Provision of nestboxes raises the breeding density of Great Tits <i>Parus major</i> equally in coniferous and deciduous woodland

Mänd, Raivo; Leivits, Agu; Leivits, Meelis; Rodenhouse, Nicholas L.

doi:10.1111/j.1474-919x.2009.00929.x

Cited by 39 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 24 publications

(29 reference statements)

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“…R. Soc. B 282: 20141958 where breeding success is generally lower than in nest-boxes [45]. As nest sites are typically a limiting factor for population growth in managed forests over most of Europe [45,46], we speculate that competition for nest sites in areas without nest-boxes is likely to have a similar effect.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Testing for effects of climate change on competitive relationships and coexistence between two bird species

et al. 2015

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Climate change is expected to have profound ecological effects, yet shifts in competitive abilities among species are rarely studied in this context. Blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) and great tits (Parus major) compete for food and roosting sites, yet coexist across much of their range. Climate change might thus change the competitive relationships and coexistence between these two species. Analysing four of the highest-quality, long-term datasets available on these species across Europe, we extend the textbook example of coexistence between competing species to include the dynamic effects of long-term climate variation. Using threshold time-series statistical modelling, we demonstrate that long-term climate variation affects species demography through different influences on density-dependent and density-independent processes. The competitive interaction between blue tits and great tits has shifted in one of the studied sites, creating conditions that alter the relative equilibrium densities between the two species, potentially disrupting longterm coexistence. Our analyses show that long-term climate change can, but does not always, generate local differences in the equilibrium conditions of spatially structured species assemblages. We demonstrate how long-term data can be used to better understand whether (and how), for instance, climate change might change the relationships between coexisting species. However, the studied populations are rather robust against competitive exclusion.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Testing for effects of climate change on competitive relationships and coexistence between two bird species

et al. 2015

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“…The excavation of nest holes by the Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) which appears to be re-colonising Ireland (Coombes 2009) may also increase cavities in such trees in the long term. In the short term, the provision of nest boxes which both Blue Tit and Great Tit are known to readily use (Fuller 1995;Mänd et al 2009), would likely increase the utility of plantations to cavity nesting species.…”

Section: Management To Benefit Bird Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are bird density, species richness and community structure similar between native woodlands and non-native plantations in an area with a generalist bird fauna?

et al. 2010

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This study compared the bird assemblages of native semi-natural woodlands and non-native Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) plantations in Ireland to identify what vegetation variables most influenced birds and to identify management targets in plantations to maximise future bird conservation. Point counts were conducted in 10 Oak (Quercus spp.) and 10 Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) native woodlands and in five Mid-rotation (20-30 years old) and five Mature (30-50 years old) Sitka spruce plantations. Ordination was used to characterise woodland types according to their constituent bird species. Total bird density (calculated using Distance software) and species richness were assessed for the different woodland types. Oak and Ash woodland bird assemblages were separated from Mid-rotation and Mature plantations by the ordination. There was no difference in total bird density between any of the woodland types. Oak woodlands had significantly higher species richness than either Mid-rotation or Mature Sitka spruce plantations. Ash had higher species richness than Mature Sitka spruce plantations. Understorey vegetation was negatively associated with total bird density, which also varied with survey year. Understorey vegetation was positively associated with species richness. Reasons for the relationships between vegetation and bird assemblages are discussed. Management should seek to increase shrub and understorey vegetation in the Mid-rotation phase to improve the contribution of plantations to bird conservation.

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“…As a corollary, it has become clear that ecological restoration efforts are now one of the most common unintentional causes of ecological traps for wild animals (Robertson and Hutto 2007, Mänd et al 2009, Hawlena et al 2010, Severns 2011), many of which are already in population decline. For this reason, habitat management to eliminate ecological traps also has the potential to create new ecological traps for nontarget species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating Targets of Avian Habitat Management to Eliminate an Ecological Trap

Robertson¹

2012

ACE

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Ecological traps are attractive population sinks created when anthropogenic habitat alteration inadvertently creates a mismatch between the attractiveness of a habitat based upon its settlement cues, and its current value for survival or reproduction. Traps represent a new threat to the conservation of native species, yet little attention has been given to developing practical approaches to eliminating them. In the northern Rocky Mountains of Montana, Olive-sided Flycatchers (Contopus cooperi) prefer to settle in patches of selectively harvested forest versus burned forest despite the lower reproductive success and higher nest predation risk associated with the former habitat. I investigated characteristics of preferred perch sites for this species and how these preferences varied between habitats and sexes. I then built on previous research to develop a range of management prescriptions for reducing the attractiveness of selectively harvested forest, thereby disarming the ecological trap. Female flycatchers preferred to forage from shorter perch trees than males, and females’ perches were shorter than other available perch trees. Both sexes preferred standing dead perch trees (snags) and these preferences were most obvious in harvested forest where snags are rarer. Because previous research shows that snag density is linked to habitat preference and spruce/fir trees are preferred nest substrate, my results suggest these two habitat components are focal habitat selection cues. I suggest alternative and complementary strategies for eliminating the ecological trap for Olive-sided Flycatchers including: (1) reduced retention and creation of snags, (2) avoiding selective harvest in spruce, fir, and larch stands, (3) avoiding retention of these tree species, and (4) selecting only even-aged canopy height trees for retention so as to reduce perch availability for female flycatchers. Because these strategies also have potential to negatively impact habitat suitability for other forest species or even create new ecological traps, we urge caution in the application of our management recommendations

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Provision of nestboxes raises the breeding density of Great Tits Parus major equally in coniferous and deciduous woodland

Cited by 39 publications

References 24 publications

Testing for effects of climate change on competitive relationships and coexistence between two bird species

Testing for effects of climate change on competitive relationships and coexistence between two bird species

Are bird density, species richness and community structure similar between native woodlands and non-native plantations in an area with a generalist bird fauna?

Investigating Targets of Avian Habitat Management to Eliminate an Ecological Trap

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