CHANGES IN EGG SIZE AND CLUTCH SIZE WITH ELEVATION IN A WYOMING POPULATION OF MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS

Abstract

Abstract Few studies have examined how avian life-history traits vary within populations as elevation increases and climate becomes more severe. We compared egg and clutch sizes of Mountain Bluebirds (Sialia currucoides) nesting at two elevations (1500 m and 2500 m above sea level) in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming over two years. Eggs laid by females at the high-elevation site were, on average, significantly (6%) smaller in volume than eggs laid by their lower-elevation counterparts. Across elevations, egg size showed a significant positive correlation with female body condition (weight relative to size), and high-elevation females had significantly lower indices of condition than low-elevation females. Temperatures during clutch formation were colder at the high-elevation site, and egg size was negatively related to temperature after controlling for the effects of female condition. Clutches of females at high elevations were, on average, marginally smaller (by 5%, 0.3 eggs) than clutches of low-elevat...