The Effects of Experimental Reservoir Creation on the Bioaccumulation of Methylmercury and Reproductive Success of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor)†

2001 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 1329-1338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline M. Gerrard ◽  
Vincent L. St. Louis
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Tachycineta Bicolor ◽  
Tree Swallows

Influence of intraclutch egg-mass variation and hatching asynchrony on relative offspring performance within broods of an altricial bird

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (12) ◽  
pp. 1721-1726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre-Paul Bitton ◽  
Russell D. Dawson ◽  
Erin L. O’Brien
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Tachycineta Bicolor ◽  
Hatching Asynchrony ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Passerine Birds ◽  
Tree Swallows ◽  
Mass Variation ◽  
Offspring Performance ◽  
Asynchronous Hatching ◽  
Rates Of Growth

Rates of growth and size of nestlings at fledging have important consequences for future survival and reproductive success in many passerine birds. Within broods of altricial species, these characteristics are often influenced by size hierarchies established early in the nesting period due to hatching asynchrony and within-clutch variation in egg mass, but the concurrent effect of these factors is poorly understood. We investigated the relative influence of these variables on nestling performance within broods of tree swallows, Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot, 1808). Nestlings that hatched earlier within nests were heavier and larger than their later-hatched siblings at 4 days of age. Similarly, earlier-hatched nestlings grew their ninth primary flight feathers faster and had longer ninth primaries just prior to fledging than did later-hatched siblings. Differences in egg mass of siblings also contributed to mass and size hierarchies at 4 days of age, but did not affect any other difference in sibling performance. We conclude that within-clutch variation in performance of offspring is determined primarily by size hierarchies resulting from asynchronous hatching. Intraclutch egg-mass variation appears to have little effect on performance of siblings and may be best explained by proximate constraints on females.

scholarly journals Experimentally altered plumage brightness of female Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) influences nest site retention and reproductive success

2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (6) ◽  
pp. 600-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisha L. Berzins ◽  
Russell D. Dawson
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Tachycineta Bicolor ◽  
Tree Swallows ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Female Tree ◽  
Ornamental Traits

That ornamental traits of females can act as signals of quality has gained empirical support, but whether and how such ornaments of females mediate social interactions with conspecifics remains less clear. Female Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot, 1808)) aggressively compete for and defend nest sites, and as such, nest site intrusions by conspecific females challenging ownership of a nest may prevent territory-owning females from dishonestly displaying ornamented plumage. We tested whether plumage brightness of female Tree Swallows influences nest site retention and reproductive success by experimentally enhancing or reducing their plumage brightness relative to controls prior to breeding. Females with reduced brightness were more likely to retain their nests sites and breed relative to control females and females with experimentally enhanced brightness. Females displaying enhanced brightness also tended to initiate clutches later than females with control and reduced brightness. Overall, lower nest site retention and reproductive success for females with enhanced brightness is consistent with social costs imposed on individuals dishonestly signalling high quality. Future studies in female birds should consider whether costs of losing a nest site to intruding conspecific females, especially in species where nest sites are limited, is a mechanism that maintains the honesty of signals of quality.

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nest success and nestling growth near oil sands mining operations in northeastern Alberta, Canada

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (6) ◽  
pp. 547-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine M. Godwin ◽  
Robert M.R. Barclay ◽  
Judit E.G. Smits
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Industrial Development ◽  
Nest Success ◽  
Tachycineta Bicolor ◽  
Tree Swallows ◽  
Reference Sites ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Contaminant Exposure ◽  
Nestling Growth

Industrial development and contaminant exposure may affect reproductive success and food quality for birds. Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot, 1808)) nesting near oil sands development in northern Alberta (Canada) potentially experience elevated environmental stressors that could influence reproduction. We measured reproductive and growth endpoints in Tree Swallows, predicting reduced reproductive success and nestling growth near oil sands operations compared with reference sites. We also identified the invertebrate prey in the stomach contents of nestlings to understand variability in the diet and its potential effect on growth and survival of nestlings. From 2012 to 2015, clutch initiation varied among years but was not influenced by proximity to oil sands operations. Hatching and fledging success decreased in response to increased precipitation, regardless of location. Measurements of nestling growth reflected the variation associated with nestling sex and possibly asynchronous hatching. The composition of the nestling diet was significantly different; birds near oil sands development consumed Odonata, whereas birds at reference sites consumed Ephemeroptera. Nestlings from all sites consumed relatively high quantities of terrestrial insects. Our results demonstrate that factors such as weather conditions, diet, hatching order, and nestling sex are important when interpreting the potential effects of oil sands development on nest success and nestling growth.

Reproductive success and contaminant associations in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) used to assess a Beneficial Use Impairment in U.S. and Binational Great Lakes’ Areas of Concern

Ecotoxicology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 457-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine M. Custer ◽  
Thomas W. Custer ◽  
Matthew A. Etterson ◽  
Paul M. Dummer ◽  
Diana Goldberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Great Lakes ◽  
Tachycineta Bicolor ◽  
Tree Swallows ◽  
Beneficial Use ◽  
Areas Of Concern

REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS AND CONTAMINANTS IN TREE SWALLOWS (TACHYCINETA BICOLOR) BREEDING AT A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

2005 ◽  
Vol 24 (12) ◽  
pp. 3106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patti L. Dods ◽  
Erinn M. Birmingham ◽  
Tony D. Williams ◽  
Michael G. Ikonomou ◽  
Donald T. Bennie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Tachycineta Bicolor ◽  
Tree Swallows

Tree swallow diet in relation to wetland acidity

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (10) ◽  
pp. 2629-2637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Blancher ◽  
Donald K. McNicol
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Major Change ◽  
Tachycineta Bicolor ◽  
Tree Swallow ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Tree Swallows ◽  
Nestling Diet ◽  
Aquatic Food ◽  
Emerging Insects

We examined 12 825 prey of tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) northeast of Sudbury, Ontario, to observe the importance of aquatic food and the influence of wetland pH on swallow diet during the breeding season. Items of aquatic origin constituted most of the biomass in diets of both nestlings and adults. Molluscs and Ephemeroptera (mayflies), whose distributions in the study wetlands were strongly influenced by pH, were eaten by swallows, particularly nestlings. The major change in nestling diet in relation to wetland acidity was a decrease in mayflies and a corresponding increase in aquatic Diptera at wetlands of lower pH. The number of aquatic taxa eaten by nestlings was lowest at acidic wetlands. The total biomass of emerging insects captured at acidic wetlands was not lower than at wetlands of higher pH, and in fact tended to be greater. The rate at which swallows fed their young and the amount of food fed to nestlings were not related to wetland pH or other wetland characteristics. Nevertheless, the reduced availability of calcium-rich foods at acidic wetlands and the change in types of food available may play a role in the reduced reproductive success of swallows at acidic wetlands.

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