Comparison of Offspring Growth Models in Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica

Authors

Katja H. Kochvar
Raul Zabala Belenguer
Pierre-Paul Bitton, Department of Psychology, Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology, Memorial University of NewfoundlandFollow

Abstract

Growth of morphological traits in the offspring of many seabirds, including Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica, has typically been characterized by linear models despite displaying nonlinear patterns. We assessed the fit of six typical avian growth models to measurements of puffling mass, wing length, and tenth primary length. Across all three biometrics, the first- and second-best performing models were nonlinear (i.e., quadratic, logistic, extreme value function); these models were then used to generate separate growth curves for individual pufflings and extract easily interpretable and comparable parameter estimates. We recommend the reported models in future studies incorporating metrics of puffling growth and encourage the use of this methodology to explore nonlinear growth patterns across avian species.

DOI

http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.53.1.1619

Creative Commons License

Terms of use for work posted in Scholar Commons.

Recommended Citation

Kochvar, Katja H.; Belenguer, Raul Zabala; and Bitton, Pierre-Paul (2025) "Comparison of Offspring Growth Models in Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica ," Marine Ornithology: Vol. 53 : Iss. 1 , Article 10.
http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.53.1.1619
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/marine_ornithology/vol53/iss1/10