Does Habitat Structure Affect Body Condition of Nestlings? A Case Study with Woodland Great TitsParus major

Across and Within-Forest Effects on Breeding Success in Mediterranean Great TitsParus major

“…Within forest, our results showed that nestlings raised in nestboxes located in patches with immature vegetation differed little in size and weight from those raised in patches with mature vegetation, confirming results of in Blue Tits, and of Sánchez et al (2007) in Great Tits. Therefore, it seems that possible differences in food availability among mature and immature vegetation patches were not a limiting factor for raising nestlings in these forests.…”

“…For example, Wilkin et al (2007) found that laying date was earlier as the number of oaks around Great Tit nests increased, arguing that food availability was the underlaying factor. Also, to the best of our knowledge, the only study relating breeding traits to habitat structure in Great Tits was published by Sánchez et al (2007), who found that nestlings raised in nestboxes surrounded by mature vegetation tended to be in better condition. Van Noordwijk et al (1981) nestboxes within each forest were placed at similar altitude (at different altitude between forests), a possible effect of temperature on vegetation phenology and therefore on food availability would be negligible.…”

“…Moreover, it is also known that, among tits (Paridae), small changes in habitat structure can have profound effects on reproduction and condition (Otter et al 2007, Wilkin et al 2007, making this species a good model for evaluating the extent to which reproductive traits are affected by habitat features (e.g. Sánchez et al 2007, Wilkin et al 2007). The effects of forest type on breeding traits are known since a long time for this species.…”

Variation in offspring quality with cavity orientation in the great tit

“…This approach has been used previously in avian studies to quantify the effect of ectoparasites on breeding success (e.g. RICHNER et al 1993) and to determine the influence of habitat on breeding success (SÁNCHEZ et al 2007). …”

Vector abundance determines Trypanosoma prevalence in nestling blue tits

“…For instance, the absence of suitable vectors might explain the low incidence of blood parasites in species living in marine/saline habitats (Super and van Riper, 1995; Figuerola, 1999; Mendes et al 2005). Also, environmental characteristics around the nests, which may affect the abundance of vectors, seem to determine blood parasite prevalence in avian populations (Sánchez et al 2007; Wood et al 2007; Ortego and Cordero, 2010).…”