Análisis de la dimensión fractal del moteado de los huevos de una población de Carbonero Común (Parus major) criando en un bosque pobre en calcio

Abstract

Animal coloration patterns have been the subject of several studies that seek to determine how their variability and functionality influences the ecological processes of species. To understand how the eggshell pigmentation of the Great Tit (Parus major) relates with morphological variables of eggs, quality and reproductive variables of females, the present study analyzed 78 nests sampled in the forest Buunderkamp. For this purpose, we calculate through photographic analysis of the eggshell pigmentation, the fractal dimension for each of the eggs. We were able to determine a moderate positive correlation between the Average Fractal Dimension of nests and the average of the Eggshell Pattern Area. On the other hand, it was possible to find a tiny positive correlation between the Average Fractal Dimension of nests and the Clutch Size, and also with the measure of the Female Condition. In addition, it was possible to determine that de variables Hatching Success, Flight Success and Reproduction Success are homogeneous in all category groups of the Average Fractal Dimension.