Colonial-nesting waterbirds such as ibis and spoonbills (Threskiornithidae) can account for a significant proportion of energy flow through wetlands, particularly during large breeding events. However when food availability is reduced, chicks may starve and adults may abandon nests. If the energy required to rear chicks could be calculated, data quantifying prey energy value and availability could be used to develop landscape scale management targets to ensure that food requirements are met to support chicks until they attain independence, thereby maximising recruitment. We calculated ibis and spoonbill chick biometrics and energy requirements through (a) an international literature review, extracting and synthesising the best available growth and energy data; (b) new measurements of ibis and spoonbill chick biometrics for selected species; and (c) analysis of the resulting databases to construct growth curves and predict energy requirements for selected species. Here we present the first models of Royal Spoonbill growth and of Royal Spoonbill and Australian White Ibis chick energy requirements. The total energy estimated to raise a single Royal Spoonbill chick from hatching to independence was 71,290 kJ and for an Australian White Ibis chick was 67,160 kJ. Using prey energy values from the literature, extrapolations indicate that for either species, a nesting event of 1000 nests producing three chicks per nest would require an estimated ten tonnes of freshwater crayfish (Cherax destructor) or eight tonnes of invasive juvenile carp (Cyprinus carpio) to support chicks from hatching to independence. Effective water and wetland management is critical to optimise both energy availability in foraging sites and breeding success.

中文翻译：

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朱鹭和琵鹭雏鸡的生长和能量需求：对湿地和水管理的影响

宜必思和琵鹭（Threskiornithidae）等殖民地筑巢的水鸟，尤其是在大型繁殖活动中，可占相当大比例的能量流经湿地。但是，当食物供应减少时，小鸡可能会饿死，成年鸡会放弃筑巢。如果可以计算出饲养小鸡所需的能量，则可以使用量化猎物能量值和可利用性的数据来​​制定景观尺度管理目标，以确保满足食物需求以支持小鸡直至独立，从而最大程度地提高招聘。我们通过以下方法计算了宜必思和琵鹭雏鸡的生物特征和能量需求：（a）国际文献综述，提取和综合了最佳的可用生长和能量数据；（b）对选定物种的宜必思和琵鹭雏生物进行新的测量；（c）分析所得数据库，以建立生长曲线并预测选定物种的能源需求。在这里，我们介绍了皇家琵鹭生长，皇家琵鹭和澳大利亚白宜必思雏鸡能量需求的第一个模型。估计将一只皇家琵鹭雏鸡从孵化变为独立的总能量为71,290 kJ，而澳大利亚白宜必思雏鸡的总能量为67,160 kJ。根据文献中的猎物能量值，推断表明，对于这两种物种，一次筑巢事件（每巢产生三只雏鸡）的1000个巢穴，估计需要十吨淡水小龙虾（在这里，我们介绍了皇家琵鹭生长，皇家琵鹭和澳大利亚白宜必思雏鸡能量需求的第一个模型。估计将一只皇家琵鹭雏鸡从孵化变为独立的总能量为71,290 kJ，澳大利亚白宜必思雏鸡的总能量为67,160 kJ。根据文献中的猎物能量值，推断表明，对于这两种物种，一次筑巢事件（每巢产生三只雏鸡）的1000个巢穴，估计需要十吨淡水小龙虾（在这里，我们介绍了皇家琵鹭生长，皇家琵鹭和澳大利亚白宜必思雏鸡能量需求的第一个模型。估计将一只皇家琵鹭雏鸡从孵化变为独立的总能量为71,290 kJ，澳大利亚白宜必思雏鸡的总能量为67,160 kJ。根据文献中的猎物能量值，推断表明，对于这两种物种，一次筑巢事件（每巢产生三只雏鸡）的1000个巢穴，估计需要十吨淡水小龙虾（Cherax破坏者）或八吨侵入性幼鲤（Cyprinus carpio）来支持雏鸡从孵化到独立。有效的水和湿地管理对于优化觅食场所的能源利用率和育种成功至关重要。