2006年夏天，紅燕鷗、白眉燕鷗與鳳頭燕鷗共同在澎湖東北方的小白沙嶼上繁殖。本研究主要檢視巢位選擇如何影響三種燕鷗的孵化成功率。結果顯示，三種燕鷗對巢環境的偏好各有不同，鳳頭燕鷗完全在平坦的短草地上築巢；紅燕鷗主要在靠近短草地的峭壁上築巢，而白眉燕鷗主要在岩石旁及岩縫中築巢。鳳頭燕鷗的巢密度最高，白眉燕鷗的巢很鬆散。紅燕鷗(75%)及鳳頭燕鷗(73%)的孵化成功率顯著高於白眉燕鷗(30%)。紅燕鷗及鳳頭燕鷗的下卵較同步，並且有明顯的早晚兩波下卵的現象。早期與晚期下卵的巢在繁殖表現上有顯著的差異。我們檢視孵化成功與巢環境的關係，結果顯示，紅燕鷗的孵化成功率隨著牆面數及鄰居數的增加而顯著上升；早期的巢(79%)及位於繁殖區中心的巢(72%)的孵化成功率顯著高於晚期的巢(11%)及邊緣的巢(45%)。鳳頭燕鷗巢的孵化成功率亦顯著受到早晚期的影響。總體來說，晚期的巢孵化成功率較低可能是由於巢區環境的改變及晚期的巢喪失共同防禦的優勢。白眉燕鷗的低孵化成功率主要是受到非同步下卵、巢分布鬆散及護卵行為薄弱的影響。

Three tern species, Roseate Tern (Sterna dougalli), Bridled Tern (Sterna anaethetus) and Crested Tern (Sterna bergii) co-bred at Baisha islet, east-north of Penghu, in the summer of 2006. Each species favored different kind of environment for nesting. All Crested Terns nested in the flat plane with vegetation; Roseate Terns in the cliff near the vegetation, and Bridled Tern primarily nested near the vertical rock or under a rocky roof. The Crested Tern had the highest nesting density, and Bridled Tern nested loosely. The hatching success of Roseate (75%) and Crested Tern (73%) were significantly higher than that of Bridled Tern (30%). Roseate and Crested Tern laid eggs synchronously and had apparently two wave of egg laying and the breeding performances between early- and late-laying period were quite different. The relationship between hatching success and nest-site characteristics of the three species was investigated. The results revealed that hatching success of Roseate Tern increased with the number of walls and neighbors. Early-laying nests (79%) and central nests (72%) were more successful than late (11%) and edge nests (45%) of Roseate Terns. The laying-period was also important factors affecting hatching success of Crested Tern. Overall, the low hatching success of the late-laying nests may be due to the change of environmental conditions and the losing advantage of group breeding in the late season. The low hatching success of Bridled Tern was considered owing to the asynchronous laying pattern, loosely built nesting and weak parental behaviors.

中文摘要….……………………………………………….…..I
Abstract………………………………………………………..Ⅱ
Index…………………………………………………………. III
Figure Legend…………………………………………………IV
Table Legend………………………………………………...V
Introduction….…………………………………………………1
Methods and Materials……….……………………….………..6
Results………….……………………………………………11
Discussion……….…………………………………………….18
References……….…………….………………………………27
Figures..…………….…………………………………………33
Tables………………………………………………………...39
Appendix………….………………………………………...…57

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