Personality and density affect nest defence and nest survival in the great tit

Vrublevska, Jolanta; Krama, Tatjana; Rantala, Markus J.; Mierauskas, Pranas; Freeberg, Todd M.; Krams, Indriķis

doi:10.1007/s10211-014-0191-7

Cited by 39 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…The individual experience with the predation and therefore the knowledge on the threat, which particular predators represent, may substantially alter the aggression during the nest defence (Kelley and Magurran 2003). Secondly, individual differences in the personality traits, such as boldness (mediated through the testosterone levels - Cawthorn et al 1998, Soma 2006 or shyness were shown to substantially affect the activity during the nest defence (Vrublevska et al 2015) or predator recognition (Nácarová et al pers. comm.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The nest defence by the red‐backed shrikeLanius collurio– support for the vulnerability hypothesis

Strnadová

Němec

Strnad

et al. 2018

Journal of Avian Biology

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The majority of altricial bird species defend their brood against predators more intensively in nestlings rather than eggs stage. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this difference. The majority of existing experimental studies have recorded a gradually increasing intensity of nest defence supporting the reproductive value hypothesis. We have compared nest defence in two nesting stages of the red‐backed shrike against two predators of adult birds and against two predators of nests. While the nests with nestlings were defended by parents against three out of four predators, nests with eggs were almost not defended at all. This rapid change in parent nest defence supports rather the vulnerability hypothesis, predicting that the threat to nests with nestlings increases rapidly after hatching, as they became more conspicuous due to their begging and parental provisioning. Unlike most of the species tested previously, the red‐backed shrike uses very vigorous mobbing towards predators. We suggest that the occurrence of this active mobbing (strikes, including physical contact) is a good proxy of the current threat to the nest.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The nest defence by the red‐backed shrikeLanius collurio– support for the vulnerability hypothesis

Strnadová

Němec

Strnad

et al. 2018

Journal of Avian Biology

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“…For example, high levels of neophobia may be favoured by selection in habitats where increased wariness is beneficial for survival and reproduction, for example in predator-rich environments (Ferrari, McCormick, Meekan, & Chivers, 2015). However, elevated neophobia may also carry potential costs if increased fear inhibits innovation (Benson-Amram and Holekamp, 2012, Greenberg, 2003), or limits defences, for instance, against nest predators (Vrublevska et al., 2015). These costs and benefits of risk taking are likely to vary over time and contexts in a way that could alter the expression of neophobia.…”

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confidence: 99%

Seasonal changes in neophobia and its consistency in rooks: the effect of novelty type and dominance position

et al. 2016

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Neophobia, or the fear of novelty, may offer benefits to animals by limiting their exposure to unknown danger, but can also impose costs by preventing the exploration of potential resources. The costs and benefits of neophobia may vary throughout the year if predation pressure, resource distribution or conspecific competition changes seasonally. Despite such variation, neophobia levels are often assumed to be temporally and individually stable. Whether or not neophobia expression changes seasonally and fluctuates equally for all individuals is crucial to understanding the drivers, consequences and plasticity of novelty avoidance. We investigated seasonal differences and individual consistency in the motivation and novelty responses of a captive group of rooks, Corvus frugilegus, a seasonally breeding, colonial species of corvid that is known for being neophobic. We tested the group around novel objects and novel people to determine whether responses generalized across novelty types, and considered whether differences in dominance could influence the social risk of approaching unknown stimuli. We found that the group's level of object neophobia was stable year-round, but individuals were not consistent between seasons, despite being consistent within seasons. In contrast, the group's avoidance of novel people decreased during the breeding season, and individuals were consistent year-round. Additionally, although subordinate birds were more likely to challenge dominants during the breeding season, this social risk taking did not translate to greater novelty approach. Since seasonal variation and individual consistency varied differently towards each novelty type, responses towards novel objects and people seem to be governed by different mechanisms. Such a degree of fluctuation has consequences for other individually consistent behaviours often measured within the nonhuman personality literature.

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“…If these birds are more “nervous,” they might be less likely to feed if there is any perceived risk/activity near the nest and thus more likely to suffer brood reduction. Other studies on great tits have shown that more risk‐averse (shy) birds take longer to resume parental activities in the presence of a novel object (Cole & Quinn, ) than proactive individuals and such birds also have higher rates of nest failures (Vrublevska et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In line with this assumption, a meta‐analysis on vertebrates indicated that boldness, activity and/or aggressiveness are positively related to food intake rates, productivity and other life‐history traits in a wide range of taxa (Biro & Stamps, ). However, previous studies on great tits have reported negative (Both, Dingemanse, Drent, & Tinbergen, ), positive (Vrublevska et al, ) or no association (Hollander et al, ) of exploratory behaviour with fledging success. The relationship between reproduction and behavioural strategies can vary intra‐specifically because (a) different behavioural phenotypes may prioritize different fitness components, or (b) benefits and costs of different strategies vary in different contexts and environments (Adriaenssens & Johnsson, ; Nicolaus, Tinbergen, Ubels, Both, & Dingemanse, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Hissing females of great tits (Parus major) have lower breeding success than non‐hissing individuals

Tilgar

Koosa

2019

Ethology

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Antipredator strategies vary remarkably between individuals within populations. Parents tend to take greater risks when brood value is increased. Moreover, individuals consistently differ in a whole suite of correlated behaviours that may cause distinctive responses to predators. It is likely that individual differences in antipredator behaviour may co‐vary with proxies for fitness such as reproductive success. We used a 4‐year data from wild great tits (Parus major) to test whether passive and active antipredator strategies (females with no response vs. those giving hissing calls towards a nest predator) during the incubation stage can reflect variation in breeding success. Although clutch size did not depend on hissing behaviour, the number of surviving offspring from eggs and neonates to fledglings was higher for non‐hissing than hissing birds. We conclude that females with distinct antipredator strategies can prioritize different fitness components.

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Personality and density affect nest defence and nest survival in the great tit

Cited by 39 publications

References 82 publications

The nest defence by the red‐backed shrikeLanius collurio– support for the vulnerability hypothesis

The nest defence by the red‐backed shrikeLanius collurio– support for the vulnerability hypothesis

Seasonal changes in neophobia and its consistency in rooks: the effect of novelty type and dominance position

Hissing females of great tits (Parus major) have lower breeding success than non‐hissing individuals

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