Allometry of nestling growth in the Feral Pigeon Columba livia

Abstract

The body structure of nestling Feral Pigeons does not develop uniformly throughout the nestling period . By applying intraspecific ontogenic allometry I was able to distinguish the growth patterns in reduced broods. At fledging, nestlings from broods of two had significantly lower increments in the growth of body mass with respect to the skeletal index than the nestlings from broods of one. The growth of the pigeons was most effective during the second and third nesting attempts, which was best explained by the environmental conditions . The allometric analysis performed for body weights or wing lengths showed the progressive minimization of hatching asynchrony between siblings during development. In first hatched chicks the growth increments of tarsometatarsus length tended to be greater than in second hatchlings with the same level of skeletal index. The results fortarsometatarsus length confirm that tarsometatarsus size was affected and probably reflect sexual difference .