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110 results for “cavity nest”
Lesser Woodcreepers (Xiphorhynchus fuscus) excavate nest cavities in trees
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>To understand the evolution, life-history trade-offs, and population ecology of cavity nesters, it is critical to identify the avian lineages and circumstances in which birds excavate tree cavities. Woodcreepers (Furnariidae: Dendrocolaptinae; 56 species) are considered non-excavators dependent on existing cavities. We overturn this assumption by providing definitive evidence that the Lesser Woodcreeper (<em>Xiphorhynchus fuscus</em>, 23 g) is a facultative tree-cavity excavator. From 2007 to 2022 in the Atlantic forest of Misiones, Argentina, they nested in pre-existing tree crevices (4 nests), or excavated in trunks of large-diameter trees or stumps in advanced stages of decay (mean: 58 cm diameter; range: 22–121 cm; 22 nests). Nest entrances were vertically elongated and chambers were usually pocket-like, excavated in the exterior of the trees (sapwood), with floors that curved along the trees' circumference. Excavating woodcreepers pulled out elongated, fibrous pieces of decayed wood with a spongy texture, tapping only when inside cavities. Published and online photographs of nests of <em>Xiphorhynchus</em> species suggest that excavation may be widespread in the genus. Our observations that woodcreepers tore out elongated pieces of spongy wood (rather than hammering) are consistent with the idea that their long, thin bills are more resistant to torsion and less resistant to impact compared to the stouter bills of other excavators in Passeriformes and Piciformes. Research has tended to focus on birds with chisel-shaped bills, perforating harder sapwood to create nesting chambers in the center of heartrot-infected trees (resulting in typical woodpecker cavities, with circular floors). We hypothesize that Lesser Woodcreepers have adopted an alternative strategy, selecting large trunks with soft outer wood (sapwood), stopping their excavation radially if they reach harder wood, and then expanding the nest chamber laterally. Furnariidae may offer a useful model family for understanding ecological and evolutionary factors that influence cavity excavation.</span></p>
Carole Niffenegger, Sebastian Dirren, Christian Schano, Fränzi Korner-Nievergelt (2023) Data from : Natural nest cavities in a high elevation habitat provide a more constant thermal environment than human-made nest cavities
<p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p>Nest cavities with suitable thermal conditions can provide fitness benefits for birds through reduced thermoregulatory cost. Insulation can however vary between natural and human-made cavities. While several studies have assessed cavity temperatures, research from high elevation habitats, where environmental conditions are particularly variable, is still scarce. We compared temperature profiles of vacant natural and human-made nest cavities of white-winged snowfinches <i>Montifringilla nivalis</i>, a high elevation cavity nestling species. Human-made cavities experienced more extreme temperatures, with potential consequences for offspring viability, bringing into question their suitability as conservation measure, particularly as extreme temperature events become more frequent. </p>
Unraveling the cavity-nesting network at large spatial scales: The biogeographic role of woodpeckers as ecosystem engineers
<p><strong>Aim</strong>: Cavities are usually a limiting resource for several forest-dwelling vertebrates, with effects that propagate through ecological networks. Although diverse assemblages of primary excavators (e.g., woodpeckers) are assumed to increase cavities, other forest resources can also limit populations of primary excavators and cavity users, thus undermining the ecological role of excavators over different scales. We aim to test the biogeographical-scale relationships between primary excavators and cavity users by distinguishing the contribution of forest characteristics.</p> <p><strong>Location</strong>: Southern South America</p> <p><strong>Methods</strong>: We used species distribution models, which combine bioclimatic and remote sensing derived variables, to map the richness of vertebrates composing the cavity network of temperate and Mediterranean forests of South America. Based on a resampling procedure for ensuring spatial independence, we fitted structural equation models to estimate causal relationships between forest characteristics and cavity-user vertebrates.</p> <p><strong>Results</strong>: Secondary cavity users (obligated, habitat generalists and forest specialists) were positively and strongly influenced by the richness of primary excavators, while mammal richness was more influenced by tree richness. The richness of trees and <em>Nothofagus</em> tree species influenced positively the richness of primary excavators and secondary cavity users. Canopy height and net primary productivity affected positively secondary cavity users.</p> <p><strong>Main conclusions</strong>: Our results confirm the role of primary excavators as ecosystem engineers but highlight the importance of considering large spatial scales when analyzing cavity-nesting networks. Biogeographical patterns of tree diversity and forest structure can be important drivers of cavity-nesting networks that remain hidden when studies are conducted over fine spatial scales. </p>
Data from: Limited evidence of biased offspring sex allocation in a cavity-nesting conspecific brood parasite
<p>Sex allocation theory predicts that mothers should bias investment in offspring toward the sex that yields higher fitness returns; one such bias may be a skewed offspring-sex ratio. Sex allocation is well-studied in birds with cooperative breeding systems, with theory on local resource enhancement and production of helpers at the nest, but little theoretical or empirical work has focused on birds with brood parasitic breeding systems. Wood ducks (<em>Aix sponsa</em>) are conspecific brood parasites, and rates of parasitism appear to increase with density. Because female wood ducks show high natal philopatry and nest sites are often limiting, local resource competition (LRC) theory predicts that females should overproduce male offspring—the dispersing sex—when competition (density) is high. However, the unique features of conspecific brood parasitism generate alternative predictions from other sex allocation theories, which we develop and test here. We experimentally manipulated the nesting density of female wood ducks in four populations from 2013-2016 and analyzed the resulting sex allocation of >2000 ducklings. In contrast to predictions we did not find overproduction of male offspring by females in high-density populations, females in better condition, or parasitic females; modest support for LRC was found in overproduction of only female parasitic offspring with higher nest box availability. The lack of evidence for sex ratio biases, as expected for LRC and some aspects of brood parasitism, could reflect conflicting selection pressures from nest competition and brood parasitism, or that mechanisms of adaptive sex ratio bias are not possible.</p>
The role of a synanthropic bird in the nest niche expansion of a secondary cavity-nester to man-made structures
<p><span>Species with similar ecological characters often compete with each other; however, a species may also facilitate the survival or reproduction of another ecologically similar species although such interaction is rarely documented in birds. Here we reported a facilitative species interaction between Asian house martins (<em>Delichon dasypus</em>) and russet sparrows (<em>Passer cinnamomeus</em>), both passerines using closed nests, in a montane farming area of Taiwan. We found that Asian house martins constructed dome-shaped nests in human houses that provided additional nest sites for russet sparrows, secondary cavity-nesters with greatly declining populations in Taiwan. Russet sparrows that used house martin nests had reproductive success comparable to those that used artificial nest boxes. However, Asian house martins avoided reclaiming sparrow-used nests, which reduced their available nest sites. Interestingly, our results imply that man-made structures may be used as a conservation tool to improve the breeding of the endangered russet sparrows via this facilitative interaction.</span></p>
Nest-boxes alter the reproductive ecology of urban cavity-nesters in a species-dependent way
<p><span>Human-provided nesting shelters such as nest-boxes mitigate the shortage of natural breeding sites. Since artificial nests are not where animals evolved and optimised their reproductive performance, it remains inconclusive if these are adequate substitutes, ensuring equivalent fitness returns while breeding. In particular, most knowledge on the ecology of cavity-nesting birds comes from nest-box populations, but no study has directly compared fitness consequences of breeding inside nest-boxes in relation to natural cavities in cities. We directly compare the reproductive performance, life-history trait variation and fitness consequences for two small passerines, blue and great tits, breeding in nest-boxes as opposed to natural cavities in an urban deciduous forest. We use a quasi-experimental setting to comprehend the conservation potential of these artificial cavities and to support/question generalisations stemming from nest-box studies. We show that the effects of cavity type vary between species: in blue tits, fitness proxies were negatively affected by nest-boxes (lower fledging success and fledgling numbers, longer time spent in the nest and later fledging date relative to natural cavities), while in great tits, the fitness proxies were unaffected by cavity type. Importantly, we detected accelerated incubation in both species breeding in nest-boxes. No differences in pre-hatching traits (lay date, clutch size, hatching rates) between cavity types suggest that the fitness deterioration occurred because of post-hatching effects. We highlight the ecological importance of old-growth tree stands, providing natural cavities for city-breeding animals and the need for quantifying alterations of reproductive ecology in other taxa using human-provided nests. Due to the detected cavity type-dependent variation in reproductive performance, we support the criticism regarding the unconditional extrapolation of evolutionary and ecological interpretations of nest-box studies to general populations.</span></p>
Data for: Microclimate shifts in nest-boxes and natural cavities throughout reproduction
<p>Animals breeding in nest-boxes experience nesting environments in which they did not originally evolve. Despite the central importance of nesting microclimate for offspring fitness, little is known about the thermal properties of human-provided nest sites compared to natural ones. In particular, comparisons with offspring in the nest are lacking. Here, we compare microclimate (temperature and absolute humidity) from the onset of breeding, thus starting with nest-site choice and ending with the post-fledging stage, quantified in natural cavities and nest-boxes used by several species of hollow-nesting birds in a temperate deciduous forest. We confirm that across all nesting stages, nest-boxes were thermally unstable when compared to natural cavities, with higher temperature maximums, larger amplitudes and worse insulation from maximum ambient temperatures relative to natural cavities. Surprisingly, as average humidity of natural cavities was previously shown to be higher than in nest-boxes, in the presence of actively thermoregulating young, nest-boxes were more humid than natural cavities. When offspring were in the nest, internal microclimatic shifts were mitigated three times more effectively in natural cavities than in nest-boxes (in terms of mean daily differences from ambient temperature). Artificial cavity microclimate is likely to amplify the adverse effects of projected temperature increases by compromising thermoregulation of developing animals. We stress that conservation efforts should focus on the protection of areas offering natural breeding-hollows to reduce the potential impacts of climate change on breeding animals.</p>
Data from: Osmia3DNest – novel designed 3D printed artificial nest for solitary cavity-nesting bees
<p>The availability and appropriateness of nesting sites significantly influence the reproductive success and overall welfare of wild bees. Human-induced factors contribute to the destruction of natural nesting habitats. To address these limitations, innovative solutions such as the development of artificial nests, as indicated in recent studies, offer alternative nest sites to support wild bee populations. We designed the Osmia3DNest, a 3D printed standardized nest tube for solitary cavity-nesting bees, aiming to provide a safety for the environment life-long, time-saving, and biodegradable product that anyone can print. We proudly present the two Osmia3DNest models for mason bees – closed and open – using PLA filament. We demonstrate the effectiveness of Osmia3DNest on mason bee reproduction parameters compared with traditional reed nests. Osmia3DNest can be an alternative to the other artificial nests, which people can customize for their necessity depending on their place of living (rural or urban area), and they can also be washed and reused several times and then decomposed. Osmia3DNest holds potential for wildlife biologists, management of pollinators, and educational outreach, offering adaptability for different bee species and experimental needs.</p>
No evidence of adaptive tolerance of parasitism in a cavity-nesting brood parasite host
<p>Acceptance of avian brood parasitism by hosts is one of the most enigmatic aspects of brood parasite-host coevolution. The most common explanation for acceptance of parasitism by hosts of the brown-headed cowbird (<em>Molothrus ater</em>) is evolutionary lag, which suggests that hosts have not had enough time to evolve defenses against parasitism. Alternatively, acceptance may be the optimal strategy when the costs of rejecting parasitism exceed the benefits. The lack of nest site hypothesis applies to secondary cavity-nesting birds that cannot excavate their own nests and predicts that hosts accept parasitism instead of deserting a parasitized nest when there are no vacant nest sites available in which to renest. I tested this hypothesis using the prothonotary warbler (<em>Pronotaria citrea</em>), a commonly parasitized, cavity-nesting cowbird host. I used a paired nest box design and predicted that if hosts accept parasitism because of a lack of alternative nest sites, they should desert parasitized nests and renest in the vacant nest box on their territory. I recorded 37 cases where a nest was parasitized and warblers only deserted 2 parasitized nest boxes for a vacant nest box. Both desertions were attributable to factors other than parasitism and the rate of desertion did not differ from controls that only had a single nest box. Moreover, seven of the warblers initiated clutches in nest boxes that already contained cowbird egg despite having vacant nest boxes available on their territories. These results indicate that warblers do not accept parasitism because of tolerance, but likely due to evolutionary lag.</p>
Preliminary assessment of cavity-nesting Hymenopterans in a low-intensity agricultural landscape in Transylvania
<p>In this study our aim was to assess several traits of cavity-nesting Hymenopteran taxa in a low-intensity agricultural landscape in Transylvania. The study took place between May and August 2018 at eight study sites in the hilly-mountainous central part of Romania, where the majority of the landscape is used for extensive farming or forestry. During the processing of the trap-nest material, we recorded several traits regarding the nests of different cavity-nesting Hymenopteran taxa and the spider prey found inside the nests of the spider-hunting representatives of these taxa. We also evaluated the relationship between the edge density and proportion of low-intensity agricultural areas surrounding the study sites and some of these traits.</p> <p>The majority of nests were built by the solitary wasp genus Trypoxylon, followed by the solitary wasp taxa Dipogon and Eumeninae. Solitary bees were much less common, with Hylaeus being the most abundant genus. In the nests of Trypoxylon, we mostly found spider prey from the family of Araneidae, followed by specimens from the families of Linyphiidae and Theridiidae. In the nests of Dipogon, we predominantly encountered spider prey from the family of Thomisidae. We found significant effects of low-intensity agricultural areas for the genera of Auplopus, Megachile, Osmia and the Thomisid prey of Dipogon. We also found that the spider prey of Trypoxylon was significantly more diverse at study sites with higher proportions of low-intensity agricultural areas.</p> <p>Our results indicate that solitary bees seem to be more abundant in areas, where the influence of human activities is stronger, while solitary wasps seem to rather avoid these areas. Therefore, we suggest that future studies not only should put more effort into sampling in low-intensity agricultural landscapes, but also focus more on solitary wasp taxa, when sampling such an area.</p>
Data from: Fast visual adaptation to dim light in a cavity-nesting bird
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Many birds move fast into dark nest cavities forcing the visual system to adapt to low light intensities. Their visual system takes between 15 and 60 minutes for complete dark adaptation, but little is known about the visual performance of birds during the first seconds in low light intensities. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>In a forced two-choice behavioural experiment we studied how well budgerigars can discriminate stimuli of different luminance directly after entering a darker environment. The birds made their choices within about one second and did not wait to adapt their visual system to the low light intensities. When moving from a bright facility into an environment with 0.5 log unit lower illuminance, the budgerigars detected targets with a luminance of 0.825 cd/m<sup>2</sup> on a black background. When moving into an environment with 1.7 or 3.5 log units lower illuminance, they detected targets with luminances between 0.106 and 0.136 cd/m<sup>2</sup>. In tests with two simultaneously displayed targets, the birds discriminated similar luminance differences between the targets (Weber fraction of 0.41-0.54) in all light levels. Our results support the notion that partial adaptation of bird eyes to the lower illumination occurring within one second allows them to safely detect and feed their chicks. </span></p>
Phylogeography of cavity-nesting honeybees (Apis)
<p>We examine phylogenetic relationships among species and populations of Asian cavity-nesting honeybees, emphasizing detection of potential unrecognized species in the geographically widespread <em>Apis cerana</em> Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Apidae). We carried out a phylogenetic analysis of genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using BEASTv1.8.4 and IQ-TREE 2. Our samples cover the largest geographic area and number of populations of Asian cavity-nesting honeybees sampled to date. Nodes in the tree were calibrated using the mid-Miocene giant honeybee <em>Apis lithohermaea</em> Engel. We used STRUCTURE, Bayes Factor Delimitation, and discriminant analysis of principal components to infer probable species among populations of cavity-nesting honeybees currently recognized as <em>Apis cerana</em>. Our results support four species within <em>A. cerana</em>: the yellow "plains" honeybee of India and Sri Lanka; the lineage inhabiting the oceanic Philippine islands; the Sundaland lineage found in Indonesia, Malaysia and parts of southeast Asia; and a Mainland lineage, which we provisionally consider <em>A. cerana</em> in a narrow sense.</p>
The role of a synanthropic bird in the nest niche expansion of a secondary cavity-nester to man-made structures
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No evidence of adaptive tolerance of parasitism in a cavity-nesting brood parasite host
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Data from: Osmia3DNest – novel designed 3D printed artificial nest for solitary cavity-nesting bees
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The earlier the better? Nesting timing and reproductive success in subalpine cavity-nesting bees
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Data from: Fitness consequences of interspecific nesting associations among cavity-nesting birds
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Preliminary assessment of cavity-nesting Hymenopterans in a low-intensity agricultural landscape in Transylvania
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Data from: Pollen diet, more than geographic distance, shapes provision microbiome composition in two species of cavity-nesting bees
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Data from: The role of wild bees and cavity-nesting wasps as ecological indicators of the last traditionally managed meadows in Eastern Europe
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