%0 Journal Article %9 ACL : Articles dans des revues avec comité de lecture répertoriées par l'AERES %A Bourgeois, K. %A Dromzee, S. %A Vidal, Eric %T Relationships between nest-cavity and mate selection, reproductive performance and fidelity in the Mediterranean endemic Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan %D 2014 %L fdi:010062509 %G ENG %J Acta Ornithologica %@ 0001-6454 %K mate choice ; mate fidelity ; nest fidelity ; nest-site choice ; Procellariiformes ; reproductive performance ; sexual size dimorphism %K MEDITERRANEE ; FRANCE %M ISI:000340994700002 %N 1 %P 9-22 %R 10.3161/000164514x682850 %U https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010062509 %> https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2014/09/010062509.pdf %V 49 %W Horizon (IRD) %X Nest and mate choice is important in seabirds, influencing reproductive performance as both nest:site and partner quality varies. The Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan nests mainly in pre-existing cavities and to a lesser extent in cavities it excavates. We have monitored breeding colonies of the Yelkouan Shearwater on two islands of the Hyeres archipelago, south-east of France, for nine years to analyse nest-cavity and mate selection, to evaluate nest-cavity and mate fidelity, and to investigate their relationships with reproductive performance. Yelkouan Shearwaters selected nest-cavities providing a high degree of concealment and protection. Reproductive performance and fidelity to cavity were highest in deep cavities with a winding tunnel and a steep slope around the entrance. Mating was assortative for bill and tarsus measurements. High rates of return to the same cavity (94.7%) and mate (95.5%) were recorded. Fidelity to nest-cavity was highest when breeding succeeded the previous year (fidelity rate: 97.3% in successful breeders vs. 87.8% in unsuccessful breeders) and was most likely to result in successful breeding the same year (breeding success: 67.5% in faithful breeders vs. 43.8% in movers). The rate of divorce was low (4.5%), did not differ between islands and was not associated with breeding performance. However, breeding success increased by 22.2 +/- 9.9% after mate change following a divorce or the absence of a previous mate. Such high rates of nest-cavity and mate fidelity could indicate a good population status with breeding habitat, food resource and mates of good quality. %$ 080