Nest-box temperature affects clutch size, incubation initiation, and nestling health in great tits

Bleu, Josefa; Agostini, Simon; Biard, Clotilde

doi:10.1093/beheco/arx039

Cited by 25 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…A third study finds that a treatment that features a sharp increase in temperatures (Schaper et al ) advances lay date. Experiments with nest box warming in great tits find no effect of temperature on lay date (Nager and Vannoordwijk ) but show that birds in warmed nest boxes are less likely to delay incubation onset (Bleu et al ). Studies in blue tits and zebra finches find that females in warmed nest boxes are less likely to skip a day of laying (Yom‐Tov and Wright , Salvante et al ) and advance clutch initiation (Salvante et al ).…”

Section: Part 2 Effects Of Non‐photic Cues On Reproductive Timingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non‐photic environmental cues and avian reproduction in an era of global change

Chmura

Wingfield

Hahn

2020

Journal of Avian Biology

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Ultimate factors such as food availability and weather create optimal windows of time for birds to reproduce. However, within a given year, birds must rely upon proximate environmental information such as photoperiod, food, temperature, social cues and other factors to anticipate when that window will occur and prepare physiologically for breeding. While avian responses to photoperiod are relatively well understood, less is known about how birds use non‐photoperiodic information in reproductive timing decisions – even though understanding how birds use non‐photic cues is an important component of predicting their responses to global change. We review research on the regulation of reproductive physiology and clutch initiation by non‐photic cues within and across avian species. We evaluate hypotheses in the literature about the integration of photoperiodic and non‐photic cues in reproductive timing and about differences in non‐photic cue‐use between the sexes and across species. We show how regulation of reproduction by non‐photic cues may influence species’ responses to climate change and highlight research opportunities moving forward.

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Section: Part 2 Effects Of Non‐photic Cues On Reproductive Timingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non‐photic environmental cues and avian reproduction in an era of global change

Chmura

Wingfield

Hahn

2020

Journal of Avian Biology

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“…Many studies have explored the effects of climate change on avian communities, specifically regarding shifts in reproductive phenology (Brawn 1991;Bradley et al 1999;Dunn and Winkler 1999) and migration phenology (Cotton 2003), and show varying results. Some studies show that bird populations adjust phenology traits in response to local environmental changes (Bleu et al 2017;Clermont et al 2018). Large-scale studies and metaanalyses have shown a general trend in advancement in the breeding phenology of many bird species over time (Dunn and Winkler 1999;Torti and Dunn 2005;Gordo and Sanz 2006;Radchuk et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term phenology of two North American secondary cavity-nesters in response to changing climate conditions

Wysner

Bartlow

Hathcock

et al. 2019

Sci Nat

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Wildlife populations can respond to changes in climate conditions by either adapting or moving to areas with preferred climate regimes. We studied nesting responses of two bird species, western bluebird (Sialia mexicana) and ash-throated flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens), to changing climate conditions (i.e., rising temperatures and increased drought stress) over 21 years in northern New Mexico. We used data from 1649 nests to assess whether the two species responded to changing climate conditions through phenological shifts in breeding time or shifts in nesting elevation. We also examined changes in reproductive output (i.e., clutch size). Our data show that western bluebirds significantly increased nesting elevation over a 19-year period by approximately 5 m per year. Mean spring temperature was the best predictor of western bluebird nesting elevation. Higher nesting elevations were not correlated with hatch dates or clutch sizes in western bluebirds, suggesting that nesting at higher elevations does not affect breeding time or reproductive output. We did not observe significant changes in nesting elevation or breeding dates in ash-throated flycatchers. Nesting higher in elevation may allow western bluebirds to cope with the increased temperatures and droughts. However, this climate niche conservatism may pose a risk for the conservation of the species if climate change and habitat loss continue to occur. The lack of significant changes detected in nesting elevation, breeding dates, and reproductive output in ash-throated flycatchers suggests a higher tolerance for changing environmental conditions in this species. This is consistent with the population increases reported for flycatchers in areas experiencing dramatic climate changes.

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“…; Bleu et al . ). For example, we have recently shown (using the same nest box design as utilized in this study) that the growth rate of Crimson Rosella ( Platycercus elegans ) nestlings was related to natural variation in temperature mean and extremes within the nest box (Larson et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Despite some potential benefits, animals choosing nest boxes could find themselves caught in an ecological trap, due to deleterious microclimate profiles compared to natural hollows (Isaac et al 2008b;Goldingay & Stevens 2009;Maziarz et al 2017;Rowland et al 2017). Even quite small variation in internal nest temperature can have important effects on reproductive performance, behaviour and development in birds (Perez et al 2008;Ardia et al 2010;Bleu et al 2017). For example, we have recently shown (using the same nest box design as utilized in this study) that the growth rate of Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans) nestlings was related to natural variation in ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT & RESTORATION VOL 19 NO 1 JANUARY 2018 temperature mean and extremes within the nest box (Larson et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Surprisingly, little attention has been given to the factors that influence nest box internal temperature (Ellis 2016;Griffiths et al 2017). However, nest box characteristics such as construction material, wall thickness and colour, canopy cover and aspect may contribute to the resulting microclimate found within them (McComb & Noble 1981;Brittingham & Williams 2000;Sedgeley 2001;Gibbons et al 2002;Bull 2003;Goldingay 2015;Griffiths et al 2017), which may in turn determine hollow preference and breeding success (Menkhorst 1984;Kerth et al 2001;Ardia et al 2006;Chausson et al 2014;Bleu et al 2017). Nest boxes are typically poorly insulated and less temperature stable in comparison with natural cavities, due to their thinner walls and often greater surface area-to-volume ratio (Norman & Riggert 1977;McComb & Noble 1981;Wiebe 2001;Isaac et al 2008b;Goldingay & Stevens 2009;Griffiths et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nest box design for a changing climate: The value of improved insulation

Larson¹,

Eastwood²,

Buchanan³

et al. 2018

Eco Management Restoration

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Summary Mean air temperatures and the frequency, intensity and duration of extreme weather events such as heatwaves are increasing due to climate change. Nest boxes experience more variable and extreme temperatures than natural cavities, which may reduce survival and reproductive success of the species which utilize them, but little is known about the factors which drive nest box temperature profiles. We quantified the potential for retrofitted insulation on nest boxes to modify internal temperatures and to mimic the thermal characteristics of natural cavities more closely. We tested three types of materials with insulative or reflective properties which were easy to retrofit to nest boxes: 3‐cm‐thick polystyrene, pleated foil batts and reflective paint. We found that polystyrene and foil batts reduced mean nest box temperatures during the day by 0.31 ± 0.01°C and 0.17 ± 0.01°C, respectively (but up to 5.84°C and 4.02°C). The effects of all insulation types were dependent on the time of day, and only polystyrene had a significant effect at night, with a greater capacity to retain heat (mean 0.21 ± 0.01°C warmer). Contrary to expectations, reflective paint caused a small increase in temperature during the late afternoon. In our study, the temperature modulation provided by insulation was able to match or exceed that due to variation in nest location and surrounding vegetation canopy cover. Our findings show that polystyrene and foil batts may offer effective and tractable means to mitigate the effects of extreme temperatures in nest boxes and thereby help achieve temperature profiles more similar to natural cavities.

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Nest-box temperature affects clutch size, incubation initiation, and nestling health in great tits

Cited by 25 publications

References 54 publications

Non‐photic environmental cues and avian reproduction in an era of global change

Non‐photic environmental cues and avian reproduction in an era of global change

Long-term phenology of two North American secondary cavity-nesters in response to changing climate conditions

Nest box design for a changing climate: The value of improved insulation

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