Microclimate of Natural Cavity Nests and Its Implications for a Threatened Secondary-Cavity-Nesting Passerine of New Zealand, the South Island Saddleback

Rhodes, Bryan; O’Donnell, Colin F. J.; Jamieson, Ian G.

doi:10.1525/cond.2009.080030

Cited by 43 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 41 publications

(53 reference statements)

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“…Unlike in colder climates where smaller entrance size may be favored (Martens 1977;Carlson et al 1998;Browne 2006;Rhodes et al 2009), in the semi-arid climate of our study site, heat and not cold is problematic, and if thermoregulation was important, large entrances would have been selected for. Furthermore, all nest boxes were located in the shade where temperature is more stable, while differences between nest temperatures are greater in areas exposed to direct sun (Charter, unpublished data).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Effects of the risk of competition and predation on large secondary cavity breeders

2010

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The effects of competition and risk of predation on secondary cavity breeders were examined between the 2008 and 2009 breeding seasons using an experimental design manipulating two nest entrance sizes (large entrances allowed Barn Owls (Tyto alba) to enter, while the small entrances excluded them). During the 2009 breeding season, the entrance sizes of nest boxes were exchanged, so that if during one year a nest box in a particular location had a small entrance, the second year it had a large entrance and vice versa. Barn Owls and Eurasian Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) occupied 67.3 and 17.3%, respectively, of large entrance nest boxes. Significantly more Jackdaws (Corvus monedula), House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) and Scops Owls (Otus scops) bred in nest boxes with small than with large entrances. After nest box entrance sizes were exchanged, Barn Owls and smaller species did not breed in the same nest boxes with the new entrance size. Jackdaws probably did not breed in large entrance nest boxes due both to exploitation competition (Barn Owls and Eurasian Kestrels occupied the majority of large entrance nest boxes), and may also have avoided empty nest boxes because of the risk of interference competition; whereas smaller species may have also avoided large entrance nest boxes due to risk of predation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Effects of the risk of competition and predation on large secondary cavity breeders

2010

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“…Data on microclimate in tree cavities occupied by breeding birds are rare Hooge et al, 1999;Martin and Ghalambor, 1999;Wiebe, 2001;Ar et al, 2004;Rhodes et al, 2009, Mersten-Katz et al, 2012. We presumed that different types of cavities would provide contrasting environments, but there are hardly any data to check this.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microclimate of Tree Cavities Used by Great Tits (Parus Major) in a Primeval Forest

Maziarz¹,

Wesołowski²

2013

Avian Biology Research

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Altricial birds nesting in places with a favourable microclimate would be able to maintain the proper temperature of eggs or nestlings with less effort and thus reproduce more successfully. Tree cavities provide relatively safe nesting sites, but their microclimate is hardly known. Here we present the first data on air temperature and humidity in natural cavities used by Great Tits nesting in protected primeval forest in the Białowie a National Park (Eastern Poland). We checked what microclimatic conditions existed in cavities selected by Great Tits, how the construction of a nest changed the microclimate in a cavity and to what extent cavity localisation and cavity dimensions modified the microclimate of the breeding cavities. Great Tits used cavities in the living trees which were characterised by cool but relatively stable temperatures and very high relative humidity. Such conditions appear to be typical for cavities in living trees in general. Cavities with Great Tit broods were warmer and drier that the unused ones. The microclimate did not appear to constitute the major factor determining Great Tit usage of cavities in living trees, but it could exert a modifying effect on the pattern of cavity use by them. By choosing cavities of appropriate dimensions and placing the nest at an appropriate distance from the entrance, Great Tits could modify the cavity microclimate. However, their options were probably constrained by necessity to meet other important requirements, such as nest safety and illumination.

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“…Cavities in living trees are well insulated from cold (i.e. McComb & Noble 1981;Rhodes et al 2009). Hence, their interiors probably freeze later than the litter on the ground, what probably allows for longer periods of decomposers activity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This limiting factor plays no role in cavities in living trees, as their interiors remain constantly humid (i.e. McComb & Noble 1981;Rhodes et al 2009). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…humidity, temperature Á Donnelly et Coû teaux et al 1995;Kurka & Starr 1997;Kubartová et al 2007), and microclimate of cavities is dependent on their dimensions (Sedgeley 2001;Wiebe 2001;Rhodes et al 2009). Thus we tested decomposition rates in non-excavated cavities of two species: great tit Parus major L. and Marsh tit Poecile palustris L., which breed in the same habitat, built nests of the same type but use cavities of different dimensions (Wesołowski 1996;Maziarz & Wesołowski 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Disappearance rates of old nest material from tree cavities: An experimental study

Hebda¹,

Pochrząst²,

Mitrus³

et al. 2013

Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research

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Numerous forest organisms critically depend on availability of tree cavities. Some birds and rodents fill their cavities with bulky nests, which Á if not removed Á could accumulate and render cavities unusable, as recorded in nest-box studies. Data from earlier studies indicate that old nests can disappear from tree cavities so fast that practically no remnants are detectable the following spring. Rapid decomposition of nests in situ, augmented by physical removal of nest material by the cavity-users have been proposed as possible causative mechanisms. We tested these hypotheses in cavities used by tits (Parus major L., Poecile palustris L.) in the Białowieża National Park (E Poland). To mimic typical components of their nests Á moss and mammalian hair Á we inserted into cavities litter-bags filled with either cellulose or fleece of sheep. After 9,5 months of exposure a third of bags were missing from cavities, and 92Á100% of cellulose and 84Á98% of hair disappeared from the remaining ones. These results confirm that the rapid decomposition of the tit nests in cavities reinforced by material removed by vertebrates would suffice to ''clean'' the cavities between the consecutive seasons. To conclude, accumulation of litter in natural nests holes does not seem to affect nest hole availability.

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Microclimate of Natural Cavity Nests and Its Implications for a Threatened Secondary-Cavity-Nesting Passerine of New Zealand, the South Island Saddleback

Cited by 43 publications

References 41 publications

Effects of the risk of competition and predation on large secondary cavity breeders

Effects of the risk of competition and predation on large secondary cavity breeders

Microclimate of Tree Cavities Used by Great Tits (Parus Major) in a Primeval Forest

Disappearance rates of old nest material from tree cavities: An experimental study

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