Nest site selection and cost of nest building by Cliff Swallows (Hirundo pyrrhonota)

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 1120-1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Gauthier ◽  
Donald W. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Energy Cost ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Nest Construction ◽  
Time Investment ◽  
Commuting Distances ◽  
Time Required

We studied the amount of energy and time required for the construction of nests by Cliff Swallows (Hirundo pyrrhonota) and examined whether swallows select sites that minimize their energy and time investment. Cliff Swallows build nests that may be detached (sharing no walls with neighbours at the time of initiation), semidetached (sharing one wall), or row nests (sharing two walls). Detached nests weigh 13.9% more than row nests (652.8 vs. 573.1 g, respectively), require 97.2 km more commuting (797.7 vs. 700.5 km), and cost 0.91 kJ/individual more during each day of construction (daily investment 7.49 vs. 6.58 kJ/individual). When building nests, swallows commuted from 50 to 320 m to mud sources and they increased their flight speeds as commuting distances increased. This limited the time required for nest construction while increasing the energy cost. Swallows showed a preference for sites where they could build attached nests and we argue that they act to minimize their time investment.

Pairing and nest site selection in solitary and yellow-throated vireos with a description of a ritualized nest building display

1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 1163-1169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross D. James
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Pair Formation ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Nest Construction ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Building Activity ◽  
Vireo Solitarius

Solitary (Vireo solitarius) and yellow-throated (Vireo flavifrons) vireos were studied in May and June, in Ontario between 1969 and 1975, and in British Columbia in 1976. Most unmated males search for nest sites and begin to build nests prior to the arrival of females in their territories. Upon the female's arrival, the first displays by the male are precopulatory. Displays involving chasing are seldom seen. Nests started by males, and other suitable nest sites serve as display areas during pair formation. The presence of more than one display site indicates that nests started by males are more important in pairing than as sites for final nests. A nest building display occurs most often and vigorously in the early building period when the male is actively assisting in nest construction. The frequency and duration of the display then wanes along with the male's building activity. The nest building display is not part of the precopulatory display, but has become important in pair formation. The males appear to choose the site for a final nest.

scholarly journals Nest site selection and nutritional provision through excreta: a form of parental care in a tropical endogeic earthworm

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel I. Ortiz-Ceballos ◽  
Diana Pérez-Staples ◽  
Paulino Pérez-Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Nest Construction ◽  
Selection Of

Nest construction is a common form of parental care in soil organisms. However, it is unknown whether the tropical earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus selects sites for nest construction when the nutritional quality of the soil is irregular. Here we studied the reproductive behaviour and nest site selection of P. corethrurus. In tridimensional terrariums we evaluated the combined effect of the food quality (soil only = S, soil+grass = G, soil+legume = L) and soil depth (0-9 cm = Shallow, 10-18 cm = Intermediate, 19-27 cm = Deep) in a factorial 32 design. The number and biomass of cocoons, progeny and the production of internal and external excreta were evaluated. The nutritional quality and depth of soil and their interaction had a significant effect on nest site construction and the deposition of internal excreta. P. corethrurus built a higher amount of nests in the S-Intermediate and G-Intermediate treatments while more internal excreta were found in the L-Intermediate treatment. Offspring biomass was positively associated with internal excreta in the S (soil only) and G (soil + grass) treatments. We conclude that P. corethrurus shows parental care when selecting sites for its offspring in the form of nest construction and excreta deposition. Further research is needed on the ecological conditions that favour the evolution of parental care in earthworms according to their ecological category (anecic, endogeic and anecic).

scholarly journals Nest site selection and nutritional provision through excreta: a form of parental care in a tropical endogeic earthworm

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel I. Ortiz-Ceballos ◽  
Diana Pérez-Staples ◽  
Paulino Pérez-Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Nest Construction ◽  
Selection Of

Nest construction is a common form of parental care in soil organisms. However, it is unknown whether the tropical earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus selects sites for nest construction when the nutritional quality of the soil is irregular. Here we studied the reproductive behaviour and nest site selection of P. corethrurus. In tridimensional terrariums we evaluated the combined effect of the food quality (soil only = S, soil+grass = G, soil+legume = L) and soil depth (0-9 cm = Shallow, 10-18 cm = Intermediate, 19-27 cm = Deep) in a factorial 32 design. The number and biomass of cocoons, progeny and the production of internal and external excreta were evaluated. The nutritional quality and depth of soil and their interaction had a significant effect on nest site construction and the deposition of internal excreta. P. corethrurus built a higher amount of nests in the S-Intermediate and G-Intermediate treatments while more internal excreta were found in the L-Intermediate treatment. Offspring biomass was positively associated with internal excreta in the S (soil only) and G (soil + grass) treatments. We conclude that P. corethrurus shows parental care when selecting sites for its offspring in the form of nest construction and excreta deposition. Further research is needed on the ecological conditions that favour the evolution of parental care in earthworms according to their ecological category (anecic, endogeic and anecic).

scholarly journals Nest site selection by Hypsiboas faber(Anura, Hylidae) in Southern Brazil

2015 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
André L. Luza ◽  
Eliane R. da Silva ◽  
Daniela M. Failace ◽  
Patrick Colombo
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Subtropical Climate ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Habitat Factors ◽  
Selection For

ABSTRACT Male gladiator frogs of Hypsiboas Wagler, 1830 build nests on available substrate surrounding ponds and streams where female spawn eggs during the breeding period. Although gladiator frogs seem to show plasticity in the way they construct their nests, there is no study reporting if these species present preferences about microhabitat conditions for nest-building (mainly under subtropical climate). Predation pressure and environmental conditions have been considered major processes shaping the great diversity of reproductive strategies performed by amphibians, but microhabitat conditions should explain where to build a nest as well as how nest looks. This study aimed to test nest site selection for nest-building by Hypsiboas faber(Wied-Neuwied, 1821), determining which factors are related to nest site selection and nest features. The survey was conducted at margins of two permanent ponds in Southern Brazil. Habitat factors were evaluated in 18 plots with nest and 18 plots in the surrounding without nest (control), describing vegetation structure and heterogeneity, and substrate characteristics. Water temperature was measured inside the nest and in its adjacency. Nest features assessed were area, depth and temperature. Habitat characteristics differed between plots with and without nest. Microhabitat selected for nest-building was characterized by great vegetation cover and height, as well as shallower water and lower cover of organic matter in suspension than in plots without nest. Differences between temperature inside nest and in its adjacency were not observed. No relationship between nest features and habitat descriptors was evidenced. Results revealed that Hypsiboas faber does not build nests anywhere. Males seem to prefer more protected habitats, probably avoiding predation, invasion of conspecific males and inclement weather. Lack of differences between temperature inside- and outside-nest suggest that nest do not improve this condition for eggs and tadpole development. Nest architecture was not related to habitat characteristics, which may be determined by other factors, as nest checking by females before amplexus. Nest site selection should increase offspring survival as well the breeding success of Hypsiboas faber.

VIEWING HABITAT THROUGH ANOTHER LENS: BIRD NEST-SITE SELECTION AND PRODUCTIVITY ACROSS A BEACH THERMAL LANDSCAPE

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Schaale ◽  
◽  
Joseph Baxley ◽  
Narcisa Pricope ◽  
Raymond M. Danner
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Bird Nest

scholarly journals Nest site selection and breeding ecology of the Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) in Algeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. e01524
Author(s):  
Karim Loucif ◽  
Mohamed Cherif Maazi ◽  
Moussa Houhamdi ◽  
Haroun Chenchouni
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Breeding Ecology
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