Breeding Status and Sex Ratio of Ancient Murrelets Captured in the Nocturnal At-sea Congregation off Teuri Island, Japan

• MATSUI Shin

  Hokkaido Seabird Center

• WHITWORTH Darrell

  California Institute of Environmental Studies

• SUGITA Norimasa

  Department of Botany, National Museum of Nature and Science

• NISHIUMI Isao

  Department of Zoology, National Museum of Nature and Science

Abstract

We examined brood patch development, sex ratios, and morphological traits of 30 Ancient Murrelets Synthliboramphus antiquus captured from the nocturnal at-sea congregation off Teuri Island, Hokkaido, Japan during late May to early June 2016. Molecular sexing determined that 12 of the murrelets were males and 18 were females. The proportions of murrelets with brood patches (an indicator of breeding status) were similar for males (58%) and females (56%). Breeding murrelets were heavier than non-breeding murrelets. Males had deeper bills and longer heads than females, but their weights, wings, culmens, tarsi, bill widths, and skull widths were similar.

Journal

• ORNITHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

  ORNITHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 19 (2), 203-209, 2020

  The Ornithological Society of Japan

Keywords

• At-sea congregation
• Breeding season
• Brood patch
• Night-lighting capture
• <i>Synthliboramphus antiquus</i>

Details

• CRID: 1390285300178970624
• NII Article ID: 130007881636
• DOI: 10.2326/osj.19.203
• ISSN: 13470558
• Text Lang: en
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed