scholarly journals Common Terns Sterna hirundo incubating a Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena egg

Ornis Svecica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 53-59
Author(s):  
Lars Bern
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequencing ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Behavioural Response ◽  
Sterna Hirundo ◽  
Egg Discrimination ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Common Terns ◽  
Natural Nest ◽  
Species Assignment ◽  
Podiceps Grisegena

During a study of Red-necked Grebes Podiceps grisegena in Lake Slagsmyren, Sweden, a pair of Common Terns Sterna hirundo were observed to have placed their two eggs on a deserted, floating nest of a Red-necked Grebe. Prior to this, the grebes had laid one egg of their own in the nest and this egg was included by the terns in their clutch and incubated by them. The species assignment of the odd egg was confirmed with DNA sequencing. A lack of natural nest sites for the terns to use at the lake could have caused this somewhat unusual choice of a nest site. I discuss possible explanations for adopting a foreign egg, including the adaptive behavioural response to roll an egg into the nest bowl to salvage lost eggs, the incubation stimulus that foreign eggs or egg-like objects potentially provide, and the limited egg discrimination abilities of Common Terns. The incubation of a foreign egg may reasonably be assumed to cost energy but to be of little benefit, if any, to the incubator.

Within and between season nest-site and mate fidelity in Common Terns(Sterna hirundo)

1999 ◽  
Vol 140 (4) ◽  
pp. 491-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob González-Solís ◽  
Helmut Wendeln ◽  
Peter H. Becker
Keyword(s):  
Nest Site ◽  
Sterna Hirundo ◽  
Mate Fidelity ◽  
Common Terns

Characteristics of successful nest sites for marsh-nesting common terns

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 1411-1416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne E. Storey
Keyword(s):  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Success ◽  
Vegetation Density ◽  
Tall Grass ◽  
Tidal Flooding ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Common Terns ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
Dead Vegetation ◽  
Almost All

The relationship between nest site characteristics and nest success during tidal flooding was studied in six New Jersey colonies of marsh-nesting common terns (Sterna hirundo). Most colonies were on high ground with a northeast water exposure, and almost all nests were on mats of dead vegetation. Terns nested on the thickest areas of the mats and, whether nesting on mats or on the ground, they selected nest sites with low vegetation density. The characteristics of successful nests differed with the height and date of the flood tide, and with wind direction. In the 1975 flood, nests on high ground were more successful, whereas nests in tall grass and on large mats successfully survived tidal flooding in 1976. Because grass height and ground height are negatively correlated in the marsh, it is difficult for the terns to maximize both characteristics when selecting a nest site. The large mats associated with flood survival in 1976 were also associated with higher prédation rates, indicating a further complication in selecting a safe nest site. Data from these floods were compared with floods studied by other researchers to further test whether certain nest site characteristics are associated with nest success in different types of floods.

Nest-Site Selection and Temporal Patterns in Habitat Use of Roseate and Common Terns

The Auk ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 433-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Burger ◽  
Michael Gochfeld
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Barrier Beach ◽  
Habitat Features ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Common Terns ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
Sterna Dougallii ◽  
Roseate Tern

Abstract Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii) nest in a wide variety of habitats. We examined nest-site selection in a mixed-species colony of Roseate and Common (S. hirundo) terns on the interdune area of a barrier beach to determine species differences, to identify which characteristics at nest sites differed from the available habitat, and to compare nest-site preferences of early- and late-nesting Roseate Terns. Both species nested in the same area, but Roseate Terns nested under dense vegetation and Common Terns nested in more open sites. For Roseate Terns, cover within 0.5 m of the nest was greater than that within 1 m; the opposite was true for Common Terns. Cover within 5 m was similar for both species. Roseate and Common terns select different habitat features. Site characteristics of early- and late-nesting Roseate Tern nests differed. Late-nesting terns used sites with greater cover within 0.5 m, less cover within 5 m, taller vegetation, and with less visibility compared with early-nesting terns. Late-nesting Roseate Terns were still able to find sites in dense cover. At this colony, competition between the two species may not be limiting, and abundant sites remain available.

Consequences of variation in brood size on the allocation of parental care in common terns (Sterna hirundo)

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (10) ◽  
pp. 2411-2413 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Wiggins
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Brood Size ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Common Tern ◽  
Sterna Hirundo ◽  
Foraging Effort ◽  
Common Terns ◽  
Care Patterns

Data on the behaviour of common tern (Sterna hirundo) parents were analyzed to document shifts in parental care patterns with changes in brood size. The primary roles of the sexes, chick feeding by males, and brood attendance by females, did not change with shifts in brood size. Rather, parents simply altered the amount of care provided. One-chick broods received more parental attendance at the nest site than both two- and three-chick broods, likely as a result of the increased foraging effort of two- and three-chick parents. The number of chick feeds per hour increased significantly with each increase in brood size, but the number of feeds of each chick per hour did not. Thus, although parents increased their foraging effort with increasing brood size, the net effect was that chicks in all brood sizes were fed at similar rates.

Relationship between nest sites of common terns and vegetation on the Eastern Headland, Toronto Outer Harbour

1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 2057-2061 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Blokpoel ◽  
P. M. Catling ◽  
G. T. Haymes
Keyword(s):  
Great Majority ◽  
Common Tern ◽  
Sterna Hirundo ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Study Plot ◽  
Common Terns

The distribution of common tern (Sterna hirundo) nests relative to vegetation and objects (rocks and sticks) was studied on the Eastern Headland of the Toronto Outer Harbour in 1977. The vegetative cover in one study plot ranged from 0–10% to 91–100%, with a mean of 16%. In that plot the vegetative cover near nests ranged from 0–10% to 81–90%, with a mean of 44%. In the second study plot where plants were widely scattered, the great majority of the nests were situated next to plants or objects. Possible advantages and disadvantages of this behaviour are briefly discussed.

scholarly journals Homing and Egg Discrimination in the Western Slimy Salamander,Plethodon albagula(Caudata: Plethodontidae)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn R. Jordan ◽  
Joseph R. Milanovich ◽  
Malcolm L. Mccallum ◽  
Stanley E. Trauth
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Maternal Investment ◽  
Brooding Female ◽  
Egg Discrimination ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Alternative Hypotheses ◽  
Egg Guarding ◽  
Egg Brooding ◽  
Plethodon Albagula

AbstractIn some species of vertebrates egg brooding is a costly form of parental care. Therefore, misdirection of parental care can significantly lower a female’s fitness. Because of the maternal investment and increased survivorship to offspring from egg guarding, a brooding female should home to her nest site after being displaced a short distance and discriminate between her own eggs and eggs from other females. In this study, we experimentally tested, in the field, alternative hypotheses concerning homing ability and egg discrimination in a population of nesting western slimy salamanders (Plethodon albagula). Fourteen brooding females were displaced 1 m to the left or right of their nest sites (determined randomly) for the homing experiment. Furthermore, brooding females (n = 13) were presented with their own clutches, which were displaced 50 cm to the left or right (determined randomly), and unfamiliar egg clutches at their original nest sites. The females were released at an equal distance from both egg clutches. After 24 hours, 12 displaced females (86%) had returned to their own nest sites and were brooding their egg clutches. Also, after 24 hours, nine test females had returned to their own nest sites and were brooding the unfamiliar egg clutches. No control or test females were present at the other new nest site locations. Therefore, we suggest that brooding femaleP. albagulado home to their nest sites and exhibit indirect egg discrimination.

The importance of grasstrees (Xanthorrhoea preissii) as habitat for mardo (Antechinus flavipes leucogaster) during post-fire recovery

2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marnie L. Swinburn ◽  
Patricia A. Fleming ◽  
Michael D. Craig ◽  
Andrew H. Grigg ◽  
Mark J. Garkaklis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fire Management ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Radio Telemetry ◽  
Important Resource ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Single Feature ◽  
Management Policies ◽  
Nesting Resources ◽  
Selection For ◽  
The One

Grasstrees (Xanthorrhoea) are an important structural component of many Australian ecosystems and also an important resource for many fauna species. Grasstrees have distinctive morphologies, with a crown of long thin leaves and skirts, the latter of which are accumulated dead leaves; both are incinerated by fire. This study determined the morphological features of Xanthorrhoea preissii, which change in response to fire from 6 months to 21 years post-burn. In addition, using radio-telemetry and spool-tracking, we determined that grasstrees are utilised as foraging and nesting resources for mardos (Antechinus flavipes leucogaster (Gray, 1841), Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Recently burnt grasstrees (6 months post-burn) appeared not to be used by mardos at all. We found few mardos in these recently burnt sites, and the one individual we managed to track for 126 m utilised only a single grasstree: a 2-m-tall multiple-crowned grasstree that had escaped the fire was used as a nest site. For sites 5 years post-burn, mardos selectively utilised grasstrees with larger crown areas and those with a greater number of crowns compared with a random sample of available trees. At the 14-year post-burn sites, mardos still demonstrated some selection for grasstrees, although no specific single feature could be determined as most significant. We recorded humidity and temperature buffering effects in association with post-burn accumulation of grasstree skirt material and found that even dead grasstree ‘logs’ were an important resource for nests. We conclude that mardos utilise both live and dead grasstrees for foraging and nest sites, possibly owing to the availability of dense cover, a buffered microclimate, and potentially also food resources. Fire-management policies that promote habitat heterogeneity and retain several intact-skirted grasstrees within the landscape are likely to benefit mardos.

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