Eggshell Thickness Variation in Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) from Spain

Aurora M. Castilla; Juan Martínez de Aragón; Anthony Herrel; Søren Møller

doi:10.1676/08-024.1

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1 March 2009 Eggshell Thickness Variation in Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) from Spain

Aurora M. Castilla, Juan Martínez de Aragón, Anthony Herrel, Søren Møller

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The Wilson J. of Ornithology, 121(1):167-170 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1676/08-024.1

Abstract

Eggshell thickness is commonly used as an indicator of habitat quality and effects of environmental pollution on avian reproduction. We present the first data available on eggshell thickness for Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) in Spain. We compared eggshell thickness between eggs collected in an agricultural area (wild eggs) and eggs from game farms (farm eggs). Wild eggs had shells significantly thicker (x̄ = 0.32 mm, n = 74) than farm eggs (x̄ = 0.28 mm, n = 89), despite game farm partridges being fed a diet rich in calcium and not exposed to agricultural pollutants. Eggshell thickness did not affect hatching success of wild partridges, and population decline observed in this species cannot be linked to reduction in egg viability due to eggshell thickness.

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Aurora M. Castilla, Juan Martínez de Aragón, Anthony Herrel, and Søren Møller "Eggshell Thickness Variation in Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) from Spain," The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 121(1), 167-170, (1 March 2009). https://doi.org/10.1676/08-024.1

Received: 8 February 2008; Accepted: 1 May 2008; Published: 1 March 2009

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