Polymorphism in the White-throated Sparrow: habitat occupancy and nest-site selection

1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 452-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard W. Knapton ◽  
J. Bruce Falls
Keyword(s):  
Discriminant Function ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Zonotrichia Albicollis ◽  
White Stripe ◽  
Habitat Occupancy ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Tolerant Plants ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Discriminant Function Analyses

We analysed several vegetational variables in four populations of White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) to determine if differences exist between the white-stripe (WS) and tan-stripe (TS) morphs at the level of the macrohabitat (territory) and the microhabitat (nest site). Univariate and discriminant function analyses revealed that trees were farther apart, more light penetrated to the forest floor, and fewer shade-tolerant plants occurred in territories of WS than TS males. There was little difference between females of the morphs in selection of nest sites. The distribution of territories of WS males along the discriminant function axis (macrohabitat analysis) was narrower than that of TS males, and was concentrated toward the "open" habitat end of the axis. The distribution of territories of TS males spanned the length of the axis, from "open" to "dense" habitat. The question why WS male × TS female pairs occupy a relatively narrow range of habitat whereas TS male × WS female pairs occupy a much broader range is discussed.

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.

Settlement patterns and nest-site selection of Cliff Swallows, Hirundo pyrrhonota: males prefer to clump but females settle randomly

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (8) ◽  
pp. 1394-1401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan B. Meek ◽  
Robert M. R. Barclay
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Settlement Patterns ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Arrival Date ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Probability Of Success ◽  
Selection Of

We assessed the settlement pattern of colonial Cliff Swallows (Hirundo pyrrhonota) to examine whether they avoid settling near to each other or prefer to nest in close proximity. Male Cliff Swallows occupied and defended nests before females paired with them, and males settled next to other males significantly more often than expected by chance. In contrast to that of males, female settlement was not significantly different from random: females neither preferred nor avoided settling next to other Cliff Swallows, nor did females select old nests on the basis of nest stability. Neither males nor females chose nests in the same order from year to year, suggesting that quality of old nests was not an important factor affecting settlement patterns. Male arrival date is related to quality in some species, but female Cliff Swallows did not select the earliest arriving males. There was also no correlation between the order in which females chose mates and male traits. All nest sites may have offered females an equal probability of success, leading to random settlement with respect to other females, nests, and males.

scholarly journals Nest site selection of the Great Bustard (Otis t. tarda) in Körös-Maros National Park, Eastern Hungary

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 32-45
Author(s):  
Gizella Janó ◽  
Zsolt Végvári
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
National Park ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Great Bustard ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Crop Types ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract In the present study we aimed to identify factors influencing the spatial distribution of Great Bustard (Otis t. tarda) nests found between 1998 and 2015 in Dévaványa-Ecseg area in Körös-Maros National Park. During the study period covering 17 years, we obtained information on 536 nests, which shows that Great Bustards used the following grassland crop types for breeding: wheat (43.07%), grassland (23.3%), fallow land (14.45%) and alfalfa (7.67%). These nests were found during the following activities: chemical weed control (33.63%), hay-cutting (25.37%), disking (8.55%) and harvesting (7.08%) and other 18 types of activities. To identify the effects of disturbance and environmental factors on the spatial distribution of nests, such as distances to lek sites, roads, settlements and altitude, we formulated generalized linear models. As a result, we found that nest sites were significantly closer to lek sites and farther from human settlements than expected by random sampling. Our results may contribute to the understanding of Great Bustard nest distributions, which can be helpful in nest detection prior to the initiation of disturbing agricultural activities, which is a key issue in the conservation of this bird. This study opens the way to analyse the effects of other environmental factors such as anthropogenic linear objects.

Nest-Site Selection by the Red-Tailed Tropicbird

The Auk ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 953-959 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Clark ◽  
R. E. Ricklefs ◽  
R. W. Schreiber
Keyword(s):  
Discriminant Function ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Function Technique ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
Central Pacific Ocean ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Christmas Island

Abstract Red-tailed Tropicbirds (Phaethon rubricauda) nest under shrubs in loosely associated groups on Christmas Island, Central Pacific Ocean. Aggressive interactions among adults at nest sites are high; yet, large areas of superficially similar habitat contain no tropicbird nests at all. We compared physiognomic features of nest sites with those of two sets of randomly generated "nest sites" by discriminant function analysis. Of those variables measured, the number of stems within a nest space and the amount of peripheral cover influenced the tropicbirds' choice of nest sites. Differences among localities existed. Areas where tropicbirds nested had shrubs with few stems and more peripheral cover. Preferred nest sites were rare in areas other than those in which tropicbirds were nesting already. This study demonstrates the utility of the discriminant function technique in quantifying nest-site selection and nest-site availability when the appropriate null data sets are used.

scholarly journals Reproductive performance and nest-site selection of White-naped Cranes Grus vipio in the Ulz river valley, north-eastern Mongolia

2005 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
UTE BRADTER ◽  
SUNDEV GOMBOBAATAR ◽  
CHULUUNBAATAR UUGANBAYAR ◽  
TRACY E. GRAZIA ◽  
KLAUS-MICHAEL EXO
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Eastern Mongolia

North-eastern Mongolia is an important breeding area for the globally threatened White-naped Crane Grus vipio. We studied reproductive performance and the influence of factors related to livestock grazing on reproduction and nest-site selection of the White-naped Crane population in the Ulz river valley, north-eastern Mongolia in 2000 and 2001. In 2001, 42 territorial pairs were found in 270 km of river basin. Recruitment was 18–22% resulting in 0.5–0.6 juveniles per territorial pair. The years 2000 and 2001 were within a dry period and recruitment might have been below the long-term average. White-naped Crane nests were significantly associated with river basin sections containing shallow water-bodies. The number and extent of shallow water-bodies are likely to be a limiting factor for breeding population size. Nest-sites in water-bodies were selected for high nest concealment, but nests were initiated even when concealing vegetation was not available. Only 26% of nests were >90% concealed suggesting that appropriate cover was often not available. Nest-sites were also selected for low grazing intensity. No correlation was found between hatching or fledging success and nest concealment or grazing intensity. Brood-size of successful pairs was higher if the home range was ungrazed, but further investigations are needed to clarify whether this was caused by absence of livestock grazing or other factors. Both because of internationally important numbers and because of a potentially high reproductive output, the study area is of high importance for the species.

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.

scholarly journals Nest Site Selection of Chinese Grouse Bonasa sewerzowi at Lianhuashan, Gansu, China

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (sp1) ◽  
pp. 68-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue-Hua Sun ◽  
Yun Fang ◽  
Chen-Xi Jia ◽  
Siegfried Klaus ◽  
Jon E. Swenson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Bonasa Sewerzowi ◽  
Chinese Grouse ◽  
Selection Of

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
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