The variation and synchronization of daily weight increments of Puffin chicks Fratercula arctica.

Abstract

Environmental factors are believed to be important determinants of the growth grate of young birds (Owen 1960, Dunn 1975, Harris 1978). This study reports on the day-to-day variation in weight increments of wild and artificially fed Puffin Fratercula arctica chicks in an attempt to determine any influence food intake or environmental factors may have on this daily variation when the rate of growth is high between the ages of 8 and 24 days.