Effect of an ectoparasite on lay date, nest-site choice, desertion, and hatching success in the great tit (Pants major)

Abstract

Ectoparasites are common in most bird species, but experimental evidence of their effects on life-history traits is scarce. We investigated experimentally the effects of the hematophagous hen flea (Ceratophyllus gallinae) on timing of reproduction, nest-site choice, nest desertion, clutch size, and hatching success in the great tit (Parus major). When great tits were offered a choice on their territory between an infested and a parasite-free nest-box, they chose the one without parasites. When there was no choice, the great tits in a territory containing an infested nest-box delayed laying the clutch by 11 days as compared with the birds that were offered a parasite-free nesting opportunity. The finding that there was no difference in phenotypic traits related to dominance between the birds nesting in infested boxes and birds nesting in parasite-free boxes suggests that the delay is not imposed by social dominance. Nest desertion between laying and shortly after hatching was significantly higher in infested nests. There was no difference between infested and parasite-free nests in clutch size, but hatching success and hence brood size at hatching were significantly smaller in infested nests. Nest-box studies of great tits have been seminal in the development of evolutionary, ecological, and behavioral theory, but recently a polemic has arisen in the literature about the validity of the conclusions drawn from nest-box studies where the naturally occurring, detrimental ectoparasites are eliminated by the routine removal of old nests between breeding seasons. Our study suggests that this criticism is valid and that the evaluation of the effects of ectoparasites may improve our understanding of behavioral traits, life-history traits, or population dynamics.

Effect of Old Nest Material on Nest Site Selection and Breeding Parameters in Secondary Hole Nesters — a Review

“…increased ectoparasite and predator pressure, was not high, or was even decreased by the experimental procedures used. In studies where old nests were heat-treated, birds were found avoiding ectoparasites, and not the nest material itself (Oppliger et al 1994, Rendell & Verbeek 1996b, but Orell et al 1993). However, several other studies demonstrated that ectoparasite abundance did not differ between nests built in sites with or without an old nest (Table 4).…”

“…Four papers were found reporting results of experiments that determined if birds' preferences for nest sites are connected with the presence of an old nest itself or the ectoparasites occurring in them (Orell et al 1993, Oppliger et al 1994, Olsson & Allander 1995, Rendell & Verbeek 1996b. In those experiments, the old nest material was heated to kill all ectoparasites and/or old nests were infected by a defined number of fleas (Siphonaptera).…”

Ectoparasite–modulated deposition of maternal androgens in great tit eggs

“…Hen fleas are nest-based ectoparasites that suck blood from nestlings and reduce nestling growth and survival (Richner et al 1993;Oppliger et al 1994). The development of an efficient immune system might be of crucial importance for nestlings growing up in parasite-infested nests, because immunological host responses can provide the hosts with some protection from the parasite (Allen 1994).…”

Green nesting material has a function in mate attraction in the European starling

“…The 'nest protection' hypothesis suggests that volatile compounds in green nest material have biocidal effects on parasites and pathogens (Widmann 1922;Johnston & Hardy 1962;Wimberger 1984;Clark 1991). In many species parasites and pathogens lead to nest desertion, egg spoilage, and reduced growth and survival of nestlings (Feare 1976;Hitchner 1980;Duffy 1983;Hesse 1985;Møller 1990;Loye & Zuk 1991;Richner et al 1993;Oppliger et al 1994;Merino & Potti 1995). A finding consistent with this hypothesis is that species that frequently reuse their nests over successive years and that may suffer more from wintering nest ectoparasites use fresh green nest material more often than species that build a new nest each year (Wimberger 1984;Clark & Mason 1985).…”