scholarly journals Low heritability of nest construction in a wild bird

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 20170246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauliina Järvinen ◽  
Edward Kluen ◽  
Jon E. Brommer
Keyword(s):  
Wild Bird ◽  
Genetic Basis ◽  
Nest Size ◽  
Nest Construction ◽  
Nest Material ◽  
Selection Pressures ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Blue Tits

In birds and other taxa, nest construction varies considerably between and within populations. Such variation is hypothesized to have an adaptive (i.e. genetic) basis, but estimates of heritability in nest construction are largely lacking. Here, we demonstrate with data collected over 10 years from 1010 nests built by blue tits in nest-boxes that nest size (height of nest material) and nest composition (proportion of feathers in the nest) are repeatable but only weakly (12–13%) heritable female traits. These findings imply that nest construction may evolve but only if subjected to strong and consistent selection pressures.

scholarly journals Nidicolous beetle species richness is driven by Barn Owl’s nests occupancy and landscape structure

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivien Cosandey ◽  
Robin Séchaud ◽  
Paul Béziers ◽  
Yannick Chittaro ◽  
Andreas Sanchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Landscape Structure ◽  
Barn Owl ◽  
Arthropod Community ◽  
Tyto Alba ◽  
Nest Material ◽  
Crop Fields ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Bird Droppings ◽  
Barn Owls

AbstractBird nests are specialized habitats because of their particular composition including nest detritus and bird droppings. In consequence, they attract a specialized arthropod community considered as nidicolous, which includes species only found in bird nests (strictly nidicolous) or sometimes found in bird nests (facultatively nidicolous). Because the factors influencing the entomofauna in bird nests are poorly understood, in autumn 2019, we collected nest material in 86 Barn Owl (Tyto alba) nest boxes. We investigated whether the invertebrate species richness was related to Barn Owl nest box occupancy, the density of available nest boxes and the landscape structure. We found 3,321 nidicolous beetle specimens belonging to 24 species. Species richness of strictly nidicolous beetles was 2.7 times higher in nest boxes occupied by a family of Barn Owls the previous spring compared to unoccupied nest boxes. It was also higher in sites that were more often occupied by Barn Owls in the five previous years and in areas surrounded by a higher proportion of crop fields. For facultatively nidicolous beetles, the density of Barn Owl nest boxes enhanced the species richness. In conclusion, our study suggests that the strictly nidicolous beetles benefit from occupied nest boxes of Barn Owls, whereas facultatively nidicolous beetles look for nest boxes independently of whether Barn Owls occupy them. Our study highlights the importance of bird nests for a suite of invertebrates.

scholarly journals The blood parasite Haemoproteus reduces survival in a wild bird: a medication experiment

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 663-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josué Martínez-de la Puente ◽  
Santiago Merino ◽  
Gustavo Tomás ◽  
Juan Moreno ◽  
Judith Morales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Wild Bird ◽  
Blood Parasite ◽  
Reproductive Costs ◽  
Intensity Of Infection ◽  
Cyanistes Caeruleus ◽  
Local Survival ◽  
Blue Tits

While avian chronic haemoparasite infections induce reproductive costs, infection has not previously been shown to affect survival. Here, we experimentally reduced, through medication, the intensity of infection by Haemoproteus parasites in wild-breeding female blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus . However, this treatment did not reduce the intensity of infection in males or the intensity of infection by Leucocytozoon . Medicated females, but not males, showed increased local survival until the next breeding season compared with control birds. To our knowledge, this is the first empirical evidence showing long-term direct survival costs of chronic Haemoproteus infections in wild birds.

scholarly journals Nest size and aromatic plants in the nest as sexually selected female traits in blue tits

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 926-934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Tomás ◽  
Santiago Merino ◽  
Josué Martínez-de la Puente ◽  
Juan Moreno ◽  
Judith Morales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nest Size ◽  
Aromatic Plants ◽  
Blue Tits

scholarly journals Direct versus indirect sexual selection: genetic basis of colour, size and recruitment in a wild bird

2006 ◽  
Vol 273 (1592) ◽  
pp. 1347-1353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarrod D Hadfield ◽  
Malcolm D Burgess ◽  
Alex Lord ◽  
Albert B Phillimore ◽  
Sonya M Clegg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Selection ◽  
Wild Bird ◽  
Genetic Basis

scholarly journals Cereal pests among nest parasites – the story of barley thrips, Limothrips denticornis Haliday (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 221-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Fedor ◽  
Martina Doričová ◽  
Michal Dubovský ◽  
Jozef Kisel'ák ◽  
Milan Zvarík
Keyword(s):  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Statistical Analyses ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Nest Size ◽  
Transport Mechanisms ◽  
Nest Material ◽  
Vertebrate Species ◽  
Sticky Traps ◽  
Migration Dynamics ◽  
Nest Materials

Barley thrips, Limothrips denticornis, Haliday, 1836 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), a grass-dwelling Holarctic species represents a model example to study transport mechanisms of Thysanoptera into nests. In samples from more than 1,500 nests, barley thrips were recorded in nests of 20 vertebrate species, both birds and mammals. Applying appropriate statistics (nonparametric methods) clear clustering among nest materials and a strong relationship between presence of thrips and grass as the nest material was found. Occurrence of thrips was not associated with nest size, location or height. To validate our statistical analyses 15 wooden boxes were installed and equipped with sticky traps to record the whole year migration dynamics. Barley thrips infiltrate nests by various ways (e. g. dwelling on bark, landing from atmosphere), however most of them (88%) invade passively on nest material (grass) in spring (1st summer nesting) and autumn (winter nest building).

Exploring Biotic and Abiotic Determinants of Nest Size in Mediterranean Great Tits (Parus major) and Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Ethology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 122 (6) ◽  
pp. 492-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel M. Lambrechts ◽  
Jacques Blondel ◽  
Cyril Bernard ◽  
Samuel P. Caro ◽  
Anne Charmantier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parus Major ◽  
Nest Size ◽  
Cyanistes Caeruleus ◽  
Blue Tits

scholarly journals Old nest material functions as an informative cue in making nest-site selection decisions in the European Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingju E ◽  
Tuo Wang ◽  
Shangyu Wang ◽  
Ye Gong ◽  
Jiangping Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Nest Material ◽  
Falco Tinnunculus ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Cavity Nesting ◽  
Selection Decisions ◽  
Nest Materials ◽  
Organic Remains

Abstract Background For secondary cavity-nesting bird species that do not add lining materials to nests, the presence of old nest material or organic remains that have accumulated within nest cavities from previous breeding events may be a cue of nest-site quality. These materials potentially contain information about past breeding success in con- and heterospecifics and may improve the thermal insulation of eggs during incubation. However, few studies have addressed whether the presence of old nest materials serves as a cue for cavity-nesting raptors when choosing specific nest sites. Methods We conducted a 9-year nest box experiment to test whether old nest materials from con- and heterospecifics serve as informative cues to the European Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) when making nest selection decisions, as this species uses nest boxes without adding nesting material. Results The presence of old nest materials and entrance size best discriminated nest boxes occupied by European Kestrels from unoccupied boxes. Nest boxes containing conspecific organic remains, artificial dry leaf and branch material, and material left behind by Great Tits (Parus major) were reused at higher rates, especially those containing conspecific nest material, than nest boxes containing true or simulated nest materials from predators. In 2010, no single nest box was occupied by the same banded individual that occupied the box in the previous year (10 females and 2 males were banded in 2009). Conclusions European Kestrels preferred nest boxes containing old nest material over empty boxes, which is consistent with previous findings that they exploit con- and heterospecific cues when deciding where to settle and breed, as old nest or organic material provides substrate for incubating females. Kestrels may be able to assess the predation risks associated with a specific nest site based on experience or the presence of prey remains. The repeated use of nest boxes across breeding seasons by kestrels cannot be entirely ascribed to philopatry. This study provides evidence that old nest materials are potentially used as informative cues when making nest-site selection decisions in European Kestrels.

Why do Corsican Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus ogliastrae not use nest boxes for roosting?

2009 ◽  
Vol 151 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
André A. Dhondt ◽  
Jacques Blondel ◽  
Philippe Perret
Keyword(s):  
Cyanistes Caeruleus ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Blue Tits

A LABORATORY STUDY ON THE SELECTIVE ADVANTAGE OF FOUNDRESS ASSOCIATIONS IN POLISTES FUSCATUS (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE)

1974 ◽  
Vol 106 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L. Gibo
Keyword(s):  
Selective Advantage ◽  
Social Wasp ◽  
Developmental Time ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Nest Size ◽  
Total Production ◽  
Polistes Fuscatus ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Single Foundress

AbstractOverwintering adults of the social wasp Polistes fuscatus (Fabricius) were collected in the early spring and placed in nest boxes under controlled conditions. Colonies were initiated, and one-, two-, and three-foundress associations were formed. Successful single-foundress colonies were similar to successful multiple-foundress colonies in developmental time for immatures, nest size, and total production of offspring. Multiple-foundress colonies were more likely to produce offspring than were single-foundress colonies. Half of the foundress wasps failed to reproduce, either because the colony failed or because they were non-reproductive subordinates. Apparently, wasps that were likely to fail at reproduction tended to join colonies rather than to initiate colonies. The relevance of this data to hypotheses on the selective advantage of foundress associations is discussed.

scholarly journals Can eggs in a cavity be a female secondary sexual signal? Male nest visits and modelling of egg visual discrimination in blue tits

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Jeanne Holveck ◽  
Claire Doutrelant ◽  
Romain Guerreiro ◽  
Philippe Perret ◽  
Doris Gomez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Discrimination ◽  
Colour Vision ◽  
Cyanistes Caeruleus ◽  
Secondary Sexual Trait ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Cavity Nesting ◽  
Dim Light ◽  
Female Specific ◽  
Blue Tits ◽  
Secondary Sexual

Eggshell colouration is thought to function as a female-specific secondary sexual trait. While tests of this idea are rapidly accumulating in cavity-nesting birds, some fundamental underlying assumptions remain rarely investigated: namely, can males see eggshell coloration and perceive colour differences between the eggs of different females? We tested these two key assumptions in a natural population of blue tits ( Cyanistes caeruleus ). Using transponders, we tracked male nest visits and found that all males visited their nest-boxes while eggs were present and often visually accessible. Interestingly, some males also visited neighbouring nests. We then tested whether birds could detect eggshell coloration using models of avian colour vision; models were performed with and without limitations on visual performance owing to dim light. Both models found that differences in eggshell brightness were often easier to discriminate than differences in colour; there was more contrast in white eggshell background between clutches than within and its contrast against nest background was repeatable within clutches, suggesting these features could act as signals. Yet, the detectability of these contrasts depended entirely on model assumptions of visual limitations. Consequently, we need a better understanding of underlying visual mechanisms in dim-light environments and behavioural discrimination experiments before confirming the signalling potential of eggshell coloration.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document