Characteristics of Sand Martin<i>Riparia riparia</i>Colonies in Artificial River Walls

Etxezarreta, Jon; Arizaga, Juan

doi:10.13157/arla.61.1.2014.127

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The first three host species are associated with urban environments. In contrast, the latter two host species typically occupy habitats outside urban areas (although R. riparia is already in the process of transition to municipal city centers, a process that is more advanced in other countries such as Spain [ 55 ]). There were changes associated with individual helminth species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term study reveals central European aerial insectivores as an unusual group of hosts that harbor mostly helminths that are unable to complete life-cycles in the nesting quarters of their hosts

Sitko

Heneberg

2023

Parasites Vectors

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Background Central European aerial insectivores are long-distance migrants that winter in sub-Saharan Africa. Most of them employ the fly-and-forage migrating strategy and differ in their food composition. The composition and structure of helminth component communities of these hosts are poorly understood, and information regarding seasonality and long-term changes is unavailable. Methods From 1963 to 2022, we analyzed the population trends of helminths in five aerial insectivore species. Namely, we examined Apus apus, Hirundo rustica, Delichon urbicum, Riparia riparia, and Ficedula albicollis; all originated from the Czech Republic. Results We identified central European aerial insectivores as hosts that are parasitized mostly by helminths that cannot complete their life-cycles in the nesting quarters of their hosts. This phenomenon is unknown in other bird host species. In contrast, only a single dominant trematode species that completes its life-cycle locally colonized the central European aerial insectivores. All other dominant species of Trematoda, all Nematoda, and all Acanthocephala were dependent on intermediate hosts unavailable in the nesting quarters of the examined bird hosts. Surprisingly, these helminths transmitted from winter quarters or migratory routes were diverse, and many of them were abundant in terms of both prevalence and intensity of infection. The helminth component communities of aerial insectivores were dynamic systems. During the study period, three species became new and regularly encountered members of helminth fauna of examined hosts, and other species gradually increased or decreased their intensity of infection. In contrast to other groups of bird hosts, the dominant helminth species of aerial insectivores did not experience local extinctions or rapid population losses. Conclusions The analysis of helminths of five central European aerial insectivores revealed component communities that heavily rely on completing host–parasite cycles at migration routes or wintering grounds. The composition of the analyzed component communities changed dynamically during the 60-year-long study period, but there was no evidence of large-scale declines in abundance or prevalence. Graphical Abstract

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term study reveals central European aerial insectivores as an unusual group of hosts that harbor mostly helminths that are unable to complete life-cycles in the nesting quarters of their hosts

Sitko

Heneberg

2023

Parasites Vectors

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“…Numerous factors can influence nest selection, including the availability of food and water [1], the presence of predators [2], the quality of the nesting material [3], and other environmental conditions [4][5][6][7]. Therefore, understanding the environmental factors that affect bird nesting habits is important [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, understanding the environmental factors that affect bird nesting habits is important [8]. Some land bird species, like the Sand Martin (Riparia riparia [2], Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster, and Merops philippinus) [9], Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) [10], European Roller (Coracias garrulus) [11], and Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) [12], nest in burrows. In some cases, burrowing birds dig their own burrows, whereas others use burrows abandoned by other animals [12][13][14][15][16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sand-Related Factors Influencing Nest Burrowing Potential of the Sand Martins

Çelik,

Durmus,

Jokimäki

2023

Animals

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Vertical embankments and mounds serve as suitable habitats for burrowing birds, such as the Sand Martin (Riparia riparia). Sand Martins have decreased in many countries during the last two decades, possibly because of the decline in suitable nest sites. Therefore, it is important to understand the factors affecting nest burrowing and nest hole characteristics for the Sand Martin. A smaller entrance hole would be beneficial for regulating the internal environment of the nest, whereas deeper nests are more advantageous against nest predators and parasites. We examined the general structure of Sand Martin colonies and determined if particle size, pH, or electrical conductivity (EC) of the soil and the location of the colony affects the morphology of Sand Martin nest holes. We hypothesized that the climate of near lakeshore and non-lakeshore differs; consequently, we predicted that Sand Martins would construct wider nest tunnel entrances in more humid environments near the lakeshore than further from the lake. We also hypothesized that a lower pH of clay loam soil would result in an increasing level of exchangeable aluminum (Al) and acidity, which in turn would promote soil aggregation. Because soils with a low EC are more stable and less prone to flooding or erosion, we predicted that Sand Martins in such soils would have deeper nesting burrows. A total of four colonies were located in the study area in Turkey. They contained 2510 burrows, of which 91.83% were used for breeding. The mean colony size was 627. We measured the soil and the nest burrow characteristics from the 80 nest bottoms used for breeding by the Sand Martin. The mean pH was 8.8, and the mean EC was 171. Tunnel depth was longer in nests with greater pH and EC and in lakeshore than in non-lakeshore colonies. The distance between nest holes increased with the EC, and nests were located nearer to each other in the lakeshore colonies than in non-lakeshore colonies. The width of the entrance opening increased with soil particle size and was wider in nests located at the lakeshore areas. Our results indicated that Sand Martins will avoid sites with too compact or loose soils for nesting, probably to avoid nest collapses. Vertical lakeshore embankments offer good nesting sites for Sand Martins and should, therefore, be protected. Because soil particle size, pH, EC, and distance from the lakeshore influenced the nest hole characteristics of the Sand Martin, conservation and management efforts should take these variables into account when maintaining or establishing suitable soil conditions for the Sand Martin.

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How to rescue Ontario’s Endangered Species Act: a biologist’s perspective

Bergman

Binley

Murphy

et al. 2020

FACETS

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Species around the world are facing an unprecedented threat of extinction from a variety of stressors. Habitat loss has been identified as the single greatest threat to species at risk, coupled with pollution, over-exploitation, disease, invasive species and climate change. 1 Nearly one quarter of the world's mammals, one-third of the world's amphibian species and one in eight birds are considered globally threatened or extinct. 2 In Ontario, 215 species or species populations are listed under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) as endangered, threatened, special concern or extirpated, and the province has many more imperiled species that have not had the benefit of being assessed and listed under the Act. 3 This dramatic decline in biodiversity not only threatens the functioning of the ecosystems that we depend on for our air, water and food, but it also reduces the resilience of these ecosystems to environmental change. Protecting at-risk species is not just a matter of conserving biodiversity, it is also about preserving the important personal connections that Ontarians have to our natural heritage, including the snapping turtles, monarch butterflies, bald eagles and woodland caribou that are part of our collective ecological community. The challenges we face in protecting and recovering species at risk are not insurmountable, but immediate, effective and sustained action is required.

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Characteristics of Sand MartinRiparia ripariaColonies in Artificial River Walls

Cited by 3 publications

References 16 publications

Long-term study reveals central European aerial insectivores as an unusual group of hosts that harbor mostly helminths that are unable to complete life-cycles in the nesting quarters of their hosts

Long-term study reveals central European aerial insectivores as an unusual group of hosts that harbor mostly helminths that are unable to complete life-cycles in the nesting quarters of their hosts

Sand-Related Factors Influencing Nest Burrowing Potential of the Sand Martins

How to rescue Ontario’s Endangered Species Act: a biologist’s perspective

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