Pub Date : 2020-10-19DOI: 10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.005
A. Wojton, G. Pitucha
Abstract. Upturned root systems are used by several species of birds as nesting sites. The primeval lowland temperate forests are the crucial the source of information with this respect. The aim of the study was to characterise the root plates as nesting sites in a forest covered by a reserve protection system for about 20 years. The research was conducted between 2016–2018 in south-eastern Poland. In the area examined, nests of the Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes and the European Robin Erithacus rubecula were found to occupy 19.9% and 2.1% of root plates in uprooted trees, respectively. Among root plates with wren nest, Scots Pine accounted 36.8%, subsequently Norway Spruce 28.9%, and Silver Birch 18.4%. Inclined root plate and root plate of large surface were often chosen by Wrens for building a nest. A week positive correlation was found between the height at which the nest was built and the height of the root plate.
{"title":"Root Plates as Nesting Sites for Eurasian Wrens Troglodytes troglodytes in a Forest Undergoing Renaturalisation","authors":"A. Wojton, G. Pitucha","doi":"10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.005","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Upturned root systems are used by several species of birds as nesting sites. The primeval lowland temperate forests are the crucial the source of information with this respect. The aim of the study was to characterise the root plates as nesting sites in a forest covered by a reserve protection system for about 20 years. The research was conducted between 2016–2018 in south-eastern Poland. In the area examined, nests of the Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes and the European Robin Erithacus rubecula were found to occupy 19.9% and 2.1% of root plates in uprooted trees, respectively. Among root plates with wren nest, Scots Pine accounted 36.8%, subsequently Norway Spruce 28.9%, and Silver Birch 18.4%. Inclined root plate and root plate of large surface were often chosen by Wrens for building a nest. A week positive correlation was found between the height at which the nest was built and the height of the root plate.","PeriodicalId":50888,"journal":{"name":"Acta Ornithologica","volume":"55 1","pages":"53 - 58"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2020-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41906842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-10-19DOI: 10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.012
T. Stański, D. Czeszczewik, M. Stańska, W. Walankiewicz
Abstract. The Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major in spite of its broad food niche may prefer some trees or places on them during foraging. Different preferences for foraging sites can also be found in males and females, which may minimize competition for food between them. The main goal of our study was to define sex-specific use of foraging sites of the Great Spotted Woodpecker, in the primeval oak-hornbeam-lime forest of the Białowieża National Park, E Poland. This forest has never been logged and is distinguished by the structure of great vertical and horizontal diversity, high amount of dead wood and trees which reach large dimensions. Therefore, there are a large number of potential foraging sites, and some trees, due to their species or condition, may be particularly preferred in this respect. Our study revealed that the foraging sessions of woodpeckers were longer on the dead parts of trees than on alive ones which were especially noticeable in the case of females. The longest foraging sessions were found on dead parts of Norway Spruce Picea abies for both sexes. The males foraged the longest at high altitudes (> 20 m above the ground) on thin parts of trees (diameter 5–10 cm) whereas females on sites above 15 m and on thicker parts of tree (diameter 10–20 cm). Moreover, the duration of foraging session of females increased with increasing of trunk diameter at breast height, which was not revealed in males.
{"title":"Foraging Behaviour of the Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major in Relation to Sex in Primeval Stands of the Białowieża National Park","authors":"T. Stański, D. Czeszczewik, M. Stańska, W. Walankiewicz","doi":"10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.012","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major in spite of its broad food niche may prefer some trees or places on them during foraging. Different preferences for foraging sites can also be found in males and females, which may minimize competition for food between them. The main goal of our study was to define sex-specific use of foraging sites of the Great Spotted Woodpecker, in the primeval oak-hornbeam-lime forest of the Białowieża National Park, E Poland. This forest has never been logged and is distinguished by the structure of great vertical and horizontal diversity, high amount of dead wood and trees which reach large dimensions. Therefore, there are a large number of potential foraging sites, and some trees, due to their species or condition, may be particularly preferred in this respect. Our study revealed that the foraging sessions of woodpeckers were longer on the dead parts of trees than on alive ones which were especially noticeable in the case of females. The longest foraging sessions were found on dead parts of Norway Spruce Picea abies for both sexes. The males foraged the longest at high altitudes (> 20 m above the ground) on thin parts of trees (diameter 5–10 cm) whereas females on sites above 15 m and on thicker parts of tree (diameter 10–20 cm). Moreover, the duration of foraging session of females increased with increasing of trunk diameter at breast height, which was not revealed in males.","PeriodicalId":50888,"journal":{"name":"Acta Ornithologica","volume":"55 1","pages":"120 - 128"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2020-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48267300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-10-19DOI: 10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.008
David A. Campion, Iker Pardo, Miguel Elósegui, D. Villanúa
Abstract. The White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos is one the rarest and the most vulnerable woodpeckers in Europe. Intensive forest practices have caused a widespread decline of the species. In the Spanish Pyrenees, on the south-west limit of the species range, a population of the lilfordi subspecies (Lilford Woodpecker) is estimated at less than 200 individuals which are confined to a few relatively well-conserved beech forests. Despite being an endangered taxon, our knowledge about the size and shape of its home range is still incomplete. Conventional radio-tracking studies of the taxon have been limited due to the complex topography of forests, whereas miniaturized GPS devices have not been available for such a small bird (∼100 g bodyweight) until recently. Here, we evaluate for the first time the utility of modern lightweight GPS tags to characterize the home range of the White-backed Woodpecker. Using 3.4 g GPS-tags we tracked movements of 14 adult individuals during the breeding and post-breeding periods between years 2017–2019. On average, the failure rate (the percentage of failed fix attempts) was 30%, and 76% of successful fixes were accurate (error < 20 m). According to 95% kernel density estimator, the mean home range (∼300 ha) was several times larger than previously reported for the species, and it did not change over the post-breeding period. This finding challenges the utility of previous management recommendations for protecting small buffer areas around the nest or single forest stands. By modeling the home range size as a function of the number of fixes and errors, we found that males had significantly larger home ranges than females. Our results demonstrate that GPS telemetry is feasible in White-backed Woodpecker adults, and it can provide novel and accurate information about the home range of the species if potential sources of error are adequately addressed.
摘要白背啄木鸟是欧洲最稀有和最脆弱的啄木鸟之一。密集的森林活动造成了该物种的广泛减少。在西班牙比利牛斯山脉，在物种范围的西南边界，利尔福德啄木鸟亚种(利尔福德啄木鸟)的种群估计不到200只，它们被限制在一些相对保护良好的山毛榉林中。尽管是一种濒临灭绝的分类单元，但我们对其活动范围的大小和形状的了解仍然不完整。由于森林地形复杂，传统的无线电跟踪研究一直受到限制，而小型化的GPS设备直到最近才可用于这种小鸟(体重约100克)。在这里，我们首次评估现代轻量级GPS标签的效用，以表征白背啄木鸟的家园范围。使用3.4 g gps标签，我们在2017-2019年之间的繁殖期和繁殖期追踪了14只成年个体的活动。平均而言，失败率(修复尝试失败的百分比)为30%，76%的成功修复是准确的(误差< 20 m)。根据95%核密度估计，该物种的平均家园范围(~ 300 ha)比以前报道的大几倍，并且在育种后的时期内没有变化。这一发现挑战了以前的管理建议，即保护鸟巢或单一森林林分周围的小缓冲区。通过将家庭范围大小建模为修复和错误数量的函数，我们发现男性的家庭范围明显大于女性。我们的研究结果表明，GPS遥测技术在成年白背啄木鸟中是可行的，如果能够充分解决潜在的误差来源，它可以提供关于该物种的家庭范围的新颖和准确的信息。
{"title":"Gps Telemetry and Home Range of the White-Backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos: Results of the First Experience","authors":"David A. Campion, Iker Pardo, Miguel Elósegui, D. Villanúa","doi":"10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.008","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos is one the rarest and the most vulnerable woodpeckers in Europe. Intensive forest practices have caused a widespread decline of the species. In the Spanish Pyrenees, on the south-west limit of the species range, a population of the lilfordi subspecies (Lilford Woodpecker) is estimated at less than 200 individuals which are confined to a few relatively well-conserved beech forests. Despite being an endangered taxon, our knowledge about the size and shape of its home range is still incomplete. Conventional radio-tracking studies of the taxon have been limited due to the complex topography of forests, whereas miniaturized GPS devices have not been available for such a small bird (∼100 g bodyweight) until recently. Here, we evaluate for the first time the utility of modern lightweight GPS tags to characterize the home range of the White-backed Woodpecker. Using 3.4 g GPS-tags we tracked movements of 14 adult individuals during the breeding and post-breeding periods between years 2017–2019. On average, the failure rate (the percentage of failed fix attempts) was 30%, and 76% of successful fixes were accurate (error < 20 m). According to 95% kernel density estimator, the mean home range (∼300 ha) was several times larger than previously reported for the species, and it did not change over the post-breeding period. This finding challenges the utility of previous management recommendations for protecting small buffer areas around the nest or single forest stands. By modeling the home range size as a function of the number of fixes and errors, we found that males had significantly larger home ranges than females. Our results demonstrate that GPS telemetry is feasible in White-backed Woodpecker adults, and it can provide novel and accurate information about the home range of the species if potential sources of error are adequately addressed.","PeriodicalId":50888,"journal":{"name":"Acta Ornithologica","volume":"55 1","pages":"77 - 87"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2020-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46704845","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-10-19DOI: 10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.002
D. Deeming, Rebecca Gilchrist, Monika Szafraniec, Joshua M. Pollins
Abstract. Avian incubation relies on maintenance of the appropriate temperature and humidity within the nest. Previous studies suggested that conductance of the nest wall to water vapour was relatively low, albeit greater than the conductance of the eggshell, but no empirical studies confirmed this. In this study hygrometer loggers were used to measure water vapour inside and outside nest cups to determine conductance of the nest wall. Average water vapour conductance values for nine species of passerine ranged from 479 mgH2O·day-1·Torr-1 for Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs nests to 712 mgH2O·d-1·Torr-1 for Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus nests. Generally, water vapour conductance values were two orders of magnitude higher than that of published values for the eggshell for these species, although humidity in the nest cup were comparable to published data for passerine nests. These results indicate that in the study species the nest wall was not an effective barrier to water vapour loss. Reconsideration of high values for nest wall conductance, nest attentiveness and sources of water to create humidity, have led to a new approach that deals with nest humidity as part of the water budget during the incubation period. Over time the amount of water vapour required to raise nest humidity far exceeds that released by the eggs. It is proposed that nest humidity is driven by cutaneous water loss from the incubating bird, rather than water vapour lost from the eggs, in order to counter loss of humidity through the nest wall and during incubation recesses.
{"title":"Water Vapour Conductance of Passerine Nest Walls","authors":"D. Deeming, Rebecca Gilchrist, Monika Szafraniec, Joshua M. Pollins","doi":"10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.002","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Avian incubation relies on maintenance of the appropriate temperature and humidity within the nest. Previous studies suggested that conductance of the nest wall to water vapour was relatively low, albeit greater than the conductance of the eggshell, but no empirical studies confirmed this. In this study hygrometer loggers were used to measure water vapour inside and outside nest cups to determine conductance of the nest wall. Average water vapour conductance values for nine species of passerine ranged from 479 mgH2O·day-1·Torr-1 for Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs nests to 712 mgH2O·d-1·Torr-1 for Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus nests. Generally, water vapour conductance values were two orders of magnitude higher than that of published values for the eggshell for these species, although humidity in the nest cup were comparable to published data for passerine nests. These results indicate that in the study species the nest wall was not an effective barrier to water vapour loss. Reconsideration of high values for nest wall conductance, nest attentiveness and sources of water to create humidity, have led to a new approach that deals with nest humidity as part of the water budget during the incubation period. Over time the amount of water vapour required to raise nest humidity far exceeds that released by the eggs. It is proposed that nest humidity is driven by cutaneous water loss from the incubating bird, rather than water vapour lost from the eggs, in order to counter loss of humidity through the nest wall and during incubation recesses.","PeriodicalId":50888,"journal":{"name":"Acta Ornithologica","volume":"55 1","pages":"13 - 22"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2020-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48001524","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-10-19DOI: 10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.010
M. Lammertink, J. Fernández, Kristina L. Cockle
Abstract. The Atlantic Forest in southeastern South America is a biodiversity hotspot with high species richness and high forest loss. Three large to medium-sized woodpecker species (Robust Woodpecker Campephilus robustus, Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus, and the globally threatened Helmeted Woodpecker Celeus galeatus) coexist in the south of the ecoregion, and show remarkable convergence in plumage patterns and colouration, possibly driven by interspecific interactions. We assessed differentiation in nest tree species, nest substrates, and timing of breeding and evaluated whether nesting ecology may be a factor explaining an association with mature forests in the Helmeted Woodpecker. Robust and Lineated Woodpeckers excavated cavities in nine and eight nest tree species, respectively, whereas Helmeted Woodpeckers specialized narrowly on laurel trees (88% of nest cavities in two species in genus Nectandra of 52 ± 14 cm DBH). Helmeted Woodpecker is further distinguished by a more frequent use of living, partially decayed trees and by more frequent re-use of nest cavities. When nesting in selectively logged forest (vs. old-growth), Robust and Lineated Woodpeckers used trees with smaller DBH and Robust Woodpeckers excavated lower in trees. Helmeted Woodpeckers selected nest trees with similar dimensions in both environments, indicating lesser flexibility. Helmeted Woodpeckers bred 20–23 days later in the year than Lineated and Robust Woodpeckers, potentially allowing them to avoid nesting near the two larger species. The narrow specialization of Helmeted Woodpecker on nesting in Nectandra trees of large sizes at the onset of decay is a possible factor in making it sensitive to selective logging effects. To stop declines of Helmeted Woodpecker we recommend (1) sparing large trees from selective logging (including Nectandra and tree species used for roosting), and (2) restoring more forested areas to mature forest conditions.
摘要南美洲东南部的大西洋森林是一个物种丰富度高、森林损失大的生物多样性热点地区。三种大型至中型啄木鸟(稳健啄木鸟Campephilus robustus，线状啄木鸟Dryocopus lineatus和全球濒危的盔啄木鸟Celeus galeatus)共存于生态区域的南部，并且在羽毛图案和颜色上表现出显著的趋同，可能是由种间相互作用驱动的。我们评估了巢树种、巢基质和繁殖时间的差异，并评估了巢生态是否可能是解释盔啄木鸟与成熟森林关联的一个因素。强壮型啄木鸟和有线型啄木鸟分别在9种和8种巢树上挖洞，而盔型啄木鸟只在月桂树上挖洞，在52±14 cm DBH的Nectandra属2种中占88%。盔啄木鸟的进一步特点是更频繁地使用活着的、部分腐烂的树木，并更频繁地重复使用巢洞。当在选择性砍伐的森林中筑巢时(与原始森林相比)，稳健啄木鸟和有线啄木鸟使用胸径较小的树木，稳健啄木鸟在树木的较低位置挖掘。盔啄木鸟在两种环境中选择的巢树尺寸相似，表明灵活性较低。盔啄木鸟在一年中比有线啄木鸟和健壮啄木鸟晚20-23天繁殖，这可能使它们避免在两个较大的物种附近筑巢。盔啄木鸟在大尺寸的树开始腐烂时筑巢的狭窄专业化可能是使它对选择性采伐影响敏感的一个因素。为了阻止盔啄木鸟数量的下降，我们建议(1)避免选择性砍伐大树(包括胡桃木和用于栖息的树种)，(2)将更多的森林区域恢复到成熟的森林条件。
{"title":"Comparison of Nesting Ecology of Three Co-Existing Atlantic Forest Woodpeckers Reveals Narrow Specialization in the Helmeted Woodpecker Celeus galeatus","authors":"M. Lammertink, J. Fernández, Kristina L. Cockle","doi":"10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.010","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The Atlantic Forest in southeastern South America is a biodiversity hotspot with high species richness and high forest loss. Three large to medium-sized woodpecker species (Robust Woodpecker Campephilus robustus, Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus, and the globally threatened Helmeted Woodpecker Celeus galeatus) coexist in the south of the ecoregion, and show remarkable convergence in plumage patterns and colouration, possibly driven by interspecific interactions. We assessed differentiation in nest tree species, nest substrates, and timing of breeding and evaluated whether nesting ecology may be a factor explaining an association with mature forests in the Helmeted Woodpecker. Robust and Lineated Woodpeckers excavated cavities in nine and eight nest tree species, respectively, whereas Helmeted Woodpeckers specialized narrowly on laurel trees (88% of nest cavities in two species in genus Nectandra of 52 ± 14 cm DBH). Helmeted Woodpecker is further distinguished by a more frequent use of living, partially decayed trees and by more frequent re-use of nest cavities. When nesting in selectively logged forest (vs. old-growth), Robust and Lineated Woodpeckers used trees with smaller DBH and Robust Woodpeckers excavated lower in trees. Helmeted Woodpeckers selected nest trees with similar dimensions in both environments, indicating lesser flexibility. Helmeted Woodpeckers bred 20–23 days later in the year than Lineated and Robust Woodpeckers, potentially allowing them to avoid nesting near the two larger species. The narrow specialization of Helmeted Woodpecker on nesting in Nectandra trees of large sizes at the onset of decay is a possible factor in making it sensitive to selective logging effects. To stop declines of Helmeted Woodpecker we recommend (1) sparing large trees from selective logging (including Nectandra and tree species used for roosting), and (2) restoring more forested areas to mature forest conditions.","PeriodicalId":50888,"journal":{"name":"Acta Ornithologica","volume":"55 1","pages":"101 - 110"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2020-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45130715","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-10-19DOI: 10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.001
M. Bańbura
Abstract. Female birds are exceptionally consistent in laying rather uniform and individually specific eggs, so that variation in eggs of individual females is low, while variation among females is high. Repeatability is a population-level parameter used in quantitative genetics to quantify the level of intraindividual consistency in relation to interindividual variation in phenotypic traits, in this case, the egg traits. The statistical measure of repeatability is intraclass correlation of particular egg traits clustered in clutches. This study is based on a long-term dataset on repeatabilities of the length, breadth, volume and shape of eggs of Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus investigated in two ecologically varying sites (an urban parkland versus a mature deciduous forest) around the city of Łódź, central Poland in 1999–2013. Coefficients of repeatability of egg length, breadth, volume and shape in the study populations of Blue Tits showed some variation between years and study sites, but were generally very high, on average 0.7 or more, and did not significantly differ between the traits within years. The observed differences between repeatabilities do not seem to be strongly associated with year-specific weather indicators for the first half of April. Only coefficients of variation in mean daily temperature influenced repeatabilities of egg length and breadth, whereas effects of mean temperature were non-significant. Repeatability of egg length in the forest and breadth in both sites increased with increasing variation in daily temperature, whereas repeatability of egg length in the urban park site showed a reverse relation with variation in temperature. Year-site-specific mean laying dates, clutch sizes and egg volumes, considered as indicators of breeding conditions, tended to negatively affect the repeatabilities. However, in general, repeatabilities of different egg traits were not consistent in their variation between years and sites, which suggests an important role of stochastic factors in shaping this variation. External factors that are able to force females to diversify traits of eggs in a particular laying sequence do not seem to directly result from the environmental conditions prevailing during a spring period critical for laying eggs in a population in a given year (the first half of April), but seem to be linked to more subtle aspects of variation in the conditions for egg laying, as shown by links with the mean values of basic breeding parameters.
{"title":"Within-Clutch Repeatability of Egg Size Traits in Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus in a Long-Term View","authors":"M. Bańbura","doi":"10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.001","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Female birds are exceptionally consistent in laying rather uniform and individually specific eggs, so that variation in eggs of individual females is low, while variation among females is high. Repeatability is a population-level parameter used in quantitative genetics to quantify the level of intraindividual consistency in relation to interindividual variation in phenotypic traits, in this case, the egg traits. The statistical measure of repeatability is intraclass correlation of particular egg traits clustered in clutches. This study is based on a long-term dataset on repeatabilities of the length, breadth, volume and shape of eggs of Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus investigated in two ecologically varying sites (an urban parkland versus a mature deciduous forest) around the city of Łódź, central Poland in 1999–2013. Coefficients of repeatability of egg length, breadth, volume and shape in the study populations of Blue Tits showed some variation between years and study sites, but were generally very high, on average 0.7 or more, and did not significantly differ between the traits within years. The observed differences between repeatabilities do not seem to be strongly associated with year-specific weather indicators for the first half of April. Only coefficients of variation in mean daily temperature influenced repeatabilities of egg length and breadth, whereas effects of mean temperature were non-significant. Repeatability of egg length in the forest and breadth in both sites increased with increasing variation in daily temperature, whereas repeatability of egg length in the urban park site showed a reverse relation with variation in temperature. Year-site-specific mean laying dates, clutch sizes and egg volumes, considered as indicators of breeding conditions, tended to negatively affect the repeatabilities. However, in general, repeatabilities of different egg traits were not consistent in their variation between years and sites, which suggests an important role of stochastic factors in shaping this variation. External factors that are able to force females to diversify traits of eggs in a particular laying sequence do not seem to directly result from the environmental conditions prevailing during a spring period critical for laying eggs in a population in a given year (the first half of April), but seem to be linked to more subtle aspects of variation in the conditions for egg laying, as shown by links with the mean values of basic breeding parameters.","PeriodicalId":50888,"journal":{"name":"Acta Ornithologica","volume":"55 1","pages":"1 - 12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2020-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49090090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-10-19DOI: 10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.009
Raman Kumar, G. Shahabuddin, Ajith T. T. Kumar
Abstract. The sub-Himalayan dipterocarp forests of subtropical region in northwest India support 17 species of woodpecker. From a conservation perspective it is necessary to assess the ecological requirements of woodpeckers in these biologically diverse landscapes, which are experiencing habitat modification and decline in some woodpeckers. We studied the foraging niche differentiation among ten sympatric woodpeckers in the sub-Himalayan forests of northwest India: Dendrocopos canicapillus, D. macei, Picus chlorolophus, P. xanthopygaeus, P. canus, Dinopium shorii, D. benghalense, Chrysophlegma [Picus] flavinucha, Chrysocolaptes lucidus, and Mulleripicus pulverulentus. We examined the foraging site preferences of individual woodpecker species and explored the role of inter-specific differences in foraging behaviour as a possible mechanism for their coexistence. Observations on foraging woodpeckers were taken vis-a-vis the following niche dimensions: diameter of the foraging tree, height of the foraging bird, type of substrate on which it was foraging, vertical position with respect to canopy, condition of the forage tree and condition of the substrate. Distinct preferences were evident among species in their foraging tree diameters, foraging heights, vertical positions, and choice of substrate type, while preference for dead substrates was not an important distinguishing factor. Species that overlapped in one dimension generally segregated along other dimensions. Niche segregation in forage tree diameter was associated with body weight. Based on their overall niche overlaps species could broadly be differentiated into groups according to body size viz. small (3 species), medium (3 species), large (3 species), and very large (1 species). Our study demonstrates that differentiation in foraging may be a likely mechanism for coexistence of sympatric woodpeckers in this region. Given that larger species prefer larger substrates, removal of mature trees could affect their abundance, and homogenisation of stand structure could lead to impoverishment of woodpecker diversity.
{"title":"Foraging Niche Differentiation Among Sympatric Woodpecker Species in Forests of North-Western India","authors":"Raman Kumar, G. Shahabuddin, Ajith T. T. Kumar","doi":"10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.009","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The sub-Himalayan dipterocarp forests of subtropical region in northwest India support 17 species of woodpecker. From a conservation perspective it is necessary to assess the ecological requirements of woodpeckers in these biologically diverse landscapes, which are experiencing habitat modification and decline in some woodpeckers. We studied the foraging niche differentiation among ten sympatric woodpeckers in the sub-Himalayan forests of northwest India: Dendrocopos canicapillus, D. macei, Picus chlorolophus, P. xanthopygaeus, P. canus, Dinopium shorii, D. benghalense, Chrysophlegma [Picus] flavinucha, Chrysocolaptes lucidus, and Mulleripicus pulverulentus. We examined the foraging site preferences of individual woodpecker species and explored the role of inter-specific differences in foraging behaviour as a possible mechanism for their coexistence. Observations on foraging woodpeckers were taken vis-a-vis the following niche dimensions: diameter of the foraging tree, height of the foraging bird, type of substrate on which it was foraging, vertical position with respect to canopy, condition of the forage tree and condition of the substrate. Distinct preferences were evident among species in their foraging tree diameters, foraging heights, vertical positions, and choice of substrate type, while preference for dead substrates was not an important distinguishing factor. Species that overlapped in one dimension generally segregated along other dimensions. Niche segregation in forage tree diameter was associated with body weight. Based on their overall niche overlaps species could broadly be differentiated into groups according to body size viz. small (3 species), medium (3 species), large (3 species), and very large (1 species). Our study demonstrates that differentiation in foraging may be a likely mechanism for coexistence of sympatric woodpeckers in this region. Given that larger species prefer larger substrates, removal of mature trees could affect their abundance, and homogenisation of stand structure could lead to impoverishment of woodpecker diversity.","PeriodicalId":50888,"journal":{"name":"Acta Ornithologica","volume":"55 1","pages":"88 - 100"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2020-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45971477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-10-01DOI: 10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.004
D. Rymešová, Dalibor Pavlíček, Jan Kirner, Jakub Mráz, I. Papoušek, I. Literák
Abstract. Existing parentage analyses of large raptors have mostly used naturally shed feathers as a source of DNA. There is evidence that eagle nests are sometimes visited by conspecifics. Are these visitors involved in extra pair-paternity? More than 400 feather samples of nestlings and full-grown White-tailed Eagles were obtained in May at 13 nest sites in the Czech Republic, mainly during the years 2010–2016. The samples were genotyped at six microsatellite loci to determine the identity and number of individuals occurring at each nest site and to test genetic monogamy. In the end, 110 unique genotypes of possible parents were identified from moulted feathers found below nests and were used in a parentage analysis together with 86 offspring genotypes. Interestingly, more than two adult genotypes were sampled from shed feathers in one-third of 64 checks of 11 nests, but nest success was not affected by the number of genotypes. No case of extra-pair paternity was recorded. The results showed that feathers of individuals other than the parent pair can be found below nests of White-tailed Eagles during a single breeding season, and the identity of parents at individual nests can change even during seven years of study, which is inconsistent with the expected longevity, lifelong monogamy and presumed territoriality of White-tailed Eagles. We cannot recommend DNA sampling of nesting pairs on the basis of feathers found below eyries, because the most likely parent was recorded in the appropriate year only in 58% of cases with this method.
{"title":"Parentage Analysis in the White-Tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla: Are Moulted Feathers from Nest Sites a Reliable Source of Parental DNA?","authors":"D. Rymešová, Dalibor Pavlíček, Jan Kirner, Jakub Mráz, I. Papoušek, I. Literák","doi":"10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.004","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Existing parentage analyses of large raptors have mostly used naturally shed feathers as a source of DNA. There is evidence that eagle nests are sometimes visited by conspecifics. Are these visitors involved in extra pair-paternity? More than 400 feather samples of nestlings and full-grown White-tailed Eagles were obtained in May at 13 nest sites in the Czech Republic, mainly during the years 2010–2016. The samples were genotyped at six microsatellite loci to determine the identity and number of individuals occurring at each nest site and to test genetic monogamy. In the end, 110 unique genotypes of possible parents were identified from moulted feathers found below nests and were used in a parentage analysis together with 86 offspring genotypes. Interestingly, more than two adult genotypes were sampled from shed feathers in one-third of 64 checks of 11 nests, but nest success was not affected by the number of genotypes. No case of extra-pair paternity was recorded. The results showed that feathers of individuals other than the parent pair can be found below nests of White-tailed Eagles during a single breeding season, and the identity of parents at individual nests can change even during seven years of study, which is inconsistent with the expected longevity, lifelong monogamy and presumed territoriality of White-tailed Eagles. We cannot recommend DNA sampling of nesting pairs on the basis of feathers found below eyries, because the most likely parent was recorded in the appropriate year only in 58% of cases with this method.","PeriodicalId":50888,"journal":{"name":"Acta Ornithologica","volume":"55 1","pages":"41 - 52"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2020-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48974951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-10-01DOI: 10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.007
R. Aszalós, V. Szigeti, K. Harmos, Szabolcs Csernák, Tamás Frank, G. Ónodi
Abstract. Many woodpecker species rely on different forms of deadwood for nesting and foraging. However, the knowledge of the effect of enrichment of their habitat with different types on deadwood of this species group is lacking. Complex conservation-oriented management, including deadwood enrichment, was applied in a 20 ha even-aged oak-dominated woodland in Hungary. The foraging activities of woodpecker species were documented on selected treated trees over one, two and three years since these measures were implemented. The 109 individual oak trees examined represented five deadwood types: damaged-, girdled-, felled trees, and low- and tall stumps. We analysed the relationships between three variables (depth of foraging work, type of deadwood, and year) and foraging activity. Our results illustrated the prompt responses of woodpeckers to the treated trees. The woodpeckers used the five deadwood types in very different ways, and foraging activity was found to vary greatly in terms of depth of foraging and between years. More activity was carried out on both low- and tall stumps than on any other type one year after the treatment, whilst work on girdled trees and tall stumps predominated two and three years after the treatment. The utilisation of felled- and damaged trees by woodpeckers proceeded at a markedly slower pace than that of girdled trees and stumps, but the utilisation increased gradually. Most of the foraging activity was found to be on the outer bark, however, work on the inner bark and in the sapwood increased between the three years. The measures to conserve the woodpecker species should include the permanent creation and maintenance of various forms of deadwood to provide diverse and continuous foraging sites for woodpeckers.
{"title":"Foraging Activity of Woodpeckers on Various forms of Artificially Created Deadwood","authors":"R. Aszalós, V. Szigeti, K. Harmos, Szabolcs Csernák, Tamás Frank, G. Ónodi","doi":"10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3161/00016454AO2020.55.1.007","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Many woodpecker species rely on different forms of deadwood for nesting and foraging. However, the knowledge of the effect of enrichment of their habitat with different types on deadwood of this species group is lacking. Complex conservation-oriented management, including deadwood enrichment, was applied in a 20 ha even-aged oak-dominated woodland in Hungary. The foraging activities of woodpecker species were documented on selected treated trees over one, two and three years since these measures were implemented. The 109 individual oak trees examined represented five deadwood types: damaged-, girdled-, felled trees, and low- and tall stumps. We analysed the relationships between three variables (depth of foraging work, type of deadwood, and year) and foraging activity. Our results illustrated the prompt responses of woodpeckers to the treated trees. The woodpeckers used the five deadwood types in very different ways, and foraging activity was found to vary greatly in terms of depth of foraging and between years. More activity was carried out on both low- and tall stumps than on any other type one year after the treatment, whilst work on girdled trees and tall stumps predominated two and three years after the treatment. The utilisation of felled- and damaged trees by woodpeckers proceeded at a markedly slower pace than that of girdled trees and stumps, but the utilisation increased gradually. Most of the foraging activity was found to be on the outer bark, however, work on the inner bark and in the sapwood increased between the three years. The measures to conserve the woodpecker species should include the permanent creation and maintenance of various forms of deadwood to provide diverse and continuous foraging sites for woodpeckers.","PeriodicalId":50888,"journal":{"name":"Acta Ornithologica","volume":"55 1","pages":"63 - 76"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2020-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47540688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-02-13DOI: 10.3161/00016454AO2019.54.2.006
Ravyn A. Neville, Marshall Boyd, E. Liebgold, T. Ransom
Abstract. Changes in forest size and composition can affect Neotropical migratory songbirds breeding in Eastern North America, leading to population fluctuations and declines. In 2012–2014, we conducted point counts at locations previously surveyed in 1981–1983 and analysed Breeding Bird Atlas data from 1980–2013 to estimate long-term population trends of two declining ground-nesting warblers on the Eastern Shore of Maryland within the Atlantic Coastal Plain: the Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla and the Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum. We detected significant declines for Ovenbirds in both datasets, but we found conflicting data for Worm-eating Warblers. During 2012–2015, we investigated the effects of forest characteristics, such as vegetative composition and ground cover, on occupancy and nest success. Ovenbirds were found more where there were more and larger trees but were negatively affected by the proportion of pines, whereas Worm-eating Warblers were more abundant when there were higher numbers of trees and more pines. Nest success was not affected by vegetation other than the proportion of pine trees or leaf litter depth, both of which increased nest success. Worm-eating Warblers with more pine needles in their nests also had increased nest success. This study presents a nuanced view of how forest composition (proportion of pine trees) of the Atlantic Coastal Plain in Maryland influenced ground-nesting warblers differently, and suggests that effectively managing ground-nesting warblers in this area may differ from other regions of Eastern North America due to its unique vegetative composition, structure, and history.
{"title":"Ground-Nesting Warblers on the Eastern Shore of Maryland: Declining Population Trends and the Effects of Forest Composition and Structure","authors":"Ravyn A. Neville, Marshall Boyd, E. Liebgold, T. Ransom","doi":"10.3161/00016454AO2019.54.2.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3161/00016454AO2019.54.2.006","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Changes in forest size and composition can affect Neotropical migratory songbirds breeding in Eastern North America, leading to population fluctuations and declines. In 2012–2014, we conducted point counts at locations previously surveyed in 1981–1983 and analysed Breeding Bird Atlas data from 1980–2013 to estimate long-term population trends of two declining ground-nesting warblers on the Eastern Shore of Maryland within the Atlantic Coastal Plain: the Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla and the Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum. We detected significant declines for Ovenbirds in both datasets, but we found conflicting data for Worm-eating Warblers. During 2012–2015, we investigated the effects of forest characteristics, such as vegetative composition and ground cover, on occupancy and nest success. Ovenbirds were found more where there were more and larger trees but were negatively affected by the proportion of pines, whereas Worm-eating Warblers were more abundant when there were higher numbers of trees and more pines. Nest success was not affected by vegetation other than the proportion of pine trees or leaf litter depth, both of which increased nest success. Worm-eating Warblers with more pine needles in their nests also had increased nest success. This study presents a nuanced view of how forest composition (proportion of pine trees) of the Atlantic Coastal Plain in Maryland influenced ground-nesting warblers differently, and suggests that effectively managing ground-nesting warblers in this area may differ from other regions of Eastern North America due to its unique vegetative composition, structure, and history.","PeriodicalId":50888,"journal":{"name":"Acta Ornithologica","volume":"54 1","pages":"201 - 222"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2020-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44758568","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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