Breeding habitat preference and nest success of Red-necked Phalaropes on Niglintgak Island, Northwest Territories

2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (12) ◽  
pp. 1346-1357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bree Walpole ◽  
Erica Nol ◽  
Vicky Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Preference ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Multiple Scales ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Habitat Model ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Summer Storm

Red-necked Phalaropes ( Phalaropus lobatus (L., 1758)) breed throughout arctic and subarctic wetlands. These wetlands provide Red-necked Phalaropes dense graminoid habitat that shelters and conceals nests, and freshwater ponds where phalaropes engage in social interactions and feed on small aquatic invertebrates. We studied breeding habitat preference of Red-necked Phalaropes at multiple scales and determined which, if any, nest-site characteristics influenced hatching success. Red-necked Phalaropes avoided habitat at the meso (home range) scale containing large areas of mud and shrub cover, and selected sites with greater cover of graminoids, aquatic emergents, and open water than that available in the environment. At the micro (nest) scale, phalaropes chose sites dominated by graminoids and water. In 2005, concealed nests experienced higher daily nest survival than exposed nests. In 2006, 40% of nests were destroyed during a summer storm surge and we detected no differences in habitat characteristics between the remaining successful and unsuccessful nests. We suggest that annual differences in the adaptive value of nest-site selection depend on the relative abundance of mammalian and avian predators. A habitat model using data at the meso scale correctly identified phalarope habitat and has the potential to be used broadly across the western Arctic.

scholarly journals Factors affecting nest-site selection of Sabine's Gulls in the eastern Canadian Arctic

2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (9) ◽  
pp. 1240-1245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iain J Stenhouse ◽  
H Grant Gilchrist ◽  
William A Montevecchi
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Invertebrate Prey ◽  
Terrestrial Invertebrate ◽  
Individual Fitness ◽  
Sabine’S Gull ◽  
Selection Of

The selection of breeding habitat is of prime importance for individual fitness. Among birds, natural selection should favour the ability to recognize and select habitat suitable for nesting and rearing chicks. This study compares the characteristics of Sabine's Gull, Xema sabini (Sabine, 1819), nest sites with random points across a coastal tundra environment on Southampton Island, Nunavut, Canada. The availability of terrestrial invertebrate prey was also examined among habitats. Sabine's Gull nests were nonrandomly distributed in relation to vegetation, substrate, and proximity to water. Gulls nested within approximately 1 km of the coastline and selected sites with the greatest proportions of moss and standing water (i.e., they nested close to the edge of small freshwater ponds near shore). However, there were no detectable differences in characteristics between successful and unsuccessful nests within preferred habitat. The dynamics of terrestrial invertebrate prey communities varied between years, but the volume of invertebrates in Sabine's Gull nesting habitat was intermediate between the most productive habitats and the least productive habitats in both years. However, nest-site selection in Sabine's Gulls may also be influenced by the availability of aquatic invertebrates (not examined in this study) and their proximity to the marine coastline, where chicks are taken to be reared.

Breeding habitat and nest‐site selection of Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus in the Annapurna Himalaya Range of Nepal

Ibis ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 162 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tulsi Ram Subedi ◽  
José D. Anadón ◽  
Hem Sagar Baral ◽  
Munir Z. Virani ◽  
Shahrul Anuar Mohd Sah
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Gypaetus Barbatus ◽  
Bearded Vulture ◽  
Selection Of

scholarly journals Nest Site Selection and Nesting Success in Saltmarsh Breeding Sparrows: The Importance of Nest Habitat, Timing, and Study Site Differences

The Condor ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 107 (4) ◽  
pp. 849-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carina Gjerdrum ◽  
Chris S. Elphick ◽  
Margaret Rubega
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nesting Success ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Smooth Cordgrass ◽  
Vegetation Model ◽  
Nest Habitat ◽  
Habitat Differences ◽  
Seaside Sparrow

Abstract We examined nest-site selection and nesting success in Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed (Ammodramus caudacutus) and Seaside Sparrows (A. maritimus), at seven sites in Connecticut. We found 160 Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow nests and 23 Seaside Sparrow nests, and compared characteristics of their locations to each other and to random locations. We tracked success of all nests, quantified nest productivity and causes of nest losses, and tested for habitat differences between successful and unsuccessful nests. Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows nested in higher than average locations, where the vegetation was taller and more dense than at random locations, where there was a deep layer of thatch, and where saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens) dominated the vegetation. There was little evidence that habitat characteristics influenced the success of nesting birds, but the timing of nest initiation relative to spring tides was important. Seaside Sparrow nests occurred in even taller vegetation, that was more sparse than average and dominated by the tall form of smooth cordgrass (S. alterniflora). Habitat influenced the success of Seaside Sparrow nests, but timing did not; on average, successful nests occurred in taller vegetation. Model comparisons suggest that vegetation structure influences site selection more than species composition or inherent differences among marshes. Overall, our results indicate that nest flooding is a major threat to successful reproduction in both species, but they have different strategies to avoid flooding. Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows time their reproduction to avoid especially high tides, while Seaside Sparrows avoid flooding spatially by nesting in tall vegetation.

Nesting ecology of flatback sea turtles Natator depressus from Delambre Island, Western Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Thums ◽  
Jason Rossendell ◽  
Rebecca Fisher ◽  
Michael L. Guinea
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Sea Turtle ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Coastal Development ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
Nesting Ecology ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Natator Depressus

Nest site selection is likely to be important for the fitness of sea turtle populations, but data on the environmental drivers of nest site selection and other important parameters like nest site fidelity and inter-nesting and remigration intervals are limited. We address these questions using data on flipper tag resightings and track counts from flatback turtles (Natator depressus) from Delambre Island in Western Australia collected over 2–3 weeks each nesting season across six nesting seasons. The median inter-nesting interval was 13 days (range 9–17 days) and the mean±s.d. remigration interval was 1.99±0.95 years. Turtles had around 10% probability of returning to the same sector of the beach (150-m-long sections). The median distance between subsequent emergences (whether false crawls were included or not) was ~450m. The number of turtles both emerging and successfully nesting was higher when air temperature and humidity were lowest and emergences increased slightly with tide height. Sector of the beach was by far the strongest predictor of nest site, with turtles showing preference for the less exposed side of the island. The results of this study will assist with future monitoring of this population and the management of threats related to coastal development and activities.

scholarly journals Nest-site selection and breeding success of passerines in the world’s southernmost forests

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9892
Author(s):  
Rocío Fernanda Jara ◽  
Ramiro Daniel Crego ◽  
Michael David Samuel ◽  
Ricardo Rozzi ◽  
Jaime Enrique Jiménez
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Survival ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Ecological Trap ◽  
Additional Hypothesis ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Risk Of Predation

Background Birds can maximize their reproductive success through careful selection of nest-sites. The ‘total-foliage’ hypothesis predicts that nests concealed in vegetation should have higher survival. We propose an additional hypothesis, the ‘predator proximity’ hypothesis, which states that nests placed farther from predators would have higher survival. We examined these hypotheses in the world’s southernmost forests of Navarino Island, in the Cape Horn Biosphere reserve, Chile (55°S). This island has been free of mammalian ground predators until recently, and forest passerines have been subject to depredation only by diurnal and nocturnal raptors. Methods During three breeding seasons (2014–2017), we monitored 104 nests for the five most abundant open-cup forest-dwelling passerines (Elaenia albiceps, Zonotrichia capensis, Phrygilus patagonicus, Turdus falcklandii, and Anairetes parulus). We identified nest predators using camera traps and assessed whether habitat characteristics affected nest-site selection and survival. Results Nest predation was the main cause of nest failure (71% of failed nests). Milvago chimango was the most common predator, depredating 13 (87%) of the 15 nests where we could identify a predator. By contrast, the recently introduced mammal Neovison vison, the only ground predator, depredated one nest (7%). Species selected nest-sites with more understory cover and taller understory, which according to the total-foliage hypothesis would provide more concealment against both avian and mammal predators. However, these variables negatively influenced nest survival. The apparent disconnect between selecting nest-sites to avoid predation and the actual risk of predation could be due to recent changes in the predator assemblage driven by an increased abundance of native M. chimango associated with urban development, and/or the introduction of exotic mammalian ground predators to this island. These predator assemblage changes could have resulted in an ecological trap. Further research will be needed to assess hypotheses that could explain this mismatch between nest-site selection and nest survival.

scholarly journals The importance of scale-dependent ravine characteristics on breeding-site selection by the Burrowing Parrot, Cyanoliseus patagonus

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myriam Ramirez-Herranz ◽  
Rodrigo S. Rios ◽  
Renzo Vargas-Rodriguez ◽  
Jose-Enrique Novoa-Jerez ◽  
Francisco A. Squeo
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Patch Selection ◽  
Nest Selection ◽  
Nesting Sites

In birds, the environmental variables and intrinsic characteristics of the nest have important fitness consequences through its influence on the selection of nesting sites. However, the extent to which these variables interact with variables that operate at the landscape scale, and whether there is a hierarchy among the different scales that influences nest-site selection, is unknown. This interaction could be crucial in burrowing birds, which depend heavily on the availability of suitable nesting locations. One representative of this group is the burrowing parrot, Cyanoliseus patagonus that breeds on specific ravines and forms large breeding colonies. At a particular site, breeding aggregations require the concentration of adequate environmental elements for cavity nesting, which are provided by within ravine characteristics. Therefore, intrinsic ravine characteristics should be more important in determining nest site selection compared to landscape level characteristics. Here, we assess this hypothesis by comparing the importance of ravine characteristics operating at different scales on nest-site selection and their interrelation with reproductive success. We quantified 12 characteristics of 105 ravines in their reproductive habitat. For each ravine we quantified morphological variables, distance to resources and disturbance as well as nest number and egg production in order to compare selected and non-selected ravines and determine the interrelationship among variables in explaining ravine differences. In addition, the number of nests and egg production for each reproductive ravine was related to ravine characteristics to assess their relation to reproductive success. We found significant differences between non-reproductive and reproductive ravines in both intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics. The multidimensional environmental gradient of variation between ravines, however, shows that differences are mainly related to intrinsic morphological characteristics followed by extrinsic variables associated to human disturbance. Likewise, within reproductive ravines, intrinsic characteristics are more strongly related to the number of nests. The probability of producing eggs, however, was related only to distance to roads and human settlements. Patterns suggest that C. patagonus mainly selects nesting sites based on intrinsic morphological characteristics of ravines. Scale differences in the importance of ravine characteristics could be a consequence of the particular orography of the breeding habitat. The arrangement of resources is associated to the location of the gullies rather than to individual ravines, determining the spatial availability and disposition of resources and disturbances. Thus, nest selection is influenced by intrinsic characteristics that maximize the fitness of individuals. Scaling in nest-selection is discussed under an optimality approach that partitions patch selection based on foraging theory.

Nests built on power lines: Nest-site selection by long-tailed broadbills (Psarisomus dalhousiae) in Nonggang of Guangxi, China

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 63-69
Author(s):  
Bo Zhou ◽  
Changzhang Feng ◽  
Wei Liang
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Power Lines ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
Survival And Development ◽  
Selection Of

The quality of breeding habitat may directly affect the survival and development of progeny. Therefore, the selection of a suitable nest-site is an important factor affecting the reproductive success of birds. The most important reason for a bird’s reproductive failure is nest predation. Predation may cause birds to change their nest-sites and even nest morphology. Here we investigated the nest-site characteristics by long-tailed broadbills ( Psarisomus dalhousiae) in Nonggang, Guangxi, southwestern China. Our results showed that long-tailed broadbills in Nonggang mainly build their nests on power lines (88.5%) and nest-site selection was mainly affected by predation pressure and food resources. At the same time, nest-site concealment was trade-off against predator avoidance. This anti-predator strategy effectively utilizes human infrastructure.

scholarly journals Changes in the Habitat Preference of Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon) during a Period of Rapid Population Increase

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2626
Author(s):  
Liming Ma ◽  
Xinhai Li ◽  
Tianqing Zhai ◽  
Yazu Zhang ◽  
Kai Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Preference ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Quadratic Term ◽  
Rice Paddies ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Nipponia Nippon ◽  
Crested Ibis

The number of breeding pairs of crested ibis (Nipponia nippon) in Hanzhong, China has recovered remarkably from 2 to 511 from 1981 to 2019. Although the crested ibis has been closely monitored, the habitat preference of the bird has not been well studied despite the extensive increase in abundance. We used nest site data from the past 39 years and 30 environmental variables to develop species distribution models for each year. We applied random forest to select important environmental variables, and used logistic regressions to quantify the changes in habitat preferences in 39 years, taking into account the effects of interaction and quadratic terms. We found that six variables had strong impacts on nest site selection. The interaction term of rice paddies and waterbodies, and the quadratic term of precipitation of the wettest quarter of the year were the most important correlates of nest presence. Human impact at nest sites changed from low to high as birds increased their use of ancestral habitats with abundant rice paddies. We concluded that during the population recovery, the crested ibises retained their dependence on wetlands, yet moved from remote areas to populated rural regions where food resources had recovered due to the ban of pesticide use.

scholarly journals Female Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes (Heterodon platirhinos) choose nest sites that produce offspring with phenotypes likely to improve fitness

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (10) ◽  
pp. 1215-1220 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.A. Peet-Paré ◽  
G. Blouin-Demers
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
First Year ◽  
Temperature Profiles ◽  
Offspring Fitness ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Random Site ◽  
Second Year

Nest-site selection is an important behaviour in oviparous reptiles because incubation conditions affect offspring phenotype, with favourable conditions leading to higher offspring fitness. We aimed to identify the habitat characteristics involved in nest-site selection in Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes ( Heterodon platirhinos Latreille, 1801) and to determine whether females select nest sites that result in offspring with phenotypes likely to improve fitness. We compared the habitat characteristics and temperature profiles of 21 nests with 21 randomly selected sites. Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes selected open, grassy sites with less herbs and shrubs than random sites, and nests were significantly warmer than random sites during the 2 years of the study. In the second year of the study, we incubated 215 eggs from eight nests in a split-clutch design at mean nest (24 °C) and random site (22 °C) temperatures approximating those of the first year of the study. Eggs incubated at 24 °C resulted in neonates that hatched earlier, had fewer scale anomalies, were larger, and swam faster than neonates from eggs incubated at 22 °C. Our results indicate that Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes select nest sites that lead to offspring with phenotypes likely to improve fitness.

scholarly journals Breeding habitat and nest‐site selection by an obligatory “nest‐cleptoparasite”, the Amur Falcon Falco amurensis

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (24) ◽  
pp. 14430-14441
Author(s):  
Martin Frommhold ◽  
Arend Heim ◽  
Mikhail Barabanov ◽  
Franziska Maier ◽  
Ralf‐Udo Mühle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Breeding Habitat
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