Green Plant Material in Avian Nests

Dubiec, Anna; Góźdź, Iga; Mazgajski, Tomasz D.

doi:10.3184/175815513x13615363233558

Cited by 70 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 78 publications

(200 reference statements)

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“…To this end, several species of hole-nesting passerines such as European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) and both blue tits and great tits incorporate aromatic plant materials into their nests. Their inclusion is noteworthy because they constitute only a small fraction of the plants available as nesting materials within the wider environment, and yet they are highly sought after because they contain a high abundance of volatile secondary metabolites that reduce the abundance of a range of nest-dwelling parasites (Belandrin et al, 1985;Dubiec et al, 2013). Accordingly, there is evidence that birds mitigate the effects of parasites by choosing nest sites containing few parasites (Mappes et al, 1994;Rendell and Verbeek, 1996;Mazgajski, 2007;Suárez-Rodríguez et al, 2013) and by incorporating aromatic plant materials into their nests to reduce either the abundance or virulence of parasites (Wimberger, 1984;Clark and Mason, 1985, 1988Clark, 1991;Shutler and Campbell, 2007).…”

Section: Parasite Avoidancementioning

confidence: 99%

Causes and Consequences of Intraspecific Variation in Nesting Behaviors: Insights from Blue Tits and Great Tits

Mainwaring

2017

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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Nest building is an important and yet under-studied stage of the reproductive cycle in many taxa, including birds, and whilst we have a decent understanding of interspecific variation in avian nesting behaviors, our understanding of intraspecific variation in nesting behaviors is much less developed. This is largely because an insufficient number of studies have been performed on any one species to draw robust conclusions. Fortunately, though, the amount of research on the nesting behaviors of nestbox-breeding blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) and great tits (Parus major) has increased dramatically in recent years and their nesting behaviors are now sufficiently well-studied to offer useful insights into intraspecific variation in avian nesting behaviors. Studies show that individuals of both species select nest sites based on the presence and/or absence of conspecifics and heterospecifics and whilst neighbors were assumed to adversely affect focal individuals by competing for resources, they are now considered beneficial as they provide information about habitat quality and contribute to anti-predator defenses. Nest-building females accurately gauge local weather conditions and respond to predictable variation in environmental conditions by building nests with variable amounts of cup lining material to create suitable nest microclimates for nestlings. Meanwhile, both species vary the amount of aromatic plant materials in their nests in relation to the abundance of nest-dwelling parasites and pathogens and as aromatic plant materials also play a role in sexual selection then nest materials can have multiple functions. The height of nests is negatively correlated with the local risk of predation but whilst predator avoidance favors lower nests, sexual selection favors taller nests. In fact, higher quality females build taller nests that contain more green plant material which in turn influences the amount of care provided by males. This suggests there is considerable intraspecific variation in nesting behaviors in blue and great tits, and in birds generally, and highlights that birds are adept at adaptively varying their nesting behaviors in response to multiple factors. There is, however, a paucity of evidence directly linking such variation in nest building behaviors to reproductive success or fitness more broadly and so further studies could usefully examine such links because trade-offs between competing selection pressures may constrain adaptive nesting behaviors.

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Section: Parasite Avoidancementioning

confidence: 99%

Causes and Consequences of Intraspecific Variation in Nesting Behaviors: Insights from Blue Tits and Great Tits

Mainwaring

2017

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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“…El pH ácido produce una drástica reducción de la supervivencia de los microorganismos; por lo tanto, el uso de Chusquea spp. podría evitar la proliferación de patógenos (Dubiec et al 2013). De esa forma, el uso de hojas de las especies del género Chusquea en los nidos podría inhibir la proliferación de patógenos, aunque también podría aportar en la termorregulación interna, reducción de la depredación (aportando volumen al nido; Hansell 2000) e, incluso, podría jugar un rol en la selección sexual (Mainwaring et al 2014).…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

“…Las hojas son consideradas materiales semi-aislantes, pero estas mantienen su propiedad aun cuando se encuentran mojadas (Reid et al 2002). Por otra parte, algunos materiales verdes (e.g., hojas, zarcillas de trepadoras, briófitas) pueden contener compuestos secundarios volátiles y un pH que evita la proliferación de patógenos (Clark y Mason 1985, Dubiec et al 2013. A pesar del importante rol que podrían cumplir los distintos materiales utilizados en la construcción de nidos por especies nidificadoras de cavidades, el conocimiento detallado sobre la composición de estos es principalmente anecdótico (exceptuando Liljesthröm et al 2009).…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Composición y preferencia de materiales en nidos de vertebrados nidificadores de cavidades en el bosque templado andino de Chile

et al. 2016

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SUMMARYThe composition and quality of nesting materials may influence the breeding success of cavity-nesting vertebrates, providing protection and optimal temperature to eggs and chicks. Between 2010 and 2013, we studied the composition and preferences regarding nest materials used by cavity-nesters in Andean temperate forests, southern Chile. We deployed 240 nest-boxes, obtaining data for 290 nests for three bird species (Aphrastura spinicauda, Troglodytes aedon and Tachycineta meyeni) and four mammals (Dromiciops gliroides, Rattus rattus, Oligoryzomys longicaudatus and Irenomys tarsalis). Aphrastura spinicauda (n = 170) and D. gliroides (n = 91) comprised 90 % of the nests. A. spinicauda nests were composed mainly of vine tendrils (44.2 %) and branches of trees and shrubs (25.7 %). Dromiciops gliroides used mostly leaves of trees and shrubs (72.9 %), and bryophytes (20.2 %). The predominant and preferred leaf in the nests of both species was from bamboo Chusquea species. Aphrastura spinicauda avoided the leaves of Lophozonia obliqua, whereas D. gliroides avoided vines. These results suggest a previously unknown role of Chusquea spp. in the breeding ecology of cavity-nesting forest vertebrates. The thick matted nests and the acidic pH of the Chusquea spp. leaves may provide protection from predators and have a biocidal effect on pathogens. Chusquea spp. may have an important influence on the breeding success of cavity-nesters, although the benefits of using this nest material need to be confirmed.

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“…greater than 10 m from water body or above water), and the timing and geographical location of breeding. The use of greenery in the nest was categorized following the description in [16], which designates greenery as non-constituent fresh green plant material added following nest construction. We also used historical records (from 2000 to 2012) for each location using World Weather Online (http://www.worldweatheronline.…”

Section: (B) Environmental Variables and Nesting Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Numerous defence mechanisms have evolved in response to the severe fitness costs imposed by microbial infection. Some of those include parental behaviours that may sanitize the nesting environment, like preventing the accumulation of water in the nest [13,14], the inoculation of eggs and nesting materials with antimicrobial components from uropygial waxes [15] or the use of fresh plants containing aromatic compounds as nest liners [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The evolution of eggshell cuticle in relation to nesting ecology

et al. 2016

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Avian eggs are at risk of microbial infection prior to and during incubation. A large number of defence mechanisms have evolved in response to the severe costs imposed by these infections. The eggshell's cuticle is an important component of antimicrobial defence, and its role in preventing contamination by microorganisms in domestic chickens is well known. Nanometer-scale cuticular spheres that reduce microbial attachment and penetration have recently been identified on eggs of several wild avian species. However, whether these spheres have evolved specifically for antimicrobial defence is unknown. Here, we use comparative data on eggshell cuticular structure and nesting ecology to test the hypothesis that birds nesting in habitats with higher risk of infection (e.g. wetter and warmer) are more likely to evolve cuticular nanospheres on their eggshells than those nesting in less risky habitats. We found that nanostructuring, present in 54 of 296 analysed species, is the ancestral condition of avian eggshells and has been retained more often in taxa that nest in humid infection-prone environments, suggesting that they serve critical roles in antimicrobial egg defence.

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Green Plant Material in Avian Nests

Cited by 70 publications

References 78 publications

Causes and Consequences of Intraspecific Variation in Nesting Behaviors: Insights from Blue Tits and Great Tits

Causes and Consequences of Intraspecific Variation in Nesting Behaviors: Insights from Blue Tits and Great Tits

Composición y preferencia de materiales en nidos de vertebrados nidificadores de cavidades en el bosque templado andino de Chile

The evolution of eggshell cuticle in relation to nesting ecology

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