Article
Biology
Kiera L. Kauffman, R. Dwayne Elmore, Craig A. Davis, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf, Laura E. Goodman, Christian A. Hagen, Evan P. Tanner
Summary: Temperature plays a crucial role in nest site selection and survival of scaled quail, with nest bowls providing cooler temperatures compared to the surrounding microsite and landscape. Despite a preference for cooler temperatures and taller vegetation, nest survival is positively influenced by proximity to surface water and honey mesquite. Further research is needed to explore landscape-level sources of thermal mitigation for ground-nesting birds in semiarid environments.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Richard S. Turner, Ophelie J. D. Lasne, Kara N. Youngentob, Shukhrat Shokirov, Helen L. Osmond, Loeske E. B. Kruuk
Summary: In wild bird populations, the structure of vegetation around nest-sites can influence predation risk. However, quantifying vegetation structure is challenging, leading to a lack of understanding of its importance. This study used airborne laser scanning (ALS) to measure vegetation structure and 11 years of breeding data to investigate nest-site selection in superb fairy-wrens. The results showed that specific characteristics of understorey vegetation were associated with nest-site selection, but nesting preferences were not advantageous under current predation pressures.
REMOTE SENSING IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Weibin Guo, Zhiqing Hu, Buge Lin, Yuyang Kuang, Hanqing Cao, Changcao Wang
Summary: This study provides reliable and comprehensive information on the reproductive ecology of the red-billed blue magpie in central China, laying a foundation for further understanding of its biology and comparative studies.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
D. de F. Ferreira, F. C. R. Cunha, L. E. Lopes
Summary: This study provides the first description of male displays in lined seedeaters that suggest nesting sites to females. Comparisons with anecdotal observations from literature and citizen science networks suggest that this behavior may also occur in other species within the genus.
Article
Biology
Santiago Cuartas-Villa, Jonathan K. Webb
Summary: The study found significant interpopulation differences in canopy cover and solar radiation loads above nest sites, with nests in Morton being more open and receiving higher radiation loads compared to those in Yengo. While mean nest temperatures were similar in both populations, nests in Yengo experienced higher daily temperatures. During heatwaves, temperatures in some nests exceeded the species critical thermal maximum for several hours each day.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jhih-Syuan Wang, Mao-Ning Tuanmu, Chih-Ming Hung
Summary: The study found that ALAN had a positive impact on the reproductive success of barn swallows, especially in their first brood. Parent birds in nests with higher ALAN intensity had higher feeding rates and extended feeding time past sunset, likely due to increased begging behavior of their chicks. Night-feeding behavior might contribute to increased fledging success.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Joanna T. Bialas, Joachim Siekiera, Artur Siekiera, Wieslaw Chromik, Lukasz Dylewski, Marcin Tobolka
Summary: The study investigates the factors affecting nest-site fidelity of white storks. Results show that age and breeding success increase the probability of reusing nests, but the oldest individuals have a decreased probability. Breeding success increases with age, the number of reproductive events, and presence on the nest in the previous year. However, the oldest individuals have lower breeding success. The number of fledglings is only influenced by an individual's age.
FRONTIERS IN ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Karim Loucif, Mohamed Cherif Maazi, Moussa Houhamdi, Haroun Chenchouni
Summary: The study on the breeding biology of Ferruginous Ducks in the Tonga Lake Nature Reserve revealed that nest size is influenced by wetland environmental variables, with nest abandonment being the main cause of breeding failure. Breeding success is associated with nest site selection and conspecific nest density.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Manuel Puettmanns, Franziska Lehmann, Fabian Willert, Jasmin Heinz, Antje Kieburg, Tim Filla, Niko Balkenhol, Matthias Waltert, Eckhard Gottschalk
Summary: The lack of suitable nesting sites is a key driver behind the decline of farmland birds in Europe. Crop diversification is believed to be a potential solution to this problem. This study found that in heterogeneous farmland, Skylarks responded to the decreasing suitability of winter cereals by switching nesting habitats, but overall nest success did not decrease throughout the breeding season.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Lei Cheng, Lizhi Zhou, Chao Yu, Zhenhua Wei, Chunhua Li
Summary: This study investigates the nest site selection patterns and adaptive strategies of Oriental Storks in different nest areas. The results show that the microhabitat characteristics and nest height significantly differ among the nesting areas, with the food resources and intensity of human disturbance having the greatest effects on nest site selection. The findings suggest that Oriental Storks exhibit flexible adaptive strategies in response to environmental conditions.
Article
Zoology
A. Lopez-Garcia, B. Martinez-Miranzo, J. I. Aguirre
Summary: Landscape transformation by humans has led to the loss of natural feeding areas, but some species, like white storks, have adapted to urban landscapes and benefit from anthropogenic food sources. Our study shows that white storks breeding near landfills occupy more urban areas, while those breeding further away select nest sites with high-quality food sources. Habitat quality in the surrounding area plays a bigger role in breeding outcomes, but landfills are crucial for brood size. Future studies should investigate the permanence of habitat preference shifts and the impact of habitat degradation and landfill closures on the population level.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Richard K. Broughton, Jordan Chetcuti, Malcolm D. Burgess, France F. Gerard, Richard F. Pywell
Summary: The study in southwest England shows that farmland birds have associations with the height of linear woody features, especially more positive associations on arable farmland. Land cover appears to be the dominant factor influencing farmland bird associations, suggesting land-use diversification could benefit these species. The potential of lidar in characterising the structure of linear woody features at the landscape scale is significant for detailed wildlife habitat analyses and landscape ecology.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Juliette Rabdeau, Beatriz Arroyo, Francois Mougeot, Isabelle Badenhausser, Vincent Bretagnolle, Karine Monceau
Summary: Individuals' distribution across habitats may depend on their personality, and human activities and infrastructures can impact the habitat selection process. This study found that female personality and certain human infrastructures, such as building density, influenced nest spatial distribution of Montagu's harriers. Path density negatively affected reproductive success, with late breeders nesting further from paths.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ornithology
Roberto Sanchez Mateos, Freddy Gallo-Viracocha
Summary: This study provides previously unknown information about the reproductive ecology of the Andean Condor, including the minimum distances between nest sites, breeding success, and the use of nesting cliffs. The findings emphasize the critical role of cliffs in the conservation and survival of the Andean Condor, highlighting the need for urgent management actions.
ACTA ORNITHOLOGICA
(2023)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Miguel Silva-Monteiro, Hannes Pehlak, Cornelis Fokker, David Kingma, David Kleijn
Summary: The study found that land-use intensification in western Europe and agricultural extensification and abandonment in northern, central, and eastern Europe are important drivers of the decline in wader populations. Most wader species have relatively narrow breeding habitat preferences, mostly in natural and undisturbed ecosystems, while a few generalist species can be found in various habitats. The most widespread generalist species showed peak breeding densities at different positions along the land-use intensity gradient.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)