scholarly journals Nest site selection by Hypsiboas faber(Anura, Hylidae) in Southern Brazil

2015 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
André L. Luza ◽  
Eliane R. da Silva ◽  
Daniela M. Failace ◽  
Patrick Colombo
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Subtropical Climate ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Habitat Factors ◽  
Selection For

ABSTRACT Male gladiator frogs of Hypsiboas Wagler, 1830 build nests on available substrate surrounding ponds and streams where female spawn eggs during the breeding period. Although gladiator frogs seem to show plasticity in the way they construct their nests, there is no study reporting if these species present preferences about microhabitat conditions for nest-building (mainly under subtropical climate). Predation pressure and environmental conditions have been considered major processes shaping the great diversity of reproductive strategies performed by amphibians, but microhabitat conditions should explain where to build a nest as well as how nest looks. This study aimed to test nest site selection for nest-building by Hypsiboas faber(Wied-Neuwied, 1821), determining which factors are related to nest site selection and nest features. The survey was conducted at margins of two permanent ponds in Southern Brazil. Habitat factors were evaluated in 18 plots with nest and 18 plots in the surrounding without nest (control), describing vegetation structure and heterogeneity, and substrate characteristics. Water temperature was measured inside the nest and in its adjacency. Nest features assessed were area, depth and temperature. Habitat characteristics differed between plots with and without nest. Microhabitat selected for nest-building was characterized by great vegetation cover and height, as well as shallower water and lower cover of organic matter in suspension than in plots without nest. Differences between temperature inside nest and in its adjacency were not observed. No relationship between nest features and habitat descriptors was evidenced. Results revealed that Hypsiboas faber does not build nests anywhere. Males seem to prefer more protected habitats, probably avoiding predation, invasion of conspecific males and inclement weather. Lack of differences between temperature inside- and outside-nest suggest that nest do not improve this condition for eggs and tadpole development. Nest architecture was not related to habitat characteristics, which may be determined by other factors, as nest checking by females before amplexus. Nest site selection should increase offspring survival as well the breeding success of Hypsiboas faber.

scholarly journals Nest Site Selection and Nesting Success in Saltmarsh Breeding Sparrows: The Importance of Nest Habitat, Timing, and Study Site Differences

The Condor ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 107 (4) ◽  
pp. 849-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carina Gjerdrum ◽  
Chris S. Elphick ◽  
Margaret Rubega
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nesting Success ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Smooth Cordgrass ◽  
Vegetation Model ◽  
Nest Habitat ◽  
Habitat Differences ◽  
Seaside Sparrow

Abstract We examined nest-site selection and nesting success in Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed (Ammodramus caudacutus) and Seaside Sparrows (A. maritimus), at seven sites in Connecticut. We found 160 Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow nests and 23 Seaside Sparrow nests, and compared characteristics of their locations to each other and to random locations. We tracked success of all nests, quantified nest productivity and causes of nest losses, and tested for habitat differences between successful and unsuccessful nests. Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows nested in higher than average locations, where the vegetation was taller and more dense than at random locations, where there was a deep layer of thatch, and where saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens) dominated the vegetation. There was little evidence that habitat characteristics influenced the success of nesting birds, but the timing of nest initiation relative to spring tides was important. Seaside Sparrow nests occurred in even taller vegetation, that was more sparse than average and dominated by the tall form of smooth cordgrass (S. alterniflora). Habitat influenced the success of Seaside Sparrow nests, but timing did not; on average, successful nests occurred in taller vegetation. Model comparisons suggest that vegetation structure influences site selection more than species composition or inherent differences among marshes. Overall, our results indicate that nest flooding is a major threat to successful reproduction in both species, but they have different strategies to avoid flooding. Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows time their reproduction to avoid especially high tides, while Seaside Sparrows avoid flooding spatially by nesting in tall vegetation.

scholarly journals Nest-site selection and breeding success of passerines in the world’s southernmost forests

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9892
Author(s):  
Rocío Fernanda Jara ◽  
Ramiro Daniel Crego ◽  
Michael David Samuel ◽  
Ricardo Rozzi ◽  
Jaime Enrique Jiménez
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Survival ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Ecological Trap ◽  
Additional Hypothesis ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Risk Of Predation

Background Birds can maximize their reproductive success through careful selection of nest-sites. The ‘total-foliage’ hypothesis predicts that nests concealed in vegetation should have higher survival. We propose an additional hypothesis, the ‘predator proximity’ hypothesis, which states that nests placed farther from predators would have higher survival. We examined these hypotheses in the world’s southernmost forests of Navarino Island, in the Cape Horn Biosphere reserve, Chile (55°S). This island has been free of mammalian ground predators until recently, and forest passerines have been subject to depredation only by diurnal and nocturnal raptors. Methods During three breeding seasons (2014–2017), we monitored 104 nests for the five most abundant open-cup forest-dwelling passerines (Elaenia albiceps, Zonotrichia capensis, Phrygilus patagonicus, Turdus falcklandii, and Anairetes parulus). We identified nest predators using camera traps and assessed whether habitat characteristics affected nest-site selection and survival. Results Nest predation was the main cause of nest failure (71% of failed nests). Milvago chimango was the most common predator, depredating 13 (87%) of the 15 nests where we could identify a predator. By contrast, the recently introduced mammal Neovison vison, the only ground predator, depredated one nest (7%). Species selected nest-sites with more understory cover and taller understory, which according to the total-foliage hypothesis would provide more concealment against both avian and mammal predators. However, these variables negatively influenced nest survival. The apparent disconnect between selecting nest-sites to avoid predation and the actual risk of predation could be due to recent changes in the predator assemblage driven by an increased abundance of native M. chimango associated with urban development, and/or the introduction of exotic mammalian ground predators to this island. These predator assemblage changes could have resulted in an ecological trap. Further research will be needed to assess hypotheses that could explain this mismatch between nest-site selection and nest survival.

scholarly journals Female Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes (Heterodon platirhinos) choose nest sites that produce offspring with phenotypes likely to improve fitness

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (10) ◽  
pp. 1215-1220 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.A. Peet-Paré ◽  
G. Blouin-Demers
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
First Year ◽  
Temperature Profiles ◽  
Offspring Fitness ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Random Site ◽  
Second Year

Nest-site selection is an important behaviour in oviparous reptiles because incubation conditions affect offspring phenotype, with favourable conditions leading to higher offspring fitness. We aimed to identify the habitat characteristics involved in nest-site selection in Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes ( Heterodon platirhinos Latreille, 1801) and to determine whether females select nest sites that result in offspring with phenotypes likely to improve fitness. We compared the habitat characteristics and temperature profiles of 21 nests with 21 randomly selected sites. Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes selected open, grassy sites with less herbs and shrubs than random sites, and nests were significantly warmer than random sites during the 2 years of the study. In the second year of the study, we incubated 215 eggs from eight nests in a split-clutch design at mean nest (24 °C) and random site (22 °C) temperatures approximating those of the first year of the study. Eggs incubated at 24 °C resulted in neonates that hatched earlier, had fewer scale anomalies, were larger, and swam faster than neonates from eggs incubated at 22 °C. Our results indicate that Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes select nest sites that lead to offspring with phenotypes likely to improve fitness.

Experimental Study of Nest-site Selection in the Biscutate Swift (Streptoprocne biscutata, Aves: Apodidae) in Southern Brazil

Biotropica ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-84
Author(s):  
Mauro Pichorim ◽  
James J. Roper ◽  
Emygdio Leite de Araújo Monteiro Filho
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Southern Brazil

scholarly journals Greater Scaup, Aythya marila, Nest Site Characteristics on Grassy Island, New Brunswick

2012 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Jon T. McRoberts ◽  
Nicole T. Quintana ◽  
W. Andrew Smith ◽  
Warren B. Ballard ◽  
F. Patrick Kehoe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Ecological Understanding ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
Nesting Sites

We studied Greater Scaup (Aythya marilla) nest site selection on Grassy Island, New Brunswick, during 1995 and 1996 by describing site selection in relation to habitat characteristics and association with larids using univariate comparisons. We pooled nesting data from both years and found that nesting sites were significantly closer to larid colonies and the edge of the patch of vegetation in which the nests were situated, had less forb canopy cover, more sedge cover, greater overhead concealment and lateral cover at 0–0.25 m, and less ground moisture than random sites. We evaluated Greater Scaup nests delimited as close to or far from larid colonies at 30 m and documented that nests closer to larid colonies were found in shorter vegetation that was closer to the edge of the patch of vegetation with less lateral cover at 0.25–0.5 m, but had greater overhead concealment than nests farther away. Advancements in the ecological understanding of the species, including habitat use patterns and species associations, will increase the likelihood of conservation successes.

Effects of Habitat Characteristics on Gadwall Nest Predation and Nest-Site Selection

1989 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Crabtree ◽  
Linda S. Broome ◽  
Michael L. Wolfe
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Predation ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Habitat Characteristics

scholarly journals Nest records, Nest Site selection of Gyps bengalensis White-rumped Vulture and the role of Feeding Station in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Archi Sehgal ◽  
Krishan Kumar ◽  
Rubina Rajan ◽  
Upmanyu Hore
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Radial Distance ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Feeding Station ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
Gyps Bengalensis

AbstractActive nests of Gyps bengalensis White-rumped Vulture depends on elevation and aspects for nest site selection, while feeding station plays a significant role for determining the position of the nesting sites.This study attempted to record nest count for the breeding period 2018, identify key variables for the nest site selection and understand the role of feeding station in the nest site selection. Nest counts were conducted during the breeding period, each nest was categorized into active and inactive nest based on assesment of different components. Simultaneously, different variables (tree height, tree species, elevation and aspect) were recorded for each nest. Aerial distance was used to determine the role of feeding station for selecting the nesting sites. From the 24 nesting sites, 352 active nests were recorded, and a significant Pearson’s correlation for elevation and aspect were drawn. We found, vulture prefer single tree species for nesting. We also found that, 71% (n = 17) nesting sites located within radial distance of 20 km of the feeding station. High congregration of active nests within short radial distance from feeding station, signify the positive impact of management of feeding station by the wildlife wing of Forest department since 2008, for the ex-situ conservation of critically endangered Gyps bengalensis White-rumped Vulture

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