Lessons from long-term hole-nester studies in a primeval temperate forest

Wesołowski, Tomasz

doi:10.1007/s10336-007-0198-1

Cited by 160 publications

(153 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…As bryophytes fulfill a crucial water-absorbing function in tree-cavity nests Wesołowski 2007a), we expected that the tits would preferentially use mosses with the highest water-uptake capacity. This was not the case, though, as the water-uptake ratios did not systematically differ between the used and non-used species.…”

Section: Attributes Of Used Vs Non-used Mossesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The number and diversity of tree cavities in the old-growth stands remain unaffected by human activities. Therefore cavity-nesting birds can exhibit their preferences within a full spectrum of superabundant tree cavities (see reviews in Wesołowski 2007a;Wesołowski and Martin 2018) and build nests adjusted to the conditions that exist within them Wesołowski and Maziarz 2012;Maziarz and Wesołowski 2014). The forest structure is highly diverse; stands are typically formed by several tree species of varying age and size.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, nests in such cavities are susceptible to flooding from rainwater flowing down the trunk and by sap draining into the cavities. Despite countermeasures taken by the birds (see below) nest loss due to soaking is the second most important cause of nest failure in tree cavities in the Białowieża NP Wesołowski 2007a). Therefore, the requirement to keep nest contents dry is of critical importance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tits as bryologists: patterns of bryophyte use in nests of three species cohabiting a primeval forest

Wesołowski¹,

Wierzcholska²

2018

J Ornithol

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Numerous birds use bryophytes as nest construction material but the species used and their biology remain largely unknown. Therefore, questions related to the selectivity of birds in their bryophyte use, and why they use/ignore particular species, remain unanswered. We studied the composition of bryophytes, including both mosses (Bryophyta) and liverworts (Marchantiophyta), in nests of Marsh Tit Poecile palustris, Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus, and Great Tit Parus major breeding sympatrically in tree cavities in pristine patches of the Białowieża National Park, Poland. We checked whether the bryophyte composition of the nests differed, compared usage of different bryophytes with their availability in the surroundings (10 m radius) of the tree cavities, and looked for characteristics that may have resulted in their selection as nesting material. The birds appeared to be highly selective; of 54 bryophyte species found near cavities, 21 were never used. Individual nests contained 4.0-5.5 bryophyte species on average, and only 2.3-2.7 species exceeded 5% of the total bryophyte volume. In each tit species the three most abundantly used bryophytes belonged to mosses and comprised ca. 80-89% of the total bryophyte volume. All of the tits utilized pleurocarpous bryophytes, growing as wefts, mats or pendants mostly on tree trunks. Simulations of plucking showed that the mosses employed as nest constituents yielded larger bundles with longer shoots when plucked. The tit species differed in the sets of bryophyte species collected. Great Tit nests contained an almost completely different assemblage of mosses from that used by Marsh and Blue Tits. This variation was related to the varying mass of their broods; more robust mosses provided support for heavier broods of Great Tits, while the finest moss species were sufficient to form a cushion for the much lighter Marsh Tit broods. Keywords

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Section: Attributes Of Used Vs Non-used Mossesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tits as bryologists: patterns of bryophyte use in nests of three species cohabiting a primeval forest

Wesołowski¹,

Wierzcholska²

2018

J Ornithol

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“…As major creators of cavities, both species provide a critical resource for secondary cavity users (Mazgajski 2003;Smith 2005;Wesołowski 2007;Lučan et al 2009). Moreover, the middle spotted woodpecker is listed in Annex I of the European Union Birds Directive, and is the subject of special conservation measures concerning their habitat to ensure their survival and reproduction in their area of distribution.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do increases in the availability of standing dead trees affect the abundance, nest-site use, and niche partitioning of great spotted and middle spotted woodpeckers in riverine forests?

Kosiński

Pluta²,

Ulanowska³

et al. 2017

Biodivers Conserv

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Standing dead trees may be a limited resource for woodpeckers in managed forests, especially for species that rely on dead wood for their nest or roost cavity, and as foraging sites. Effective conservation strategies for woodpeckers require a detailed knowledge of species' responses to dead wood availability. To investigate the importance of standing dead wood (snags) for the abundance and nest-site use of the great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major and middle spotted woodpecker Leiopicus medius in mature riverine forests, we compared the responses of birds between two periods-before mass mortality, and during a pulse in standing dead trees. The density of standing dead trees available for cavity excavation by the great spotted woodpecker and the middle spotted woodpecker increased significantly during the study period: 37-fold and 4-fold, respectively. Temporal trends in the abundance of both woodpecker species from 2000 to 2015 were not significant. Great spotted woodpeckers were significantly more likely to use dead trees and places with wounds in species other than oak and ash during the outbreak period than in the pre-outbreak period. Middle spotted woodpeckers were significantly less likely to excavate cavities in tree species other than oak and ash in the outbreak period, but dead trees were more likely selected. An interspecific comparison suggests that the probability of a nest-hole having been excavated by a middle spotted woodpecker increased with a nest-hole sited in ash, in a dead tree, in a limb/branch, and decreased with 123Biodivers Conserv (2018) 27:123-145 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-017-1425-6 a nest-hole in a closed forest. These findings suggest that woodpecker species, especially weak excavators, may benefit from an increase in dead wood availability leading to nest niche shifts into more favorable substrates for cavity excavation. However, a strong increase in dead wood availability does not modify the general pattern of niche partitioning between great spotted and middle spotted woodpeckers. Conservation plans for the specialized middle spotted woodpecker must consider the preference for dead and decaying trees. The decreasing number of large ashes and oaks, and the lack of natural regeneration of the latter species, may negatively affect the middle spotted woodpecker in the future.

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“…Here, tree cavities are diverse (varying in origin, location and size) and available in excess for non-excavating, cavity-nesting birds, which can choose their preferred nest sites (reviewed in Wesołowski 2007). Consequently, inter-and intraspecific competition for nest sites is unimportant and usurpation of nest holes by other species is very rare (e.g., Walankiewicz and Mitrus 1997;Wesołowski 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breeding success of the Great Tit Parus major in relation to attributes of natural nest cavities in a primeval forest

Maziarz

Wesołowski²,

Hebda

et al. 2015

J Ornithol

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An overlap in attributes of nest cavities used by Great Tit Parus major across Eurasia suggests similar nest site preferences within the geographical range, although the drivers of these preferences are unclear. To determine whether preferred cavities provide conditions enhancing successful reproduction, we investigated the breeding performance of Great Tits in relation to tree cavity characteristics using data collected during 2008-2011 in primeval conditions (Białowie_ za National Park, Poland). Here, tree cavities are diverse and superabundant but nesting birds are at risk from a variety of predators. According to expectations, nest losses were high (60 % of Great Tit nests failed), mostly due to predation (69 % of nest failures). The risk of nest failure varied with nest cavity attributes. Compared to successful nests, failures were situated higher above the ground and placed closer to the cavity entrance. Very deep cavities with narrow entrances and strong livings walls provided effective protection against larger predators (e.g., martens, woodpeckers), unable to enter the cavity or pull out the contents. Yet, such holes were no barrier for the smallest predators (e.g., Forest Dormouse Dryomys nitedula), which were able to enter any Great Tit nest cavity and destroyed most of the nests. Avoiding small predators would give a selective advantage to the birds, but this seems hardly possible to achieve. We conclude that tree cavities preferred by the tits show a combination of properties which are a compromise for avoiding predation (the strongest selective pressure) and providing the minimum requirements (sufficient nest illumination, microclimate, protection against nest soaking) for development and growth of young.

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Lessons from long-term hole-nester studies in a primeval temperate forest

Cited by 160 publications

References 58 publications

Tits as bryologists: patterns of bryophyte use in nests of three species cohabiting a primeval forest

Tits as bryologists: patterns of bryophyte use in nests of three species cohabiting a primeval forest

Do increases in the availability of standing dead trees affect the abundance, nest-site use, and niche partitioning of great spotted and middle spotted woodpeckers in riverine forests?

Breeding success of the Great Tit Parus major in relation to attributes of natural nest cavities in a primeval forest

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