Dual function of egg-covering in the Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus

摘要: Many bird species take recesses during incubation, and while the nests are unattended, eggs may both be vulnerable to predation reach suboptimal temperatures for embryo development. Perhaps avoid these negative possibilities, some birds cover their with materials when they depart from nests. We examined experimentally, using ground-nesting Kentish plover as model species, whether egg-covering allows egg remain within optimal limits embryogenesis in unattended nests, thus reducing requirements of contact simultaneously maintain eggs’ camouflage. There was a relationship between nest attendance ambient temperature, but only mid-morning, period day eggcovering most frequent. Indeed, mid-morning not served better camouflage eggs, also thermal thresholds remained unattended. During other periods day, covered overheated (e.g., afternoon) or did temperature early morning). which uncovered alleviate overheating, easier locate by predators, because less well camouflaged. Therefore, appropriate environment inseparable functions plover.