Nest construction in mammals: a review of the patterns of construction and functional roles

Abstract

Nesting behaviour in mammals has been investigated in a wide variety of species but to date there has not been any scholarly review of the incidence and roles of these nests. Not all mammals build nests but, while some large species regularly build nests, nest-building behaviour is more commonly associated with small mammals weighing less than a kilogram. Quantitative data for the amounts of different materials used in a nest are rarely reported but mammal nests are typically constructed from fresh (rather than dead) plant materials. Animal-derived materials seem to be rare in nests, but anthropogenic materials are reported. Few studies have examined the roles these different materials play but more physically robust materials provide support for the structure. Many mammal nests have maternity roles, but a variety of other roles were recognized. A wide range of mammalian orders use nests for resting and environmental protection. Less common roles were as sites for torpor or hibernation, or as a refuge from predation, or the materials may have anti-parasite properties. These different roles were often not mutually exclusive. It is hoped that this review will stimulate interest in the functional properties of mammalian nests. It also suggests various themes that would be interesting areas for future research. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach’.

The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach

“…Meanwhile, nest building is widespread in mammals [31][32][33]. However, Deeming [34] reviews those studies that have examined nest building in mammals and reports that many mammals use nests for maternity roles, but in many species there are a wide range of other roles, including resting, environmental protection and as hibernacula, which are not seen in birds. Very few of those studies provided insights into the determinants of variation in the array of nest building materials used, particularly when compared to the better-studied birds.…”

“…Very few of those studies provided insights into the determinants of variation in the array of nest building materials used, particularly when compared to the better-studied birds. Consequently, more studies are needed to increase our understanding of the function of mammal nests [ 34 ].…”

Nest Design and Breeding Success: Replicability of Methodologies and Research Findings in Avian Model Species

“…Eggs and offspring of many taxa regularly develop in constructions, like nests, containers, burrows, or holes [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Animal constructions are amongst the first examples mentioned in discussions about extended phenotypes or 'niche construction', which also implies that nest design should have important fitness-associated implications [3,5,11,12].…”

Nest Design and Breeding Success: Replicability of Methodologies and Research Findings in Secondary Hole Nesting Passerines

“…Eggs and offspring of many animal taxa regularly develop in constructions like nests, containers, burrows, or holes [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Animal constructions are amongst the first examples mentioned in discussions about extended phenotypes or 'niche construction', which also implies that nest design should have important fitness-associated implications [3,5,11,12].…”