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April 25, 2026OecologiaOpen Access

Predation risk is associated with head-size-related divergence in breeding phenology in a female sea duck

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Authors

BMBertille MohringCentre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueIHIda HermanssonÅbo Akademi UniversityKJKim JaatinenUniversity of Helsinki

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Implication

Randomized trial examines the impact of predation risk on breeding timing in female sea ducks, highlighting cognitive traits.

Key Points

  • The study aims to explore how predation risk influences reproductive timing in female common eiders based on their risk sensitivity.
  • Analyzed laying dates of female common eiders in SW Finland (Baltic Sea) correlated with predation risk.
  • Utilized behavioral (flight initiation distance) and cognitive (relative head volume) proxies to assess risk sensitivity.
  • Accounted for breeding experience and body condition in the analysis.
  • High predation risk led to a divergence in breeding timing among females based on cognitive proxies; larger-headed females bred later (N=sample size if provided).
  • Observed that females with longer flight initiation distances bred earlier regardless of the predation risk level, suggesting different influences of risk sensitivity on breeding.
  • Experienced breeders generally laid eggs earlier than inexperienced ones.

Cite This Study

Mohring et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69ec5bd288ba6daa22dad335https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-026-05891-9
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 2 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1On the Adaptive Value of Reproductive Synchrony as a Predator-Swamping Strategy1990 · 313 citations
  2. 2The population dynamics of the Eider Duck <i>Somateria mollissima</i> and evidence of extensive non‐breeding by adult ducks1984 · 213 citations