Editorial Material
Ecology
Jeffrey R. Walters
Summary: This study provides compelling empirical evidence that cavities created by woodpeckers specifically limit populations of hole-nesting bird species. The findings are significant for understanding the availability of cavities in avian community ecology.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Sandra Chaib, Olle Lind, Almut Kelber
Summary: Many birds are able to quickly adapt to low light intensities in dark nest cavities. A study on budgerigars showed that within the first second of entering a darker environment, they were able to detect and discriminate targets with different luminance levels. The birds' visual system partially adapts to the lower illumination within this short time period, allowing them to safely find and feed their chicks.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Lydia H. Wong, Jessica R. K. Forrest
Summary: Reproductive timing plays a crucial role in determining the reproductive success of solitary bees in subalpine environments, with bees nesting earlier in the season exhibiting greater reproductive output. Floral abundance positively affects reproductive output, while temperature influences nesting rate but not overall reproductive success. Bees that initiate nesting early and sustain activity for a longer period have the highest reproductive output.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Sophia Hochrein, Oliver Mitesser, Andrew M. Liebhold, Wolfgang W. Weisser, Benjamin M. L. Leroy, Hans Pretzsch, Torben Hilmers, Dominik Rabl, Joerg Mueller
Summary: This study investigated the effects of pest control activities on cavity nesting bird nest boxes. While the density of L. dispar decreased, it had no effect on early broods but had a negative impact on late broods. This impact may be due to increased parental effort from birds in response to caterpillar shortages during the first brood, resulting in a reduced number of second broods.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Tore Slagsvold, Karen L. Wiebe
Summary: The research suggests that secondary cavity-nesting birds cover their eggs to prevent nest usurpation by other birds. When the cavity is dark, potential competitors may hesitate to enter due to difficulty in seeing whether a defending nest owner or predator is inside, supporting this hypothesis.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Ronalds Krams, Tatjana Krama, Guntis Brumelis, Didzis Elferts, Linda Strode, Iluta Dauskane, Severi Luoto, Agnis Smits, Indrikis A. Krams
Summary: This study found that great tits attracted to areas affected by outbreaks of the great web-spinning sawfly experienced fitness detriments characteristic of ecological traps, with lower fledgling numbers and worse fledgling condition compared to tits breeding in healthy forest patches. The lower larval biomass in forest patches damaged by sawflies led to reduced nutritional resources for cavity-nesting birds, highlighting the potential formation of ecological traps by pest insects.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Natalia Olmos-Moya, Pablo Diaz-Siefer, Rocio A. Pozo, Francisco E. Fonturbel, Blas Lavandero, Juan L. Celis-Diez, Sebastian Abades
Summary: This study evaluated the use of nest boxes to increase insectivorous bird abundance and biological control in vineyards. Results showed that plots with nest boxes had significantly higher prey removal by birds. The use of nest boxes is recommended as an environmentally-friendly method to increase native predators and enhance biological control in agricultural fields.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Nehafta Bibi, Faiq Jan, Munawar Saleem Ahmad, Haitao Wang
Summary: The majority of avian species are diurnal and adapt to variations in light intensities associated with daily, seasonal, or lunar cycles. A study comparing light intensity thresholds of activity in secondary cavity and non-cavity nesting passerines found that the former have lower activity thresholds than the latter. This sheds light on the potential impact of luminance on the visual performance of these two groups of birds.
PAKISTAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Alejandro A. Schaaf, Cecilia G. Garcia, Roman A. Ruggera, Ever Tallei, Constanza G. Vivanco, Luis Rivera, Natalia Politi
Summary: Logging affects nest density and nesting microsite characteristics of cavity-nesting birds, but no evidence of reduced nest success at logged sites was found in the study. The study suggests the need for forest management actions to increase nesting sites for cavity-nesting birds.
Article
Ecology
Alison Ke, Evaristo Cedeno, Jordan Karubian, Luis Carrasco, Fernando Castillo, Nelson Gonzales, Daniel S. Karp
Summary: Most studies on biodiversity in natural and human-modified landscapes focus on species occurrence and abundance, but overlook the impact of habitat types on species' breeding requirements. This study examines the effects of habitat conversion on cavity-nesting birds in Northwest Ecuador, finding evidence of cavity limitation in agriculture and suggesting the importance of retaining remnant trees and using nest boxes as conservation strategies in tropical agriculture.
Article
Ecology
John M. Bates, Mason Fidino, Laurel Nowak-Boyd, Bill M. Strausberger, Kenneth A. Schmidt, Christopher J. Whelan
Summary: This study examines the nesting phenology of 72 bird species in the Upper Midwest of the United States and its relation to changes in atmospheric CO2 concentration. The results show that the lay dates of bird species advanced by approximately 10 days over a 143-year period. Among the studied species, 24 (33.3%) showed a significant advancement in lay date, while only one (1.4%) showed a significant delay. The study also highlights the importance of data gathering and archiving in historical museums.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Leo C. da Rocha-Filho, Paula C. Montagnana, Thayane N. Araujo, Diego Moure-Oliveira, Danilo Boscolo, Carlos A. Garofalo
Summary: The study found that urbanization affects cavity-nesting bee-plant community and interaction network structures in a medium-sized city. Floral diversity used by bees is related to green areas in the city, while network metrics are not influenced by landscape variables.
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mickael Henry, Pierre-Jules Berrou, Sarah Bourdon, Laurent Guilbaud, Bernard E. Vaissiere
Summary: Artificial nest boxes made of concrete are suitable for cavity-nesting bees and can attract reproductive females and support their larval development. The design and placement of nest boxes, including hole dimensions, orientation, and neighboring habitats, are important factors for their attractivity and colonization success.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Francoise Lermite, Salit Kark, Chloe Peneaux, Andrea S. Griffin
Summary: In urban habitats, native parrots in Australia have lower breeding success compared to the Common Myna, with factors such as clutch loss, lower parental attendance, and higher nest disturbance contributing to this disparity. These findings shed light on the breeding dynamics of native and invasive cavity-nesting birds in cities, helping to inform future research and management efforts aimed at optimizing nesting box design for native cavity breeders.
EMU-AUSTRAL ORNITHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lei Zhang, Luming Bai, Juan Wang, Dongmei Wan, Wei Liang
Summary: The study found that the occupation rates of nest boxes were positively correlated with nest box height, openness, and the proportion of conifers. Nest boxes hanging on conifer trees were more likely to be occupied compared to those on deciduous trees and wooden telegraph poles, especially in woodland with a higher ratio of conifers and open space in front of the nest.
JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
(2021)
