Nest defence in the meadow pipit Anthus pratensis: the influence of renesting potential

Abstract

The reproductive value hypothesis predicts that the level of nest defence is determined by the expected chance of offspring to survive until reproduction, and by the reproductive potential of the parents. Rates of survival from one breeding season to the next are low in small passerines, and their residual reproductive potential strongly declines as the current breeding season terminates. Therefore, we can expect that parents which have only one breeding attempt per season should defend their nests more intensively than parents with a possibility to renest. We studied nest defence in populations of meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis) breeding in Norway and the Czech Republic, differing in renesting potential. To simulate the threat from a predator, we placed a stuffed stoat (Mustela erminea) first 5 m and then 1 m away from a nest with nestlings. Parents increased or kept nest defence constant when the stoat approached their nests in Norway and, during a breeding season shortened by severe weather, in the Czech Republic (when renesting potential was limited). Parents decreased nest defence when the stoat approached the nest during ''normal'' breeding seasons in the Czech Republic (when renesting was common). These findings give support to the reproductive value hypothesis.

Does Social Mating System Influence Nest Defence Behaviour in Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) Males?

“…The risk to parents when defending their brood is known to increase with decreasing distance to the predator and with increasing intensity of display (defensive) behaviour (Montgomerie & Weatherhead 1988; Brunton 1990; Lima & Dill 1990; King 1999, Pavel & Bureš 2001, 2008). Socially monogamous great reed warbler males defended their nests more intensively than socially polygynous males defending the nest of their primary female.…”

“…Previous studies have also shown that nest defence increases with the number and age of offspring, parental condition and with the decline of renesting potential (reviewed by Montgomerie & Weatherhead 1988; Pavel & Bureš 2001, 2008). At the time of each experiment, we therefore recorded the number of nestlings and the date during the breeding season.…”

“…the shortest direct distance between defender and human intruder (in metres) for each parent. As it is generally accepted that risk to parents increases with decreasing distance to the predator and with increasing intensity of display (defensive) behaviour (Montgomerie & Weatherhead 1988; Brunton 1990, Pavel & Bureš 2001, 2008), we used minimum distances to the intruder and maximum aggression scores (defensive reactions) as measures of risk‐taking. Based on previous experience, we decided not to evaluate the intensity of vocalisation separately because of the difficulties in identifying (sexing) the birds producing calls further away from the nest (because of dense vegetation).…”

Contest behavior and other reproductive efforts in aging breeders: a test of residual reproductive value and state-dependent models

“…An individual near the end of life should not pass up an opportunity to reproduce, even if fighting is required, if it is unlikely to find another reproductive opportunity. In a similar manner, when the probability of survival is low, individuals of diverse taxa are known to expose themselves to greater risks of predation to prepare to breed (Lafaille et al 2010;Kuriwada et al 2011;Schwanz et al 2012) or to greater risks in defending young (Pavel and Bures 2008;Steinhart et al 2008), consistent with RRV models.…”

Risk-taking by incubating rufous bush robins Cercotrichas galactotes: season-dependent incubation stage effect

“…As nesting attempt progresses the value of the nest increases, and parents tend to defend their nests more intensely and tolerate a higher predation risk (Montgomerie and Weatherhead 1988;Anderson et al 1980;Brunton 1990;Rytkönen et al 1990;Redondo 1989;Albrecht and Klvaña 2004). Moreover, as the breeding season progresses, the opportunity for renesting decreases, and the need to save the current breeding attempt increases too, which constrains parents to take higher predation risks and to tolerate closer approaches of predators (Trivers 1972;Barash 1975;Montgomerie and Weatherhead 1988;Redondo 1989;Pavel and Bureš 2008). However, little is known about the possible role of the interaction between the two factors in shaping bird nest-defence behaviours.…”