scholarly journals Experimental playback of natural gas compressor noise reduces incubation time and hatching success in two secondary cavity-nesting bird species

The Condor ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle P Williams ◽  
Julian D Avery ◽  
Thomas B Gabrielson ◽  
Margaret C Brittingham
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Incubation Time ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Success Probability ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Ecological Trap ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Tree Swallows ◽  
Fledging Success ◽  
Eastern Bluebirds

Abstract Natural gas compressor stations emit loud, low-frequency noise that travels hundreds of meters into undisturbed habitat. We used experimental playback of natural gas compressor noise to determine whether and how noise influenced settlement decisions and reproductive output as well as when in the nesting cycle birds were most affected by compressor noise. We established 80 nest boxes to attract Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) and Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) to locations where they had not previously nested and experimentally introduced shale gas compressor noise to half the boxes while the other 40 boxes served as controls. Our experimental design allowed us to control for the confounding effects of both physical changes to the environment associated with compressor stations as well as site tenacity or the tendency for birds to return to the specific locations where they had previously bred. We incorporated behavioral observations with video cameras placed within boxes to determine how changes in behavior might lead to any noted changes in fitness. Neither species demonstrated a preference for box type (quiet or noisy), and there was no difference in clutch size between box types. In both species, we observed a reduction in incubation time, hatching success, and fledging success (proportion of all eggs that fledged) between quiet and noisy boxes but no difference in provisioning rates. Nest success (probability of fledging at least one young; calculated from all nests that were initiated) was not affected by noise in either species suggesting that noise did not increase rates of either depredation or abandonment but instead negatively impacted fitness through reduced hatching and fledging success. Compressor noise caused behavioral changes that led to reduced reproductive success; for Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows, gas infrastructure can create an equal-preference ecological trap where birds do not distinguish between lower and higher quality territories even when they incur fitness costs.

scholarly journals The Occurence of Ecological Traps in Bird Populations: Is our Knowledge Sufficient? A Review

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 36-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petr Suvorov ◽  
Jana Svobodová
Keyword(s):  
Exotic Species ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Ecological Trap ◽  
Native Communities ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Suburban Areas ◽  
Arable Fields ◽  
Insufficient Time

ABSTRACT Anthropogenic changes in a landscape create new cues for birds, which must permanently adapt to these. If landscape changes occur too quickly, individuals have insufficient time to develop adequate reactions. They may, therefore, preferentially nest in low-quality habitats, which can lead to diminished nesting success and to reduction of their population size. This is usually termed the ecological trap hypothesis. We reviewed 38 studies investigating this phenomenon and analysed whether relationships exist between ecological trap occurrence and geographical region, habitat type, and/or life strategies of bird species. Ecological traps were most often associated with the presence of exotic species. Exotic species can modify environmental conditions in ways to which native communities are not adapted. They have been mainly detected in open habitats. Such open habitats as arable fields and meadows are under greater human pressure, and rapid changes probably occur there more frequently. Although more studies from North America were investigated, the hypothesis was supported more frequently in European studies. This is possibly due to higher human population density and, hence, more frequent habitat changes. Our results show that an ecological trap is not likely associated with migration. Ground nests suffered fewer consequences of such traps than did other nest types. Although the implications of the ecological trap hypothesis in species conservation are undisputable, a more detailed approach is still needed. For instance, some habitat types, such as suburban areas, have been neglected in the context of ecological traps, as has been the phenomenon’s appearance in pristine habitats.

scholarly journals Low Frequency Noise Emission From a Natural Gas Compressor Station

1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manfred Sieminski ◽  
Manfred Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Compressor Station ◽  
Low Frequency Noise ◽  
Noise Emission ◽  
Combustion Chambers ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Remarkable Reduction

Low Frequency Noise at Gas Turbines A natural gas compressor station that was equipped with Hispano Suiza Turbines THM 1202 emitted high intensity noise between 20 Hz and 40 Hz, causing window vibrations and standing waves within the living rooms of a nearby residential area. Since additional sound attenuation by increasing the volume of the exhaust silencers was impossible, further investigations were carried out to explain the mechanism of this low frequency noise emission. By changing the flame pattern inside the combustion chambers of the turbines it was possible to achieve a remarkable reduction at 31.5 Hz amounting to 15 dB. The investigation procedure leading to the final results will be the subject of this presentation.

Ducks nesting in association with gulls—an ecological trap?

1972 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 559-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. W. Dwernychuk ◽  
D. A. Boag
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Ecological Trap

The reproductive success of ducks nesting in association with gulls on islands in Miquelon Lake, Alberta, was studied over a period of 3 years. Gulls protected nesting ducks by preventing other egg-eating birds from foraging on the islands. Pilfering of duck eggs by gulls was correlated with the point in incubation when ducks were trapped and handled. Without trapping, we estimated hatching success would exceed 90%. However, duckling mortality, concentrated in the 1st week posthatching, was positively correlated with the numbers of associated gulls. The survival of ducklings declined to zero when the number of nesting gulls approached 500 pairs. The origin and maintenance of this ecologically unstable relationship is discussed.

The reproductive success of tree swallows nesting near experimentally acidified lakes in northwestern Ontario

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 1090-1097 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent L. St. Louis ◽  
Jon C. Barlow
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Wing Length ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Tree Swallows ◽  
Potentially Toxic Metals ◽  
Growth Functions ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Acidified Lakes ◽  
Reference Lakes

We examined a number of reproductive parameters of tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) breeding near experimentally acidified lakes in northwestern Ontario. We found that near acidified lakes, eggs were smaller in certain dimensions, hatching success was lower (and by definition fewer nestlings fledged per nest box), certain nestling body characters were smaller 4 days posthatch, nestling wing length was shorter near time of fledging, and growth functions were different from those near unmanipulated reference lakes. These results are consistent with earlier findings that calcium-rich food items needed for egg production by laying females and growth of nestlings are more scarce at acidified lakes than at nonacidic reference lakes, and that potentially toxic metals accumulate to higher concentrations both in the chironomids that swallows consume and in nestling swallows at acidified lakes. Our results clearly show that even nonaquatic organisms are affected by acidification of freshwater ecosystems.

Factors affecting egg viability and incubation time in prairie dabbling ducks

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 1146-1152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd W. Arnold
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Incubation Time ◽  
Egg Size ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Weak Support ◽  
Anas Clypeata

I determined hatching success for 328 dabbling duck (Anas spp.) eggs that were experimentally subjected to varying lengths of preincubation delay and then artificially incubated. Hatchability declined as unincubated eggs were exposed to longer preincubation delays. This effect was more pronounced at higher ambient temperatures and later in the nesting season, but did not vary with egg size or among duck species. These results are largely consistent with observed patterns of clutch-size variation among prairie-nesting waterfowl. Clutch size may be smaller later in the year and at lower latitudes owing to the negative effects of date and temperature on the ability of eggs to withstand preincubation delay. The timing of embryo mortality was bimodal, with peaks occurring during early development (<6 d) and just before hatching (>22 d); however, only early mortality was affected by preincubation delay. Eggs lost up to 2.6% of their initial mass as water vapor during preincubation delay, but the amount of water loss did not affect hatching success. Eggs subjected to preincubation delay required about 1 additional day to hatch. Incubation time was related to egg size in northern shovelers (Anas clypeata) and in all species combined, but not in blue-winged teal (Anas discors) or mallards (Anasplatyrhynchos). These data provide only weak support for the hypothesis that large eggs are costly because they take longer to hatch.

scholarly journals Noise-silencing technology for upright venting pipe jet noise

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 168781401879481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enbin Liu ◽  
Shanbi Peng ◽  
Tiaowei Yang
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Sound Pressure Level ◽  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Jet Noise ◽  
Pressure Level ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
Expansion Chamber

When a natural gas transmission and distribution station performs a planned or emergency venting operation, the jet noise produced by the natural gas venting pipe can have an intensity as high as 110 dB, thereby severely affecting the production and living environment. Jet noise produced by venting pipes is a type of aerodynamic noise. This study investigates the mechanism that produces the jet noise and the radiative characteristics of jet noise using a computational fluid dynamics method that combines large eddy simulation with the Ffowcs Williams–Hawkings acoustic analogy theory. The analysis results show that the sound pressure level of jet noise is relatively high, with a maximum level of 115 dB in the low-frequency range (0–1000 Hz), and the sound pressure level is approximately the average level in the frequency range of 1000–4000 Hz. In addition, the maximum and average sound pressure levels of the noise at the same monitoring point both slightly decrease, and the frequency of the occurrence of a maximum sound pressure level decreases as the Mach number at the outlet of the venting pipe increases. An increase in the flow rate can result in a shift from low-frequency to high-frequency noise. Subsequently, this study includes a design of an expansion-chamber muffler that reduces the jet noise produced by venting pipes and an analysis of its effectiveness in reducing noise. The results show that the expansion-chamber muffler designed in this study can effectively reduce jet noise by 10–40 dB and, thus, achieve effective noise prevention and control.

scholarly journals Low hatching success in the critically endangered kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus) is driven by early embryo mortality not infertility

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
James L. Savage ◽  
Jodie M. S. Crane ◽  
Nicola Hemmings ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Hatching Success ◽  
Wild Population ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Major Barrier ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Underlying Causes ◽  
First Time ◽  
Effective Conservation

AbstractIn many endangered species, reproductive failure is a major barrier to recovery. The critically endangered kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus) exemplifies this challenge: 61% of their eggs fail to hatch, and of these 73% show no sign of development. Undeveloped eggs have previously been attributed to male infertility, but recent studies of non-threatened bird species suggest fertilisation failure is rare in the wild. The underlying causes of fertilisation failure and embryo death differ, so distinguishing between them is essential for effective conservation management. Here we show that the majority (72%, n=124) of undeveloped kākāpō eggs are fertilised, and combine this with conservation programme data on natural copulations, artificial inseminations, and paternity of developed eggs, to generate the most precise estimate to date of fertility in a wild population. We also demonstrate, for the first time in a wild bird, that artificial insemination results in greater numbers of sperm reaching the egg.

Experimentally altered plumage brightness of female tree swallows: a test of the differential allocation hypothesis

Behaviour ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 153 (5) ◽  
pp. 525-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisha L. Berzins ◽  
Russell D. Dawson
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Brood Size ◽  
Tachycineta Bicolor ◽  
Differential Allocation ◽  
Tree Swallows ◽  
Agonistic Interactions ◽  
Brood Size Manipulation ◽  
Fledging Success ◽  
Female Attractiveness ◽  
Female Tree

The differential allocation hypothesis posits that individuals should invest in the current reproductive attempt according to the attractiveness of their mate, but studies of allocation by males when female traits are manipulated to be more attractive are lacking. In the current study, we experimentally enhanced and reduced the plumage brightness of female tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) relative to controls to examine whether males adjust investment in parental care according to female attractiveness, while simultaneously performing a brood size manipulation. Contrary to our predictions, we found no evidence that males provisioned nestlings according to the plumage brightness of females. However, we found that nestling quality and fledging success were lowest when female plumage brightness was reduced and brood size was enlarged. This may be due to the plumage brightness treatment influencing agonistic interactions with other females, and may suggest that plumage brightness is a signal assessed by females.

scholarly journals Responses of Birds to Broken Eggs in Their Nests

The Condor ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 673-675
Author(s):  
Mark L. Mallory ◽  
Wallace B. Rendell ◽  
Raleigh J. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Selection Pressure ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Hirundo Rustica ◽  
Tachycineta Bicolor ◽  
Tree Swallows ◽  
Barn Swallows ◽  
Observed Rejection ◽  
Rejection Rates

Abstract We tested the responses of two bird species which nest on unmovable substrates (e.g., cavities and walls) to simulated and actual egg damage in their nest. Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) and Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) removed broken eggs and continued to incubate the rest of their clutch, but response times took up to 8 days, and observed rejection rates were lower than reported for some other passerines. Collectively, these data and other studies suggest that broken eggs represent a continuing selection pressure to which all birds respond, although there appears to be some variability among species in the strength and speed of the response to damaged eggs.

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