Annual Reproductive Yield in the Cooperative Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea)

Sydeman, William J.; Güntert, Marcel; Balda, Russell P.

doi:10.1093/auk/105.1.70

Cited by 17 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Our estimates of nesting success in natural sites appear to be typical of other locations. For excavators, Sydeman et al (1988) found 87% nesting success for Pygmy Nuthatches and we found 82%. Pynnonen (1939) found 77% nest success in two European woodpeckers, which was within the range for woodpeckers on our sites (Table 2).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 49%

Life History Traits of Open‐ vs. Cavity‐Nesting Birds

Martin¹,

Li²

1992

Ecology

387

262

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We re—examined the longstanding dogma that cavity—nesting birds have larger clutch sizes than open—nesting species because of lower nest predation rates, which allow longer developmental periods. We provide data on nesting success of open—nesting species plus excavator and nonexcavator species (cavity—nesters that do vs. do not create their own cavities) of birds that coexist in the same habitat and use natural nest sites; studies were conducted in central Arizona in high—elevation forest drainages from 1987 to 1989. In comparisons among species, nest success increased in the order open—nesting < nonexcavator ° excavator species. Length of the nestling period increased, whereas number of broods decreased, with increased nest success across these nest types. Contrary to conventional expectation, clutch size did not increase directly with increased nest success and length of the nestling period, and these patterns were not simply a result of phylogenetic effects. A literature review of data on adult survival in land birds indicated that nonexcavators have significantly lower adult survival than the other two nest types. The lower adult survival of nonexcavators was associated with greater annual productivity than for the other two nest types. Annual productivity appeared to be associated with nest site attributes, whereas number of broad attempts was related to nest failure rate. Clutch size was a byproduct of annual productivity and number of brood attempts. Thus, the long—standing paradigm relating clutch size directly to nesting failure and developmental period was not supported.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 49%

Life History Traits of Open‐ vs. Cavity‐Nesting Birds

Martin¹,

Li²

1992

Ecology

387

262

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“…Group living can have advantages for the reproduction or survival of individuals (Ekman, Bylin & Tegelström 1999) irrespective of whether group members are related or not. For example, groups may perform better in territorial contests (Craig 1984), be more effective in predator detection (Woolfenden & Fitzpatrick 1990) or cope more effectively with ecological constraints, such as thermoregulation in cold environments (Sydeman, Guntert & Balda 1988; Ligon & Ligon 1990). Groups may also be good forums for finding mates (Reyer, Dittami & Hall 1986; Sherley 1989).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of helpers on reproductive success in the laughing kookaburra

Legge

2000

Journal of Animal Ecology

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Summary1. In co-operatively breeding birds and mammals that live in family groups, helpers may gain indirect ®tness bene®ts by increasing the number of breeding attempts in a season, by increasing the success of each nesting attempt, and by increasing the survivorship of related breeders. 2. The eects of helpers were examined in an analysis of reproductive success in the laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), where a monogamously breeding pair is assisted by ospring of both sexes. 3. Helpers could not increase the number of attempts in a season, because kookaburras are single-brooded. 4. In a paired analysis controlling for pair and territory quality, increases in group size were not matched by increases in the number or weight of¯edglings in each breeding attempt, even though brood reduction was the major source of productivity loss. This concurs with previous results showing that group size does not aect overall provisioning levels to broods, because all group members reduced their provisioning eort as group size increased. 5. Because kookaburras prefer to reduce workloads during breeding rather than raise larger broods, the costs of caring for young must be high. Thus breeders with helpers may enjoy energetic savings and enhanced survivorship. 6. Helpers had dierent eects on nest success depending on their sex. Whereas male helpers had a neutral eect on¯edging success and¯edgling weight, additional female helpers reduced¯edging success. Females are relatively poor helpers, and other group members may not properly compensate for the female's`inadequate' help. 7. High-quality kookaburra pairs, or pairs on good territories, were more likely to be in larger groups because they produced more potential recruits for their groups than relatively`poor' performers. This was demonstrated by comparing the results of the paired comparisons with those of a correlational analysis that showed that in groups of two to six birds, group size was positively correlated with¯edging success and¯edgling weight (which aects the probability of juvenile survival). 8. However, unusually large groups of seven or more birds suered drastically reduced nest success because eggs were damaged during incubation.

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“…Many breeding pairs have one or more male helpers, usually offspring from pervious broods (Kingery and Ghalambor 2001). Some juveniles merge with neighbors from the previous winter’s group (Guntert et al 1988, Sydeman et al 1988). The short dispersal distances, natal philopatry, and habitat specificity of S. pygmaea are typical of many cooperatively breeding species (Woxvold et al 2006, Haas et al 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential relationships between habitat fragmentation and within-population genetic diversity of three forest-dwelling birds

Zuckerberg

Carling

Dor

et al. 2014

Preprint

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Habitat fragmentation is a major driver of environmental change affecting wildlife populations across multiple levels of biological diversity. Much of the recent research in landscape genetics has focused on quantifying the influence of fragmentation on genetic variation among populations, but questions remain as to how habitat loss and configuration influences within-population genetic diversity. Habitat loss and fragmentation might lead to decreases in genetic diversity within populations, which might have implications for population persistence over multiple generations. We used genetic data collected from populations of three species occupying forested landscapes across a broad geographic region: Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli; 22 populations), White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis; 13 populations) and Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea; 19 populations) to quantify patterns of haplotype and nucleotide diversity across a range of forest fragmentation. We predicted that fragmentation effects on genetic diversity would vary depending on dispersal capabilities and habitat specificity of the species. Forest aggregation and the variability in forest patch area were the two strongest landscape predictors of genetic diversity. We found higher haplotype diversity in populations of P. gambeli and S. carolinensis inhabiting landscapes characterized by lower levels of forest fragmentation. Conversely, S. pygmaea demonstrated the opposite pattern of higher genetic diversity in fragmented landscapes. For two of the three species, we found support for the prediction that highly fragmented landscapes sustain genetically less diverse populations. We suggest, however, that future studies should focus on species of varying life-history traits inhabiting independent landscapes to better understand how habitat fragmentation influences within-population genetic diversity.

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Annual Reproductive Yield in the Cooperative Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea)

Cited by 17 publications

References 26 publications

Life History Traits of Open‐ vs. Cavity‐Nesting Birds

Life History Traits of Open‐ vs. Cavity‐Nesting Birds

The effect of helpers on reproductive success in the laughing kookaburra

Differential relationships between habitat fragmentation and within-population genetic diversity of three forest-dwelling birds

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