INCREASE IN CONDUCTANCE TO WATER-VAPOR DURING INCUBATION IN EGGS OF 2 AVIAN SPECIES

In contrast to previously published observations of constant daily water loss during incubation in some large, precocial eggs, daily rates of water loss increase approximately 42% between days 1–4 in redwinged blackbird eggs and conductance to water vapor increases 47 and 48% during the early stages of incubation in red‐winged blackbird and robin eggs, respectively. Therefore, the age of eggs is one factor which must be considered when conductance of eggs of conspecific populations is compared between habitats or over altitudinal gradients. Copyright © 1979 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company