Nest Site Preference and Nest Success in Blackcaps<i>Sylvia atricapilla</i>in Poland

Węgrzyn, Ewa; Leniowski, Konrad

doi:10.13157/arla.58.1.2011.113

Cited by 17 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Despite my frequent controls I do not suppose that predation rate was influenced by nest visits for two reasons: 1) other authors report similar predation rates in their studies on blackcaps (Bairlein et al 1980, Weidinger 2000, 2002, Remeš 2003a, b), 2) the study by Weidinger (2008) demonstrated that there is no connection between the level of predation and daily nest visits in 11 studied songbird species including the blackcap. Also my other study of blackcaps (Węgrzyn and Leniowski 2011) demonstrates very similar predation rate even though nests were not controlled daily. Finally, majority of predation acts in blackcap nests take place during incubation when controls are rare (Węgrzyn and Leniowski 2011).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…In the present study I test the energy allocation hypo thesis (Dawson and Evans 1960) in the blackcap Sylvia atricapilla , a small passerine suffering from high nest predation (Bairlein et al 1980, Weidinger 2000, 2002, Remeš 2003a, b, Węgrzyn and Leniowski 2011). I analyze the relation and trade‐offs between nestling growth, development of thermoregulation and feeding rate.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Resource allocation between growth and endothermy allows rapid nestling development at low feeding rates in a species under high nest predation

Węgrzyn

2013

Journal of Avian Biology

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Nestling development is among the most energy‐demanding periods of a bird’s lifetime and altricial species require extensive parental energy investment in the form of feeding and heating. In the present study I analyze the relation and trade‐offs between nestling growth, development of thermoregulation and feeding rate in blackcap Sylvia atricapilla, a species suffering from high nest predation. Nestlings were characterized by rapid growth but they achieved only 80% of adult mass prior to fledging. Body mass showed highest relative growth rate before nestlings achieved homeothermy. The onset of endothermy, indicated in day 7, coincided with 90% of nestling fledgling weight, indicating that the two processes are separated in time. A strong negative correlation between feeding rate and growth rate demonstrates that blackcap nestlings develop their bodies under relatively low feeding rates and more feeding is needed for maintenance of body temperature than for body growth. The study indicates high cost of endothermy for parents – endothermic nestlings received over 100% more feedings than ectothermic ones. The findings are discussed in the light of adaptation of the species to high predation risk.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 91%

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confidence: 99%

Resource allocation between growth and endothermy allows rapid nestling development at low feeding rates in a species under high nest predation

Węgrzyn

2013

Journal of Avian Biology

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“…Despite our frequent visits, we assume that predation rate was not influenced by nest visits, as Weidinger () demonstrated that there is no connection between the level of predation and daily nest visits in 11 songbird species including the Blackcap. Furthermore, our previous studies do not indicate any adverse effect of nest controls on breeding success in Blackcaps (Węgrzyn & Leniowski , Węgrzyn ). However, where possible we checked poorly concealed nests using binoculars to minimize the disturbance to incubating birds.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 54%

“…On average only 30% of nests survive (Weidinger , Remeš ,b). Females build rather poorly concealed and easily located nests (Węgrzyn & Leniowski ) and the ability of the parents to defend a nest is limited. Video monitoring of Blackcap nests revealed that, in all but one predation attempt, parents fled the intruders (Schaeffer ).…”

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Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla nestlings do not produce begging calls until they are able to escape from predators

Węgrzyn

Leniowski

2014

Ibis

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Nest predation is a major source of reproductive failure in birds and thus it can exert selection on both parental and offspring strategies. Begging calls are known to be a powerful component of parent–offspring communication but these calls can also increase predation risk. Here we demonstrate a sophisticated strategy for the development of begging vocalization in a species under high nest predation. Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla nestlings spend most of their nesting period silent, and develop begging calls just before they are able to fledge. The onset of begging vocalization matches the onset of endothermy, which enables Blackcap chicks to leave the nest. We demonstrate experimentally that begging calls function as a signal of the increased needs of homeothermic nestlings. Playback of begging calls conducted in nests with silent nestlings resulted in a significant increase in feeding rates and a decrease in brooding. Development of begging calls only at the age of endothermy allows species under high nest predation to keep the risky period of begging vocalizations and frequent feeding to a minimum. This strategy may constitute an evolutionary solution to high predation pressure in some open nesting passerines. This is the first study to demonstrate the existence of silent begging in a passerine.

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“…Carbonell et al . , Węgrzyn & Leniowski ). The quality of foraging habitat, especially for leaf‐gleaning birds, can be compromised by deer herbivory through modification of its gross structure (Gill & Fuller , Holt et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exclusion of deer affects responses of birds to woodland regeneration in winter and summer

Holt

Fuller

Dolman

2013

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Using an exclosure experiment in managed woodland in eastern England, we examined species and guild responses to vegetation growth and its modification by deer herbivory, contrasting winter and the breeding season over 4 years. Species and guild responses, in terms of seasonal presence recorded by multiple point counts, were examined using generalized linear mixed models. Several guilds or migrant species responded positively to deer exclusion and none responded negatively. The shrub-layer foraging guild was recorded less frequently in older and browsed vegetation, in both winter and spring. Exclusion of deer also increased the occurrence of ground-foraging species in both seasons, although these species showed no strong response to vegetation age. The canopy-foraging guild was unaffected by deer exclusion or vegetation age in either season. There was seasonal variation in the responses of some individual resident species, including a significantly lower occurrence of Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes and European Robin Erithacus rubecula in browsed vegetation in winter, but no effect of browsing on those species in spring. Ordinations of bird assemblage compositions also revealed seasonal differences in response to gradients of vegetation structure generated by canopy-closure and exclusion of deer. Positive impacts of deer exclusion in winter are probably linked to reduced thermal cover and predator protection afforded by browsed vegetation, whereas species that responded positively in spring were also dependent on a dense understorey for nesting. The effects on birds of vegetation development and its modification by herbivores extend beyond breeding assemblages, with different mechanisms implicated and different species affected in winter

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Nest Site Preference and Nest Success in BlackcapsSylvia atricapillain Poland

Cited by 17 publications

References 28 publications

Resource allocation between growth and endothermy allows rapid nestling development at low feeding rates in a species under high nest predation

Resource allocation between growth and endothermy allows rapid nestling development at low feeding rates in a species under high nest predation

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla nestlings do not produce begging calls until they are able to escape from predators

Exclusion of deer affects responses of birds to woodland regeneration in winter and summer

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