Interaction between distant taxa in the use of tree cavities in African ecosystems: a study using nest-boxes

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 187-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
José P. Veiga ◽  
Wanyoike Wamiti ◽  
Vicente Polo ◽  
Muchane Muchai
Keyword(s):  
Social Insects ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Tree Cavities ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
Forested Areas ◽  
Potential Factor

Abstract:Convergence in the use of resources may occur between distantly related organisms. A major ecological resource in which members of various taxa may be interested is a cavity for nesting. A variety of social hymenopterans and vertebrates may nest within tree cavities in tropical ecosystems. We used 241 nest-boxes placed in seven Kenyan localities to investigate the use of nesting cavities by members of distant taxa and discuss whether interaction between them is a potential factor shaping cavity-nester communities in tropical regions. The nest-boxes were occupied by social insects (ants, bees and wasps) (30.1% of nest-boxes in April–May and 33.1% in September–October) and vertebrates (birds and mammals) (20% and 7.7%, respectively). Hymenopterans were more abundant in forest boxes (36.2% of nest-boxes occupied in April–May and 37% in September–October), whereas savannas had lower figures (21.7% and 31.3%, respectively). Among vertebrates, most occupants of nest-boxes in savanna were birds (17.8% of nest-boxes occupied vs. 8% in mammals), while mammals predominated in forests (4.9% of the nest-boxes occupied vs. 0.3% in birds). Spatial and temporal patterns of occupation highlight the potential that interaction between distant taxa may have on the access to nesting cavities. More nest-boxes remained unoccupied in forested areas than in savanna areas suggesting that a shorter supply of nesting sites in the savanna may be a source of competition. The simultaneous occupation of a nest-box by two different taxa was exceptional, also supporting the hypothesized inter-taxon competition.

scholarly journals Landscape Factors that Influence European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Nest Box Occupancy at NASA Plum Brook Station (PBS), Erie County, Ohio, USA

2019 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan B. Pfeiffer ◽  
Thomas W. Seamans ◽  
Bruce N. Buckingham ◽  
Bradley F. Blackwell
Keyword(s):  
Sturnus Vulgaris ◽  
European Starling ◽  
Erie County ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Tree Cavities ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
Landscape Factors ◽  
Anthropogenic Structures ◽  
Invertebrate Pests

During the last decade at NASA Plum Brook Station (PBS), Erie County, Ohio, United States, there has been a nearly 50% decrease in European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) occupancy (nests with ≥1 egg) of nest boxes designed to be used by starlings. Increased availability of natural cavities, from invertebrate pests, might have altered nest box occupation rates. It was hypothesized that starling nest box occupation rates would be a function of an index of potentially suitable tree cavities for nesting starlings, the semi-colonial nature of breeding starlings, and access to foraging areas (e.g., mowed lawns near buildings). Specifically, it was predicted that starling occupancy of nest boxes would correlate positively with a low density of potentially suitable tree cavities (calculated from a constructed index based on characteristics preferred by nesting starlings), and proximity of other starling occupied nest boxes and anthropogenic structures or mowed lawns. The objective was to quantify landscape factors around nest boxes with known starling occupation rates. Potentially suitable tree cavities were readily available near nest boxes. However, starling nest box occupation was instead a function of proximity to buildings, a factor associated with additional nesting sites and preferred foraging areas (mowed lawns). Nesting starlings in this study were influenced by anthropogenic structures and associated resources.

Nestling Of House Sparrow Passer Domesticus In Nest Boxes In Zielona Góra Preliminary Report

2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-26
Author(s):  
Damian Markulak
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Report ◽  
House Sparrow ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
European Cities ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Nesting Sites

Abstract The population of House Sparrows in most of European cities declined in the end of the XX century (De Laet & Summers-Smith 2007). One of the presumable reasons of this decline is loss of nest sites. The House sparrow is a secondary hole-nester (Anderson 2006) and places its nest in holes of buildings, shrubs and nest boxes. The rate of nest box occupation depends on the location and competition with other species (Anderson T.R. 2006). The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of nest box occupation by House sparrows in Zielona Góra, Western Poland, which can provide information about the availability of nesting sites.

scholarly journals Nest-boxes for Common Swifts Apus apus as compensatory measures in the context of building renovation: efficacy and predictors of occupancy

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
TONIO SCHAUB ◽  
PETER J. MEFFERT ◽  
GERALD KERTH
Keyword(s):  
Boosted Regression Trees ◽  
Occupation Probability ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
City District ◽  
Absolute Height

SummaryCurrently, renovation and thermal insulation of buildings is happening at a high rate in many European countries, driven in part by the political aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, building renovations often lead to a loss of structures, such as accessible cavities, on which synanthropic species, for example house-nesting birds, depend. In Germany, due to legislative regulations, it is a common practice to install nest-boxes as compensation for destroyed nest sites of birds. However, studies on the efficacy of such measures remain sparse. We monitored the occupancy of 477 compensatory nest-boxes for Common Swifts Apus apus, predominantly placed on renovated prefabricated buildings in a city in Germany. We found 24.3% of the boxes occupied by Swifts. On most buildings, the number of occupied boxes was as high as or even higher than the assumed number of breeding sites prior to renovation. Furthermore, in a district where nearly all buildings had been renovated in the past 10 years, we recorded a remarkably high density of Swifts breeding in nest-boxes. Using boosted regression trees, we analysed whether eight different nest-box properties influenced box occupation probability. The number of neighbouring boxes was the most important. Additionally, box age, facade orientation, city district, relative and absolute height, and manner of installation (external/internal) also played a role. Between different nest-box types, we found only negligible differences in occupation probability. Our findings suggest that installing nest-boxes is likely to be an appropriate measure to compensate for nesting sites of Swifts lost during building renovations. Based on our results, we recommend mounting the boxes a few metres apart from each other and close to the roof edge to maximise success. Further studies should be carried out to assess whether our results and conclusions can be confirmed in other situations.

scholarly journals Keeping Africanized Honey Bees Out of Wildlife Nest Boxes

EDIS ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
William H. Kern, Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Africanized Honey Bees ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Africanized Honey Bee ◽  
Fact Sheet ◽  
Nest Boxes

ENY-838, a 4-page illustrated fact sheet by William H. Kern, Jr., provides useful information for keeping pests out of bird and mammal nest boxes, especially the Africanized honey bee, which has become established in Florida, and sets up colonies in smaller and lower locations which may displace wildlife that uses these locations as dens. Includes recommendations, what to do if bees have invaded your nest box, and references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, January 2007. ENY-838/IN682: Keeping Africanized Honey Bees Out of Wildlife Nest Boxes (ufl.edu)

Nest box contentions: Are nest boxes used by the species they target?

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross L. Goldingay ◽  
David Rohweder ◽  
Brendan D. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Nest Box ◽  
Nest Boxes

scholarly journals Sex-Related Natal Dispersal of Pied Flycatchers: How Far Away From Home?

The Condor ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (3) ◽  
pp. 711-717
Author(s):  
Nikita Chernetsov ◽  
Leonid V. Sokolov ◽  
Vladislav Kosarev ◽  
Dmitry Leoke ◽  
Mikhail Markovets ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Distribution ◽  
Null Model ◽  
Ficedula Hypoleuca ◽  
Dispersal Distance ◽  
Natal Dispersal ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Baltic Coast ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Dispersal Distances

Abstract Over four years, nestling Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) were banded and recaptured in nest boxes at a 44 km long and 1–1.5 km wide study area along the Courish Spit on the southeast Baltic coast. The return rate for males was nearly twice as high as for females. Males settled significantly closer to their natal sites than predicted by the null model, which assumed that any nest box in the study area was selected at random. For females, the frequency distribution of natal dispersal distances was not significantly different from that predicted by the null model. The difference in average dispersal distance between the sexes was highly significant. Although some individuals settled within tens of kilometers, most male Pied Flycatchers settled within several kilometers of their natal sites. We suggest that even if females settle on average farther from their natal sites than males do, both sexes imprint on a relatively small (several kilometers in diameter) area during postfledging exploration, to which they return each spring.

Possible Predation on Feathertail Gliders (Acrobates pygmaeus) by Agile Antechinus (Antechinus agilis).

1999 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 173
Author(s):  
S.J. Ward
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Study ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Faecal Analysis ◽  
Entrance Hole ◽  
Antechinus Agilis ◽  
Small Forest

A series of observations of the remains of partially eaten feathertail gliders Acrobates pygmaeus and three other small forest vertebrates is reported. All were made while checking nest-boxes erected for an ecological study of A. pygmaeus, and each nest-box had a restricted entrance hole. The delicacy with which some of these animals had been killed and eaten and the small size of the entrances to the nest-boxes indicated a small- sized predator was responsible, and the most likely species in the area is the agile antechinus Antechinus agilis. These small dasyurid marsupials were also captured from the nest-boxes on several occasions. Based on faecal analysis, they had previously been considered almost totally insectivorous.

Twilight transitions promote circadian entrainment to lengthening light-dark cycles

1996 ◽  
Vol 271 (3) ◽  
pp. R813-R818 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Boulos ◽  
M. Macchi ◽  
M. Terman
Keyword(s):  
Activity Rhythm ◽  
Constant Darkness ◽  
Circadian Activity ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Circadian Activity Rhythm ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Upper Limit ◽  
Upper Limits

The upper limits of entrainment of the circadian activity rhythm were compared in hamsters initially exposed to daily light-dark (LD) cycles with either abrupt (LD-rectangular) or simulated twilight (LD-twilight) transitions. Daytime illuminance (10 lx) and the total amount of light emitted per day were the same under the two LD cycles. One-half of the animals in each condition had access to dark nest boxes. The period of the LD cycles was then increased from 24 to 26 h, by 5 min per day. All animals in LD-twilight remained entrained to the lengthening cycle, whereas 60% of those in LD-rectangular began to free run well before the period of the cycle reached 26 h. These effects were independent of nest box availability. The lengthening LD cycles exerted clear aftereffects on the period of the rhythms in constant darkness, the magnitude of which was related to the efficacy of prior entrainment. The results indicate that twilight transitions raise the upper limit of entrainment to LD cycles, suggesting that their inclusion increases the strength of the LD zeitgeber.

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