THE INCUBATION MOUND AND HATCHING SUCCESS OF THE NICOBAR MEGAPODE MEGAPODIUS NICOBARIENSIS BLYTH

摘要

Incubation mounds of the Nicobar megapode Megapodius nicobariensis were constructed with sand or sand with plant materials, such as leaves, twigs and bits of decomposing wood. Usually, the site selected for a new incubation mound was a fallen log, tree stump, or the decomposing roots of a tree. Mound construction begins with the birds either digging a pit at the site or by covering the decomposing log or tree stump with soil and litter The mean egg-laying interval was 14.91 +-1. 43 days, the averagenumber of eggs laid in a mound was 4.5 +-0. 6 eggs, but it significantly varied between the years and the average clutch size of the Nicobar megapode was 2.75 +-0.35 eggs, Moderate rainfall in the dry season enhances egg production. Microbial activity appears to be the primary source of heat within mounds. The size of the mound was positively correlated to the temperature within the mound. The average incubation temperature was 32.44 +-0.21 deg C and the average incubation period was 74.73 +-0 52 days.There was, however, no significant relationship between the mound size and hatching success of the Nicobar megapode.