Abstract
The White Tern (Gygis alba) and Black Noddy (Anous minutus) are two tropical charadriiform seabirds characterized by prolonged incubation of their eggs, slow embryonic growth, and a high total energetic cost of embryonic development (Whittow 1980, Pettit et al. 1981, Pettit and Whittow 1983). The present study was undertaken to ascertain if post-hatching growth was also slow and if the nestling period was prolonged in the two species. A long nestling period reduces the energy requirement of the chick (Ricklefs and White 1981) but may place an energetic burden upon breeding adults. To evaluate this possible energetic constraint in the Black Noddy, the oxygen consumption of the chick was measured to estimate the total energy cost of maintenance activities.
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