Nest-Site Selection and Nest-Building Behavior of Red-Bellied Tree Squirrels on Tomogashima Island, Japan

1991 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Setoguchi
1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 1120-1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Gauthier ◽  
Donald W. Thomas

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.


1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 1163-1169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross D. James

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.


2015 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
André L. Luza ◽  
Eliane R. da Silva ◽  
Daniela M. Failace ◽  
Patrick Colombo

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.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Schaale ◽  
◽  
Joseph Baxley ◽  
Narcisa Pricope ◽  
Raymond M. Danner

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. e01524
Author(s):  
Karim Loucif ◽  
Mohamed Cherif Maazi ◽  
Moussa Houhamdi ◽  
Haroun Chenchouni

The Auk ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 727-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Jones ◽  
Raleigh J. Robertson

Abstract We examined habitat selection by breeding Cerulean Warblers (Dendroica cerulea) at three spatial scales in eastern Ontario over three years (1997–1999). Territories were characterized by well-spaced large trees, with high canopies and dense foliage cover at heights between 12–18 m. Nesting habitat additionally was characterized by dense foliage cover above 18 m. The results of our nest-patch (0.04 ha circle around nest) and nest-site (0.01 ha circle) analyses indicate that male Cerulean Warblers may take active roles in nest-site selection when selecting territories. We conclude from our nest-patch and nest-site selection analyses that territories likely contain multiple nest patches and sites and that male Cerulean Warblers may defend areas with multiple nest patches or sites, which may attract females to settle with them. Whether or not Cerulean Warbler females use nest-site availability as a mate- or territory-choice cue remains unknown. We also tested the validity of a commonly made assumption that a random sampling of habitat by researchers is representative of the habitat actually available to birds and found that, in our study area, the assumption was invalid. Taken together, our results point toward the need to maintain sizeable stands of mature, deciduous forest to ensure the persistence of Cerulean Warblers in eastern Ontario. Population characteristics such as lower minimum area requirements and a resilience to habitat disturbance may make that an easier job in eastern Ontario than elsewhere in this species' breeding range.


2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (9) ◽  
pp. 1240-1245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iain J Stenhouse ◽  
H Grant Gilchrist ◽  
William A Montevecchi

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.


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