Why there is no negative correlation between egg size and number in the Common Pochard?

Abstract

Trade-off between offspring size and number belongs to the most discussed concepts in the life history theory. Although it has been frequently described at interspecific level as a negative correlation between egg size and number, it is usually difficult to provide similar evidence at a population level. In congruence with most of previous studies, we did not find any evidence for negative correlation between estimated egg mass and clutch size in the Common Pochard (Aythya ferina). However, the predicted negative relationship appeared after incubation when young with many siblings were on average lighter than conspecifics in nests with fewer young. Such a pattern might be generated by differences in hatching success and energy consumption by developing embryos among particular nests. Our data indicate that females which had laid clutches containing many big eggs lost a much larger amount of energy invested and, moreover, produced hatchlings of relatively lower body mass if compared with females having few small eggs. We speculate about variation in energy allocation between two most energy demanding parts of breeding (clutch formation and incubation) and female incubation effort as leading mechanisms. Such a variation might reflect inter-individual differences in reproductive strategy or errors in energy allocation.