Hatching date influences winter habitat occupancy: Examining seasonal interactions across the full annual cycle in a migratory songbird

Akresh, Michael E.; King, David I.; Marra, Peter P.

doi:10.1002/ece3.7500

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 107 publications

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“…The temperature condition of Amurum Forest Reserve was higher during post-breeding; however, during this period, both male and female Village Weavers experienced a higher mean BMI ( Table 1 ). Indeed, relatively short-term seasonal variations in weather indices are crucial extrinsic drivers of avian body condition [ 26 ], and at higher mean levels, temperature usually correlates with the body condition of passerine birds [ [74] , [75] , [76] ]. In this regard, female Village Weavers' high mean BMI under higher mean temperture (during post-breeding) is attributable to the weight gained to make up for the expended energy during breeding (owing to the draining of the birds' body nutrients during laying and incubation of eggs) [ 26 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of biometrics and stress indicators of the adult Village Weaver birds (Ploceus cucullatus) during breeding and post-breeding seasons in Jos, Nigeria

Andong,

Ejere,

Agina

et al. 2024

Heliyon

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of biometrics and stress indicators of the adult Village Weaver birds (Ploceus cucullatus) during breeding and post-breeding seasons in Jos, Nigeria

Andong,

Ejere,

Agina

et al. 2024

Heliyon

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“…However, we note that parental quality or experience, differences between first and replacement nests, and carry‐over effects from non‐breeding site conditions can also influence reproductive success, both directly and indirectly via the timing of breeding. It is also possible that positive selection for earlier breeding may in part also arise from higher rates of recruitment by young from earlier nests as an endogenous mechanism of heritable timing (Akresh et al, 2021; Bazzi et al, 2016; Saino et al, 2015; Sosnovcová et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Carry‐over effects have been detected in many migratory birds, particularly effects linking non‐breeding (Rushing et al, 2016) and migratory conditions (Finch et al, 2014) to reproductive stages. However, there is increasing evidence that breeding site conditions may influence migrants' survival and condition in subsequent stages of the annual cycle (Akresh et al, 2021; Evans et al, 2020; Latta et al, 2016), whether in the critical post‐fledging period (e.g. Evans et al, 2020; Naef‐Daenzer & Grüebler, 2016) or during the non‐breeding season (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early life conditions influence fledging success and subsequent local recruitment rates in a declining migratory songbird, the Whinchat Saxicola rubetra

Halliwell

Ketcher²,

Proud³

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Life history traits and environmental conditions influence reproductive success in animals, and consequences of these can influence subsequent survival and recruitment into breeding populations. Understanding influences on demographic rates is required to determine the causes of decline. Migratory species experience spatially and temporally variable conditions across their annual cycle, making identifying where the factors influencing demographic rates operate challenging. Here, we use the Whinchat Saxicola rubetra as a model declining long-distance migrant bird. We analyse 10 years of data from 247 nesting attempts and 2519 post-fledging observations of 1193 uniquely marked nestlings to examine the influence of life history traits, habitat characteristics and weather on survival of young from the nestling stage to local recruitment into the natal population. We detected potential silver spoon effects where conditions during the breeding stage influence subsequent apparent local recruitment rates, with higher recruitment for fledglings from larger broods, and recruitment rate negatively related to rainfall that chicks experienced in-nest. Additionally, extreme temperatures experienced pre-and post-fledging increased fledging success and recruitment rate. However, we could not determine whether this was driven by temperature influencing mortality during the post-fledging period or later in the annual cycle.Brood size declined with hatching date. In-nest survival increased with brood size and was highest at local temperature extremes. Furthermore, nest survival was highest at nests surrounded with 40%-60% vegetation cover of Bracken Pteridium aquilinum within 50 m of the nest. Our results show that breeding phenology and environmental factors may influence fledging success and recruitment in songbird populations, with conditions experienced during the nestling stage influencing local recruitment rates in Whinchats (i.e. silver spoon effect). Recruitment rates are key drivers of songbird population dynamics. Our results help identify some of the likely breeding season mechanisms that could be important population drivers.

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Differential use of nest materials and niche space among avian species within a single ecological community

Akresh,

Mandell,

Grima

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Differential use of resources among bird species has been examined extensively in diet and nesting sites, but few studies have assessed this regarding avian nest materials. We assessed the structure and composition of nests in a group of co‐existing passerine shrubland birds at a site in Massachusetts, USA. We found, measured, collected, and dissected nests, and then weighed nest materials in morphological groups (e.g., bark, twigs, feathers) to determine if our seven focal species were using different nest materials. Among species, we compared proportional material masses in complete nests, and also separately in the exterior, structural part of the nest and the interior, cup lining. We found that the proportional masses of all 17 material types that we examined in nests differed among species. The compositions of nests among all seven bird species were distinct in multivariate ordination space and only a few pairs of species had substantial niche overlap. Proportional masses of materials within discrete sections (exterior and interior) also varied among species. Although some differences in nest composition could be partially explained by bird species size, nest materials differed even within the three larger bodied species and within four smaller bodied species. Our study builds upon previous studies that have shown species‐specificity in avian nest composition and supports the notion that birds using the same environment have distinct niches in relation to the materials placed in their nests. Niche partitioning due to interspecific competition could partially explain our findings, as certain materials are limited as resources, and searching for suitable nest materials is energetically costly. Additionally, other factors, such as partitioned nest sites, may have led to differential nest material use. We recommend further research to help elucidate underlying mechanisms of nest composition partitioning in birds and potentially other nest‐building taxa.

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Hatching date influences winter habitat occupancy: Examining seasonal interactions across the full annual cycle in a migratory songbird

Abstract: Migratory animals are affected by events and processes occurring throughout the annual cycle (Faaborg et al., 2010;Harrison et al., 2011). Processes occurring at a given location or time can "carry-over" to affect an individual at a subsequent location or time

Cited by 9 publications

References 107 publications

Assessment of biometrics and stress indicators of the adult Village Weaver birds (Ploceus cucullatus) during breeding and post-breeding seasons in Jos, Nigeria

Assessment of biometrics and stress indicators of the adult Village Weaver birds (Ploceus cucullatus) during breeding and post-breeding seasons in Jos, Nigeria

Early life conditions influence fledging success and subsequent local recruitment rates in a declining migratory songbird, the Whinchat Saxicola rubetra

Differential use of nest materials and niche space among avian species within a single ecological community

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