Sharp‐tailed Grouse in the Nebraska Sandhills Select Residual Cover Patches for Nest Sites

Abstract Morphological and territorial factors that influence female mate choice were examined in the monogamous Middendorff's Grasshopper-Warbler (Locustella ochotensis) on an islet near Fukuoka, Japan. I assumed that pairing date corresponded with female mate choice. Pairing date was correlated with both territory size and food abundance but was not correlated with selected morphological characteristics of males. Territorial quality was assumed to be correlated with territory size because preferable food resources and nest sites were distributed randomly. I conclude that female mate choice was influenced by territory quality rather than by the morphological characteristics of males.

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The Breeding System of the Three-Spined Stickleback, Gasterosteus Aculeatus (Forma Leiura) With Reference To Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Nesting Activity

Behaviour ◽

10.1163/156853993x00362 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 126 (1-2) ◽

pp. 97-124 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Sechi Mori

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Success ◽

Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽

Nest Building ◽

Lifetime Reproductive Success ◽

Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽

Small Stream ◽

Nest Distribution ◽

Nest Sites ◽

Sexual Characteristics ◽

Individual Success

Abstract1) The breeding succes of three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L., forma leiura) males in a small stream of the Tsuya River, Gifu Prefecture, Central Japan, was studied with reference to timing of nesting initiation, use of space for nesting and social interactions. The observations were made almost daily during March to early July 1988 along the shore at a distance of 1-2 m from the fish and nests. 2) All the males in an enclosed study pool were individually marked (99 males). Furthermore, a total of 67 females were marked and observed weekly. The males were individually observed and their agonistic, courtship and parental behaviour as well as their reproductive success were quantified. Reproductive success of individual male was measured as the number of nests built, the number of successful nests, the number of hatched fry per nest. Nest sites were categorized in six types (A-F) on the basis of the proportion of vegetation cover around the nest and distance from the shore. 3) Body size and environmental factors (water temperature, water depth, changes in water level) were not correlated with reproductive success. Flooding was not a major cause of unsuccessful nesting. The brightness of nuptial colouration at the onset of breeding correlated significantly with individual success. Individual variation in the development of secondary sexual characteristics such as a nuptial colouration may have an important consequence for the lifetime reproductive success of the individuals. There was no relationship between fish density and reproductive success. 4) All males that nested more than once had begun breeding early in the season. The sooner a male started nest-building, the more opportunities he had to complete breeding cycles. 5) After an unsuccessful nest, males were significantly more likely to move their nest sites than after a successful nest. The subsequent nesting cycle was not always successful. 6) There was variation in nest-sitc location. The spatial pattern of nest distribution was strongly related to the temporal pattern, because the first males which settled, more often built their nests at sites along the shore where the nest was covered on one or two sides by vegetation. The location of nest site was significantly correlated with reproductive success. When males nested in partly concealed places along the shore, they could sometimes obtain a high reproductive success irrespective of the date of breeding initiation. Thus, reproductive success was largely determined by the timing of nest-building and nest position.

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The importance of grasstrees (Xanthorrhoea preissii) as habitat for mardo (Antechinus flavipes leucogaster) during post-fire recovery

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr07035 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 34 (8) ◽

pp. 640 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Marnie L. Swinburn ◽

Patricia A. Fleming ◽

Michael D. Craig ◽

Andrew H. Grigg ◽

Mark J. Garkaklis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fire Management ◽

Nest Site ◽

Radio Telemetry ◽

Important Resource ◽

Nest Sites ◽

Single Feature ◽

Management Policies ◽

Nesting Resources ◽

Selection For ◽

The One

Grasstrees (Xanthorrhoea) are an important structural component of many Australian ecosystems and also an important resource for many fauna species. Grasstrees have distinctive morphologies, with a crown of long thin leaves and skirts, the latter of which are accumulated dead leaves; both are incinerated by fire. This study determined the morphological features of Xanthorrhoea preissii, which change in response to fire from 6 months to 21 years post-burn. In addition, using radio-telemetry and spool-tracking, we determined that grasstrees are utilised as foraging and nesting resources for mardos (Antechinus flavipes leucogaster (Gray, 1841), Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Recently burnt grasstrees (6 months post-burn) appeared not to be used by mardos at all. We found few mardos in these recently burnt sites, and the one individual we managed to track for 126 m utilised only a single grasstree: a 2-m-tall multiple-crowned grasstree that had escaped the fire was used as a nest site. For sites 5 years post-burn, mardos selectively utilised grasstrees with larger crown areas and those with a greater number of crowns compared with a random sample of available trees. At the 14-year post-burn sites, mardos still demonstrated some selection for grasstrees, although no specific single feature could be determined as most significant. We recorded humidity and temperature buffering effects in association with post-burn accumulation of grasstree skirt material and found that even dead grasstree ‘logs’ were an important resource for nests. We conclude that mardos utilise both live and dead grasstrees for foraging and nest sites, possibly owing to the availability of dense cover, a buffered microclimate, and potentially also food resources. Fire-management policies that promote habitat heterogeneity and retain several intact-skirted grasstrees within the landscape are likely to benefit mardos.

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Nest sites of feral honey bees in California, USA

Apidologie ◽

10.1051/apido:19900105 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 35-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

P. Gambino ◽

K. Hoelmer ◽

H. V. Daly

Keyword(s):

Honey Bees ◽

Nest Sites

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Temperature, wind, vegetation, and roads influence incubation patterns of Greater Prairie-Chickens (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus) in the Nebraska Sandhills, USA

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/cjz-2018-0130 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (2) ◽

pp. 91-99

Author(s):

Ian R. Hoppe ◽

Jocelyn O. Harrison ◽

Edward J. Raynor IV ◽

Mary Bomberger Brown ◽

Larkin A. Powell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adult Survival ◽

Tympanuchus Cupido ◽

Ambient Temperatures ◽

Wind Speeds ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Nebraska Sandhills ◽

Avian Incubation ◽

Prairie Chicken ◽

Greater Prairie Chicken ◽

Tympanuchus Cupido Pinnatus

Avian incubation involves behavioral decisions that must balance trade-offs between the incubating bird’s survival and current and future reproductive success. We evaluated variation in incubation off-bout duration and frequency among Greater Prairie-Chickens (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus (Brewster, 1885)) in the Nebraska Sandhills, USA. Greater Prairie-Chicken life history favors incubation behaviors that prioritize success of the current breeding attempt over adult survival. Previous observations suggest incubating females make these behavioral decisions based on ambient temperature conditions, their own body condition, and predation risk. We monitored nest attendance by females at 30 Greater Prairie-Chicken nests to identify proximate cues used to make behavioral decisions regarding incubation. We recorded 930 incubation off-bouts. Females took 1.9 ± 0.7 off-bouts/day (mean ± SD), each with a mean (±SD) duration of 43.3 ± 24.1 min. Off-bouts were shorter in duration at higher wind speeds, at lower ambient temperatures, at nests with less cover, and at nests closer to roads. Females were most likely to leave the nest during mid-morning and evening, as are most gallinaceous birds, and incubation off-bouts became less frequent later in the season. We did not observe differences in incubation behavior between nests that failed and those that successfully hatched one or more chicks.

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Sora (Porzana carolina) Parasitism of Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) Nests

The Canadian Field-Naturalist ◽

10.22621/cfn.v131i4.1898 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 131 (4) ◽

pp. 312-316

Author(s):

Lawrence D. Igl

Keyword(s):

North Dakota ◽

Agelaius Phoeniceus ◽

Brood Parasite ◽

Nest Sites ◽

Porzana Carolina

Sora (Porzana carolina) is a conspecific brood parasite that also occasionally parasitizes nests of other species. Sora parasitism in nests of passerines is rare. Of 129 Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) nests found in North Dakota in 2009 and 2010, two (1.6%) were parasitized by Soras. The conditions favouring this rare parasitic behaviour may include competition for nest sites and high Sora density.

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The Effects of Invasive Ants on the Nesting Success of Tristram's Storm-petrel, Oceanodroma tristrami, on Laysan Island, Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge

Pacific Conservation Biology ◽

10.1071/pc080013 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 13 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gregory T. W. McClelland ◽

Ian L. Jones

Keyword(s):

Breeding Success ◽

Hawaiian Islands ◽

Bird Species ◽

Invasive Ants ◽

Breeding Bird ◽

Nest Sites ◽

Close Proximity ◽

Tramp Ant ◽

Nest Type ◽

Storm Petrel

The possible impact of invasive ants on the avifauna of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands was investigated by studying the breeding success of Tristram's Storm-petrel Oceanodroma tristrami on Laysan Island. The tramp ant Monomorium pharaonis (L.) was found to be abundant in storm-petrel nesting areas on Laysan Island. There were 380 observations made on incubating adults and 798 observations for chicks, for a total of 1178 observations from 116 storm-petrel nest sites. No ant harassment events involving incubating adult storm-petrels were recorded. Thirteen instances of more than 5 ants on Tristram's Storm-petrel chicks were recorded. One harassment event was recorded, involving approximately 200 ants. The chick left the nest site immediately following the event, did not return, and presumably died. The number of nest failures attributed to M. pharaonis was 1% (n = 116). There was a significant relationship between nest type and ant interactions (G = 24.45, p = <0.0001, n =55), with incidents only recorded from birds nesting under vegetation. It was hypothesized that the ant interactions recorded in this study were a result of Tristram's Storm-petrel chicks being in close proximity to M. pharaonis nests rather than direct predation. Thus no evidence was found of a severe impact of invasive ants on the breeding success of storm-petrels at Laysan Island. Despite no direct ant impact particular attention should be given to the interactions between M. pharaonis and bird species reliant on vegetation for nesting cover, and studies therefore should include additional breeding bird species.

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Influence of Precipitation on Plant Production at Different Topographic Positions in the Nebraska Sandhills

Rangeland Ecology & Management ◽

10.1016/j.rama.2018.09.001 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 72 (1) ◽

pp. 103-111 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mitchell B. Stephenson ◽

Jerry D. Volesky ◽

Walter H. Schacht ◽

Nevin C. Lawrence ◽

Jon Soper ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Production ◽

Nebraska Sandhills ◽

Topographic Positions

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