Understanding the low breeding success in Greater Rheas populations through an energy budget model.

Highlights: [•] Model estimates the weight of Rhea americana at a resolution of 1 day based on an individual perspective. [•] Season, photoperiod, behavior, consumption and weight at the beginning of the breeding season are considered in the model. [•] Males and females reach a maximum weight after the winter solstice. [•] Maximum and minimum weights attained depend of the consumption rates interval width. [•] We observed that the reproductive success of males depends strongly on their body weight (energy reserves). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]