Effects of elevated nest box temperature on incubation behaviour and offspring fitness-related traits in the Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis

Ambient temperature experienced by an animal during development or subsequently as an adult can affect many aspects of its behaviour and life-history traits. In birds, egg incubation is a vital component of reproduction and parental care. Several studies have suggested that environmental factors (such as nest microclimate) can influence the ability of incubating parents to maintain suitable conditions for embryo development. Here, we manipulated the developmental conditions of embryos through a modification of nest box thermal microclimate to investigate female incubation behaviour and its impact on offspring fitness-related traits in a wild population of the Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis). The temperature in experimental nests was increased using a heat-pack placed under the roof of a nest box, resulting in an average temperature increase of 2.5 ºC, which corresponds to projected climate change scenarios. We demonstrated that females from nests with elevated temperature spent less time in the nest box during egg incubation and had more off-bouts than females from control nests. Moreover, we found that offspring from the experimentally heated nests had larger body mass at fledging in comparison to the control ones. Our study indicates that nest microclimate during the incubation period affects female incubation behaviour and offspring quality, indicating that environmental variation in nest temperature early in ontogeny can have important and long-lasting fitness consequences.

Variable signatures of selection despite conserved recombination landscapes early in speciation

Recently diverged taxa often exhibit heterogeneous landscapes of genomic differentiation, characterized by regions of elevated differentiation on an otherwise homogeneous background. While divergence peaks are generally interpreted as regions responsible for reproductive isolation, they can also arise due to background selection, selective sweeps unrelated to speciation, and variation in recombination and mutation rates. To investigate the association between patterns of recombination and landscapes of genomic differentiation during the early stages of speciation, we generated fine-scale recombination maps for six southern capuchino seedeaters (Sporophila) and two subspecies of White Wagtail (Motacilla alba), two recent avian radiations in which divergent selection on pigmentation genes has likely generated peaks of differentiation. We compared these recombination maps to those of Collared (Ficedula albicollis) and Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca), non-sister taxa characterized by moderate genomic divergence and a heterogenous landscape of genomic differentiation shaped in part by background selection. Although recombination landscapes were conserved within all three systems, we documented a weaker negative correlation between recombination rate and genomic differentiation in the recent radiations. All divergence peaks between capuchinos, wagtails, and flycatchers were located in regions with lower-than-average recombination rates, and most divergence peaks in capuchinos and flycatchers fell in regions of exceptionally reduced recombination. Thus, co-adapted allelic combinations in these regions may have been protected early in divergence, facilitating rapid diversification. Despite largely conserved recombination landscapes, divergence peaks are specific to each focal comparison in capuchinos, suggesting that regions of elevated differentiation have not been generated by variation in recombination rate alone.

To the reproduction biology of the Wryneck (Jynx torquilla Linnaeus, 1758) in artificial nests in Northeastern Ukraine

In many countries, the Jynx torquilla population has declined significantly. In Ukraine, the species is considered widespread, but remains poorly studied. Activities to attract birds to parks using artificial nests were carried out during 2004‒2021 in Northeastern Ukraine. The first time the J. torquilla was populated in artificial nests dates back to 2009. During 2019‒2021 4 cases of J. torquilla nesting in artificial nests were recorded. Among the studied territories, the population of J. torquilla in artificial nests was found in the territory of the regional landscape park (RLP) «Feldman Ecopark», NPP «Gomilshansky forests» near the village. Gaidary in Kharkov and the tract «Vakalovschina» near the village Vakalovschina in Sumy regions. In the Northeastern of Ukraine, the number of J. torquilla reaches 14,3±0,32 pairs/km2 in the oak forests of the NPP «Gomilshansky forests» near the village Gaidary, 7,2±0,14 pairs/km2 in the pine forests of the park near the village Zadonetske, 16,2±0,14 pairs/km2 in the «Vakalovschina» tract, 11,1±0,24 pairs/km2 in RLP «Feldman Ecopark». J. torquilla, as a typical hollow-hole, is able to inhabit artificial nests. On average, during 2004–2021, the arrival of the first individuals in the spring was recorded: 21.04 at an average daily temperature of 18° C in the oak grove of the NPP «Gomilshansky forests», 23.04 at a temperature of 17° C in the tract «Vakalovschina», on the territory RLP «Feldman Ecopark» ‒ 02.05 at a temperature of 17° C, 2020 is 05.05 at a temperature of 20° С. It has been proven that 12 days pass from the moment of arrival of birds to the laying of the first egg. The first eggs of birds in the conditions of Northeastern Ukraine, on average, for all years of research, were registered 02.05 in the oak grove of the NPP «Gomilshansky forestsп», 04.05 in the tract «Vakalovschina». On the territory of RLP «Feldman Ecopark» in 2019, the first egg was laid at 14.05 on the material of the nest of the collared flycatcher Ficedula albicollis (Temm., 1815); in 2020 ‒ 19.05. Average clutch size 8,3±0,5 (from 7 to 9). Egg sizes: length – 20,2±0,2 mm, width ‒ 15,1±0,1 mm, volume ‒ 1.4±0.1 mmᶾ, roundness index ‒ 74.7±0.3 %. On average, incubation lasts 13±0,2 days. On the territory of the NPP «Gomilshansky forests» near the village. Gaidary, chicks hatched at 14.05; in the tract «Vakalovschina» on 16.05, on the territory of the RLP «Feldman Ecopark» in 2019 the chicks hatched on 26.05, in 2020 ‒ 01.06. The hatching success was found to be 96,9 % (n=30), where the breeding success is 91,0 %.

ШТУЧНІ ГНІЗДІВЛІ ДУПЛОГНІЗДНИХ ПТАХІВ В ЯКОСТІ БЕЗПЕЧНОГО СЕРЕДОВИЩА ДЛЯ РОЗВИТКУ ПРЕДСТАВНИКІВ DIPTERA

Досліджено представників двокрилих (Diptera) у гніздах дуплогніздників у штучних гніздівлях на території ландшафтного парку "Фельдман Екопарк" у Дергачівському районі Харківської області. Проаналізовано та виявлено комплекс субстрату для безпечного середовища розвитку представників двокрилих, наведено кількісні показники та статистичні дані 123 пупаріїв двокрилих. Найбільше пупаріїв виявлено у гніздах синиці великої Parus major, менше у мухоловки білошийої Ficedula albicollis і повзика звичайного Sitta europaea.

Inter-individual variation in provisioning rate, prey size and number, and links to total prey biomass delivered to nestlings in the Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis)

Background In bird species where offspring growth and survival rely on parents’ food provisioning, parents can maximise their fitness by increasing the quantity and/or the quality of preys delivered to their offspring. Many studies have focused on inter-individual variation in feeding rate, yet this measure may not accurately reflect the total amount of food (i.e. energy) provided by parents if there is large variation in the quantity and quality of preys at each feeding. Here, we explored the relative role of individual (sex, age, body condition), breeding (hatching date, brood size) and environmental (temperature) factors on feeding rate, prey number, size and quality, and their contribution to total prey biomass delivered to the nestlings of 164 Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) parents in 98 nests. Results Preys delivered to the nest were mainly larvae (53.6%) and flying insects (45.6%). Feeding rate increased with brood size and age, and was higher in males than females. Mean prey number decreased, but mean prey size increased, as the season progressed and parents feeding their brood with primary larvae brought more preys per visit. Relationships between feeding rate, mean prey number and size remained when taking into account the provisioning quality: parents brought either a large number of small prey or a small number of larger items, and the force of the trade-offs between feeding rate and mean prey number and size depended on the quality of the provisioning of the parents. Whatever the percentage of larvae among preys in the provisioning, the variance in total prey biomass was foremost explained by feeding rate (65.1% to 76.6%) compared to mean prey number (16.4% to 26%) and prey size (2.7% to 4%). Conclusions Our study shows that variation in feeding rate, prey number, size, but not quality (i.e. percentage of larvae), were influenced by individual factors (sex and age) and breeding decisions (brood size and timing of breeding) and that, whatever the provisioning strategy adopted, feeding rate was the best proxy of the total biomass delivered to the nestlings.

Definitions of antibodies to the newcastle disease virus in the yolk of birds of artificial nesting box in conditions of the North-East of Ukraine

Introduction. In the conditions of the North-East of Ukraine, the circulation of the newcastle disease virus in hollow-nesting birds of artificial nests box was studied. Serological studies of the yolks of eggs collected from hollow birds in the North-East of Ukraine to the Newcastle disease virus were carried out. PDefinitions of antibodies to the newcastle disease virus in eggs of artificial nesting birds and determining their role as a reservoir of the causative agent of the disease in the North-East of Ukraine.Methods. The work was carried out in 2019 from April to December in the department for the study of poultry diseases at the National Scientific Center "Institute of Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine", as well as at the Department of Zoology at the H. S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University. Serological studies of the yolks of eggs taken from a hollow nesting box of birds. Antibodies in egg yolk extracts from birds of artificial box nests against the virus of newcastle disease, were determined in the reaction of delayed hemagglutination (HAGA).Result. Antibodies to the newcastle disease virus in titers 1:2 (3,3%) were detected in Phoenicurus phoenicurusFicedula albicollisErithacus rubeculaeggs and Phoenicurus phoenicurus, titers1:64 (23,3%) and 1:128 (26,6%) were found in the yolks of all studied species of artificial nesting birds. The highest antibody titers are 1:256 (26,6%) and 1:512 (6,6%) in the yolks of Ficedula albicollisand Phoenicurus phoenicuruseggs.Originality.Discovered of antibodies to the newcastle disease virus in the yolk of birds of artificial nesting box in conditions of the North-East of Ukraine.Conclusion. According to the results of serological studies of the eggs of birds of four species (Ficedula albicollis, Parus major, Erithacus rubeculaand Phoenicurus phoenicurus), which nest in northeastern Ukraine, it was found that antibodies to the Newcastle disease virus were found in 30 (66.6%).Key words:antibodies, Newcastle disease, hollow-nesting birds, egg yolk extracts, artificial nests box.

ФЕНОЛОГІЯ ТА БІОЛОГІЯ РОЗМНОЖЕННЯ FICEDULA ALBICOLLIS (TEMMINCK) У ШТУЧНИХ ГНІЗДІВЛЯХ НА ТЕРИТОРІЇ РЕГІОНАЛЬНОГО ЛАНДШАФТНОГО ПАРКУ «ФЕЛЬДМАН ЕКОПАРК»

Дослідження вперше проводились на території регіонального ландшафтного парку «Фельдман Екопарк» у гніздовий період Ficedula albicollis з першої декади квітня по другу декаду липня протягом 2019‒2020 рр. Загалом вивчено 136 гнізд, 715 яєць, 508 пташенят. Терміни відкладання яєць визначені у 124 випадках: у 2019 ‒ 68, 2020 ‒ 56. Терміни насиджування кладок встановлені за відкладанням яєць (у 92 гніздах); за термінами вилуплення пташенят (у 90 гніздах). Визначено розміри 8 повних кладок. Успішність та продуктивність розмноження розраховані для 83 гнізд. Пік прильоту птахів зареєстрований при температурі 16.5±1.5ºС. Насиджування триває 13.8±0.2 доби. Впродовж 2019‒2020 рр. останній виліт злетків реєстрували 21 липня при температурі +27ºС. За середніми показниками у 2019 році розмір кладки становив 5.5±0.2 яєць, у 2020 році ‒ 6.2±0.2 яєць. Довжина (L) яєць Ficedula albicollis, у середньому становить 17.3±0.09 мм (CV=1.4%), діаметр (D) 13.7±0.02 мм (CV=2.3%), індекс закругленості (Sph) яйця 79.4±0.9 (CV=2.7%), індекс об’єму (V) яйця 16.6±0.3 см3 (CV=4.9%), індекс видовженості (Iel) яйця 26.1±1.4 (CV=13.4%). Найпродуктивнішими у 2019 році були 6-ти яйцеві кладки – частка пташенят, які залишили гнізда становила 80.7%, у 2020 році ‒ 7-ми яйцеві кладки, частка пташенят, які залишили гнізда ‒ 76.7%; у середньому, за роки досліджень продуктивність розмноження складала 5.4±0.3 пташенят на одну пару. Встановлено кореляцію між середнім розміром кладки F. albicollis та температурою на території РЛП «Фельдман Екопарк» у 2019 році (r=-0.8; p=0.1204) та 2020 році (r=-0.9; p=0.0773). Вилуплення пташенят починались у 2019 році 28 травня, 2020 ‒ 25 травня. За спостереженнями визначено, що злетки залишають гніздо у віці 13‒16 діб, у середньому, у 2019 році цей показник складав 14.4±0.3 доби, у 2020 році – 13.9±0.2 доби. Успішність розмноження Ficedula albicollis впродовж двох років дослідження, у середньому, становить 84.2% (n=100).