoo addressed the question of what factors determine between-season divorce. The proportion of pairs splitting up the next year was 0.46, i.e. less than in wild populations. Low divorce rate could not be explained by the small population size. Computer simulations showed that if pair-formation in the zoo occurred at random, divorce rate would be higher. Occurrence of divorce was unrelated to previous breeding success or age of pair mates. The only variable that could predict divorce was the frequency of interactions of pair mates after breeding. Pair mates that were not seen together after breeding were more likely to split up the next year. Thus mate retention probably involved some process of choice by the partners. This led to the suggestion that mate retention in the wild is constrained, since contact between mates is lost during migration. We also found that extra-pair copulations (EPCs) played a role in the assessment and choice of the mate. Female Cormorants pursued EPCs mostly when they were presumably not fertile. Involvement in EPCs increased the probability that the female subsequently paired with the male concerned. It is proposed that EPCs may have the additional function of assessing the quality of potential mates for future pair-formation.

Relation:

Acta Ornithologica

Volume:

35

Issue:

1

Start page:

73

End page:

78

Resource type:

Text

Detailed Resource Type:

Article

Format:

application/pdf

Source:

MiIZ PAN, call no. P.257, Vol. 35, No 1 ; MiIZ PAN, call no. P.4568, Vol. 35, No 1 ; click here to follow the link

Language:

eng ; pol

Rights:

Rights Reserved - Restricted Access

Terms of use:

Copyright-protected material. Access only on terminals at the Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, may be used within the limits of statutory user freedoms.

Digitizing institution:

Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Original in:

Library of the Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Projects co-financed by:

Programme Innovative Economy, 2010-2014, Priority Axis 2. R&D infrastructure ; European Union. European Regional Development Fund

Access:

Closed