Nestling diet optimization and condition in relation to prey attributes and breeding patch size in a patch-resident insectivorous passerine: an optimal continuum and habitat constraints

Orłowski, Grzegorz; Frankiewicz, Joanna; Karg, Jerzy

doi:10.1007/s10336-016-1394-7

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 73 publications

(114 reference statements)

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“…To optimize reproductive success, adults must provision their offspring with prey that are sufficiently high in calories, protein, and a range of other nutrients for growth and development. This enables offspring to grow rapidly, leave the care of their parents earlier, and maximize their chances of survival (Krupa, 2004 ; Li et al, 2021 ; Orłowski et al, 2017 ). Prey with “breeding currency” are defined as prey of high‐value for breeding, that is, beneficial for offspring development, contributing to improved reproductive productivity (Greenberg, 1995 ; Yard et al, 2004 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal and ontological variation in diet and age‐related differences in prey choice, by an insectivorous songbird

Davies

Vaughan

Thomas

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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The diet of an individual animal is subject to change over time, both in response to short‐term food fluctuations and over longer time scales as an individual ages and meets different challenges over its life cycle. A metabarcoding approach was used to elucidate the diet of different life stages of a migratory songbird, the Eurasian reed warbler ( Acrocephalus scirpaceus ) over the 2017 summer breeding season in Somerset, the United Kingdom. The feces of adult, juvenile, and nestling warblers were screened for invertebrate DNA, enabling the identification of prey species. Dietary analysis was coupled with monitoring of Diptera in the field using yellow sticky traps. Seasonal changes in warbler diet were subtle, whereas age class had a greater influence on overall diet composition. Age classes showed high dietary overlap, but significant dietary differences were mediated through the selection of prey; (i) from different taxonomic groups, (ii) with different habitat origins (aquatic vs. terrestrial), and (iii) of different average approximate sizes. Our results highlight the value of metabarcoding data for enhancing ecological studies of insectivores in dynamic environments.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal and ontological variation in diet and age‐related differences in prey choice, by an insectivorous songbird

Davies

Vaughan

Thomas

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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“…In contrast, caterpillars, and presumably other insect larvae such as those of wood-boring beetles, contain high levels of fat and water (Brodmann & Reyer, 1999;Kouřaminská & Adámková, 2016). In addition, insect larvae contain less chitin than adult insects and may be easier to digest (Brodmann & Reyer, 1999;Kouřaminská & Adámková, 2016;Orłowski, Frankiewicz, & Karg, 2017 Marshall & Sinclair, 2015), the larvae of which is a common food source for White-headed Woodpeckers (Lorenz et al, 2016). However, many factors can influence annual survival of such insects (Gray, 2013) and more study is needed before causal links between temperature and individual dietary items in woodpeckers can be elucidated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, caterpillars, and presumably other insect larvae such as those of wood‐boring beetles, contain high levels of fat and water (Brodmann & Reyer, 1999; Kouřaminská & Adámková, 2016). In addition, insect larvae contain less chitin than adult insects and may be easier to digest (Brodmann & Reyer, 1999; Kouřaminská & Adámková, 2016; Orłowski, Frankiewicz, & Karg, 2017). Adult woodpeckers may face trade‐offs when feeding young.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of climate and habitat on stable isotope signatures and the isotopic niche of nestling White‐headed Woodpeckers (Dryobates albolarvatus)

Lorenz

Kozma

Cunningham

2020

Ecology and Evolution

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The majority of landbird species feed their nestlings arthropods and variation in arthropod populations can impact reproductive outcomes in these species. Arthropod populations in turn are influenced by climate because temperature affects survival and reproduction, and larval development. Thus, climate factors have the potential to influence many bird species during their reproductive phases. In this study, we assessed climate factors that impact the diet of nestling White‐headed Woodpecker (Dryobates albolarvatus), an at‐risk keystone species in much of its range in western North America. To do this, we measured stable isotope signatures (δ13C and δ15N) in 152 nestlings across six years and linked variation in isotopic values to winter (December–February) and spring (June) precipitation and temperature using mixed effects models. We also explored habitat factors that may impact δ13C and δ15N and the relationship between δ15N and nest productivity. Last, we estimated isotopic niche width for nestlings in different watersheds and years using Bayesian standard ellipses, which allowed us to compare dietary niche width and overlap. We found that colder winter temperatures were associated with an increase in δ15N and δ15N levels had a weak positive relationship with nest productivity. We also found that sites with a more diverse tree community were associated with a broader isotopic niche width in nestlings. Our findings suggest that nestling diet is affected by climate, and under future warming climate scenarios, White‐headed Woodpecker nestling diet may shift in favor of lower trophic level prey (prey with lower δ15N levels). The impact of such changes on woodpecker populations merits further study.

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“…A limitation of our approach is that it represents a temporally-integrated picture: since all pellets were collected after fledging, the stage at which a particular pellet was produced (e.g., from a newly-hatched chick or one preparing to fledge), is unknown. In some birds, the variety and quality of prey provisioned to nestlings differs according to habitat quality, prey availability and developmental stage of the young (Orłowski, Frankiewicz & Karg, 2017; Jedlicka, Vo & Almeida, 2017). Our methodology does not provide information on possible changes in the type of prey provisioned to nestlings at different stages of development.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

DNA metabarcoding allows non-invasive identification of arthropod prey provisioned to nestling Rufous hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus)

Moran

Prosser

Moran

2019

PeerJ

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Hummingbirds consume sugars from nectar, sap and honeydew, and obtain protein, fat and minerals from arthropods. To date, the identity of arthropod taxa in hummingbird diets has been investigated by observation of foraging or examination of alimentary tract contents. Direct examination of nestling provisioning adds the extra complication of disturbance to the young and mother. Here, we show that arthropod food items provisioned to Rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) nestlings can be identified by a safe and non-invasive protocol using next-generation sequencing (NGS) of DNA from nestling fecal pellets collected post-fledging. We found that females on southern Vancouver Island (British Columbia, Canada) provisioned nestlings with a wide range of arthropod taxa. The samples examined contained three Classes, eight Orders, 48 Families, and 87 Genera, with from one to 15 Families being identified in a single pellet. Soft-bodied Dipterans were found most frequently and had the highest relative abundance; hard-bodied prey items were absent from almost all samples. Substantial differences in taxa were found within season and between years, indicating the importance of multi-year sampling when defining a prey spectrum.

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Nestling diet optimization and condition in relation to prey attributes and breeding patch size in a patch-resident insectivorous passerine: an optimal continuum and habitat constraints

Abstract: Direct observational studies are needed to address dietary adjustment in species breeding in isolated non-forest habitat islands with respect to the energy demands of growing nestlings and breeding patch size.

Cited by 6 publications

References 73 publications

Seasonal and ontological variation in diet and age‐related differences in prey choice, by an insectivorous songbird

Seasonal and ontological variation in diet and age‐related differences in prey choice, by an insectivorous songbird

The influence of climate and habitat on stable isotope signatures and the isotopic niche of nestling White‐headed Woodpeckers (Dryobates albolarvatus)

DNA metabarcoding allows non-invasive identification of arthropod prey provisioned to nestling Rufous hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus)

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