scholarly journals The effect of climate change on laying dates, clutch size and productivity of Eurasian Coots Fulica atra

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (11) ◽  
pp. 1857-1863
Author(s):  
Lucyna Halupka ◽  
Beata Czyż ◽  
Carlos Moises Macias Dominguez
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Temporal Changes ◽  
Food Abundance ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Fulica Atra ◽  
Living Organisms

Abstract Climate change is affecting many living organisms; however, the responses of many of them remain unknown. In this paper, we present the results regarding the response of a bird species from the rallid family to the increased temperatures during the breeding season. We analysed the breeding data of Eurasian Coots nesting during 30 seasons between 1972 and 2019. During the study period, mean temperatures in April, the month when Coots start nesting, increased by 3.5 °C, and in months corresponding with the species breeding season by 2.6 °C. Breeding Coots advanced their earliest and median laying dates across the study period; however, the duration of their breeding season remained unchanged. We did not detect any significant temporal changes in clutch size, but clutches have become much more variable in size throughout the study period. Nest failures and production of offspring per nest did not change over the study period; however, the production of young per successful nest significantly declined. It is likely that this decline is the effect of mismatch between the period of food abundance (dipterans collected from water), and hatchling emergence, which is advanced due to change in climate. Future studies investigating the occurrence of dipteran resources at water bodies are needed to test this hypothesis.

scholarly journals Spatial and Temporal Changes in Surface Water Area of Sri Lanka over a 30-Year Period

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 3701
Author(s):  
Deepakrishna Somasundaram ◽  
Fangfang Zhang ◽  
Sisira Ediriweera ◽  
Shenglei Wang ◽  
Junsheng Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Water Area ◽  
Temporal Changes ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Water Dynamics ◽  
Annual Growth Rate ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Changes

Sri Lanka contains a large number of natural and man-made water bodies, which play an essential role in irrigation and domestic use. The island has recently been identified as a global hotspot of climate change extremes. However, the extent, spatial distribution, and the impact of climate and anthropogenic activities on these water bodies have remained unknown. We investigated the distribution, spatial and temporal changes, and the impacts of climatic and anthropogenic drivers on water dynamics in Dry, Intermediate, and Wet zones of the island. We used Landsat 5 and Landsat 8 images to generate per-pixel seasonal and annual water occurrence frequency maps for the period of 1988–2019. The results of the study demonstrated high inter- and intra-annual variations in water with a rapid increase. Further, results showed strong zonal differences in water dynamics, with most dramatic variations in the Dry zone. Our results revealed that 1607.73 km2 of the land area of the island is covered by water bodies, among this 882.01 km2 (54.86%) is permanent and 725.72 km2 (45.14%) is seasonal water area. Total inland seasonal water increased with a dramatic annual growth rate of 7.06 ± 1.97 km2 compared to that of permanent water (4.47 ± 2.08 km2/year). Sri Lanka has the highest permanent water area during December–February (1045.97 km2), and drops to the lowest in May–September (761.92 km2) when the seasonal water (846.46 km2) is higher than permanent water. The surface water area was positively related to both precipitation and Gross Domestic Product, while negatively related to the temperature. Findings of our study provide important insights into possible spatiotemporal changes in surface water availability in Sri Lanka under certain climate change and anthropogenic activities.

Seasonal clutch size variation of multi-brooded bird species: comparisons between breeding season and latitudes

Ibis ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 147 (1) ◽  
pp. 206-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOSÉ A. GIL-DELGADO ◽  
EVA MARCO ◽  
MARIADELA PAREDES ◽  
CARMEN VIVES-FERRÁNDIZ
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Species Comparisons

Occurrence of the medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis) in birds’ nests

Biologia ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paweł Buczyński ◽  
Grzegorz Tończyk ◽  
Aleksander Bielecki ◽  
Joanna Cichocka ◽  
Ignacy Kitowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Medicinal Leech ◽  
Hirudo Medicinalis ◽  
The Body ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Aquatic Birds ◽  
Cygnus Olor ◽  
Circus Aeruginosus ◽  
Fulica Atra ◽  
Nest Height

AbstractOccurrence and breeding of Hirudo medicinalis were recorded in birds’ nests in the fishing ponds and water bodies used extensively by anglers in south-eastern Poland, in 4 of 11 studied bird species (Circus aeruginosus, Fulica atra, Cygnus olor, Chroicocephalus ridibundus). Factors important for the distribution and density of this leech were: nest height, pH of the water and oxygen concentration in the water inside the nests, the body-length of the nesting birds. Our data show that (1) H. medicinalis chooses nests as habitats that are safe in water bodies rich in predators (particularly fish) and provide stable feeding conditions; (2) fishing ponds and other water bodies used extensively by anglers in a landscape modified by human pressure can be an important secondary habitat for the medicinal leech. As the nesting activity of some aquatic birds apparently favors the occurrence of H. medicinalis, active protection of aquatic birds and creating sites appropriate for their breeding may be an indirect way for the conservation of the leech in such areas.

scholarly journals Climate change exposure of waterbird species in the African-Eurasian flyways

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-26
Author(s):  
SZABOLCS NAGY ◽  
FRANK T. BREINER ◽  
MIRA ANAND ◽  
STUART H. M. BUTCHART ◽  
MARTINA FLÖRKE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Migratory Bird ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Breeding Populations ◽  
Waterbird Species ◽  
Current Passage

Summary Climate change presents a particularly complex challenge in the context of flyway scale conservation of migratory bird species as it requires coordinated action by multiple countries along these species’ migratory routes. Coordinating conservation responses requires understanding the vulnerability of species and their habitats to climate change at the flyway scale throughout each species’ annual cycle. To contribute to such understanding, we used species distribution models to assess the exposure to climate change of waterbird species that are the focus of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA). We found that the species with the smallest proportion of their current range projected to be climatically suitable by 2050 (those whose distributions respond to changes in water availability but that do not perform synchronised migration) are dispersive species in the Afrotropical biogeographic realm, and migratory species in their breeding season, particularly Arctic breeding waders. These species also have the most limited availability of newly suitable areas. Projections for most other Palearctic migratory waterbird species suggest that losses of suitable areas in their current passage and wintering ranges may be largely offset by new areas becoming climatically suitable. The majority of migratory Palearctic waterbirds in the breeding season and Afrotropical waterbirds are widely dispersed with only a small proportion of their populations currently supported by ‘Critical Sites’ (i.e. sites that are either important for Globally Threatened Species or support 1% of the bioregional population of any waterbird species). This makes it unlikely that climate change adaptation measures focusing only on key sites will be sufficient to counter the predicted range losses. Therefore, climate change adaptation responses should also be implemented at the landscape scale for Afrotropical waterbirds and for breeding populations of Palearctic migrant waterbirds.

scholarly journals Mass occurrence and habitat selection of Common Redpolls (Carduelis flammea) after a large seed crop year: snow-covered ground facilitates food access

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svein Dale
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Snow Cover ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Large Seed ◽  
Mass Occurrence ◽  
Seed Crops ◽  
Ecosystem Changes ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractIn boreal forests, food supplies typically have cyclic variations, and many species here fluctuate in numbers from year to year. One group of species showing large variations in population size is birds specialized on seeds from masting trees. Here, I analyze spatial patterns of a mass occurrence and habitat selection of the Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea) during the breeding season in southeastern Norway in 2020 after a year with large seed crops from Norway Spruce (Picea abies) and Downy Birch (Betula pubescens). I found that Common Redpoll numbers increased with elevation and towards the northwest. Numbers were also strongly and positively correlated with snow depth in early April when snow was present mainly above 400 m elevation. Sites with snow cover in early April (30% of all sites) held 96.4% of all individuals recorded. Field observations indicated that Common Redpolls foraged extensively for spruce seeds on the snow until the end of May when young were independent. I suggest that the mass occurrence was due to a unique combination of exceptionally large seed crops of two tree species coinciding in the same year. The masting produced large amounts of food both for overwintering (birch seeds) and for breeding (spruce seeds), and during the breeding season snow cover facilitated access to food resources. Dependency of Common Redpolls on snow cover suggests that climate change may negatively impact some seed-eaters in boreal regions. On the other hand, higher temperatures may induce more frequent masting which may be beneficial for seed-eaters. Thus, climate change is likely to lead to complex ecosystem changes in areas where snow cover may disappear.

scholarly journals Female song in the Cyprus Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Patchett ◽  
Alexander N. G. Kirschel ◽  
Joanna Robins King ◽  
Patrick Styles ◽  
Will Cresswell
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Territorial Defence ◽  
Multiple Functions ◽  
Male Song ◽  
Female Song ◽  
Mate Acquisition

AbstractFemale song is widespread across bird species yet rarely reported. Here, we report the first observations and description of female song in the Cyprus Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca and compare it to male song through the breeding season. Twenty-five percent of colour-ringed females were observed singing at least once, predominantly in April, compared to 71% of males that continued singing through the breeding period. We suggest that female song may have multiple functions in this species, but it may be especially important in territorial defence and mate acquisition.

Geographical differences in seasonal clutch size variation in multi-brooded bird species

Ibis ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 144 (4) ◽  
pp. 646-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
André A. Dhondt ◽  
Tracey L. Kast ◽  
Paul E. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Geographical Differences

A small vocal repertoire during the breeding season expresses complex behavioral motivations and individual signature in the common coot

BMC Zoology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Changjian Fu ◽  
Atul Kathait ◽  
Guangyi Lu ◽  
Xiang Li ◽  
Feng Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Vocal Repertoire ◽  
Call Type ◽  
Temporal Parameters ◽  
Fulica Atra ◽  
Individual Signature ◽  
Behavioral Activities ◽  
Types Of Information

Abstract Background Although acoustic communication plays an essential role in the social interactions of Rallidae, our knowledge of how Rallidae encode diverse types of information using simple vocalizations is limited. We recorded and examined the vocalizations of a common coot (Fulica atra) population during the breeding season to test the hypotheses that 1) different call types can be emitted under different behavioral contexts, and 2) variation in the vocal structure of a single call type may be influenced both by behavioral motivations and individual signature. We measured a total of 61 recordings of 30 adults while noting the behavioral activities in which individuals were engaged. We compared several acoustic parameters of the same call type emitted under different behavioral activities to determine how frequency and temporal parameters changed depending on behavioral motivations and individual differences. Results We found that adult common coots had a small vocal repertoire, including 4 types of call, composed of a single syllable that was used during 9 types of behaviors. The 4 calls significantly differed in both frequency and temporal parameters and can be clearly distinguished by discriminant function analysis. Minimum frequency of fundamental frequency (F0min) and duration of syllable (T) contributed the most to acoustic divergence between calls. Call a was the most commonly used (in 8 of the 9 behaviors detected), and maximum frequency of fundamental frequency (F0max) and interval of syllables (TI) contributed the most to variation in call a. Duration of syllable (T) in a single call a can vary with different behavioral motivations after individual vocal signature being controlled. Conclusions These results demonstrate that several call types of a small repertoire, and a single call with function-related changes in the temporal parameter in common coots could potentially indicate various behavioral motivations and individual signature. This study advances our knowledge of how Rallidae use “simple” vocal systems to express diverse motivations and provides new models for future studies on the role of vocalization in avian communication and behavior.

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