Nest orientation and hatching success in the tree pipit <i>Anthus trivialis</i>

Burton, Niall H. K.

doi:10.1111/j.2006.0908-8857.03822.x

Cited by 73 publications

(65 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…c. 3.5% of hatching weight) than control females at the end of incubation, these birds appeared to have higher rates of daily weight loss late in incubation. This result suggests that eiders are capable of adaptively slowing rate of weight loss during incubation, potentially by increased water intake (Gabrielsen et al 1991) and recess frequency (Bottitta 2001), or by modifying sleep patterns (Criscuolo et al 2001). Second, it is unclear whether higher thermoregulatory costs in open nests exist in the Wrst place.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Habitat-specific clutch size and cost of incubation in eiders reconsidered

Öst¹,

Wickman

Matulionis³

et al. 2008

Oecologia

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The energetic incubation constraint hypothesis (EICH) for clutch size states that birds breeding in poor habitat may free up resources for future reproduction by laying a smaller clutch. The eider (Somateria mollissima) is considered a candidate for supporting this hypothesis. Clutch size is smaller in exposed nests, presumably because of faster heat loss and higher incubation cost, and, hence, smaller optimal clutch size. However, an alternative explanation is partial predation: the first egg(s) are left unattended and vulnerable to predation, which may disproportionately affect exposed nests, so clutch size may be underestimated. We experimentally investigated whether predation on first-laid eggs in eiders depends on nest cover. We then re-evaluated how nesting habitat affects clutch size and incubation costs based on long-term data, accounting for confounding effects between habitat and individual quality. We also experimentally assessed adult survival costs of nesting in sheltered nests. The risk of egg predation in experimental nests decreased with cover. Confounding between individual and habitat quality is unlikely, as clutch size was also smaller in open nests within individuals, and early and late breeders had similar nest cover characteristics. A trade-off between clutch and female safety may explain nest cover variation, as the risk of female capture by us, mimicking predation on adults, increased with nest cover. Nest habitat had no effect on female hatching weight or weight loss, while lower temperature during incubation had an unanticipated positive relationship with hatching weight. There were no indications of elevated costs of incubating larger clutches, while clutch size and colony size were positively correlated, a pattern not predicted by the 'energetic incubation constraint' hypothesis. Differential partial clutch predation thus offers the more parsimonious explanation for clutch size variation among habitats in eiders, highlighting the need for caution when analysing fecundity and associated life-history parameters when habitat-specific rates of clutch predation occur.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Habitat-specific clutch size and cost of incubation in eiders reconsidered

Öst¹,

Wickman

Matulionis³

et al. 2008

Oecologia

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“…Nest orientation within a species may vary through the breeding season (i.e., nests built later in the season may be oriented differently), presumably optimizing nest microclimates by tracking shifting weather patterns (Burton 2006;Finch 1983;Ricklefs and Hainsworth 1969). Recently, nest orientation has also been shown to vary intraspecifically, in a predictable manner, with latitude (Burton 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Therefore, I tested uniformity of direction around 360°using three separate tests. Raleigh's test (Z;Batschelet 1981;Zar 1999) and Watson's test (U 2 ;Batschelet 1981;Zar 1999) are frequently used statistics for analyzing patterns of nest orientation (Ardia et al 2006;Burton 2006;Rafael 1985). Both of these tests, however, were designed to test unimodal patterns, whereas Rao's test (U;Batschelet 1981;Rao 1976) performs much better with polymodal distributions (Bergin 1991).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…While some studies reveal little or no pattern of nest orientation (e.g., Albano 1992;Rendell and Robertson 1994;Tarvin and Smith 1995), many groups, representing a variety of nest architectures, do show strong preferences in the orientation of their nests (Austin 1974;Balgooyen 1990;Bergin 1991;Hooge et al 1999; Martin and Roper 1988;Mezquida 2004;Nores and Nores 1994;Walsberg 1981). Typically, nest orientation has been found to be correlated with either prevailing winds (Facemire et al 1990;Mezquida 2004;Norment 1993) or sun exposure (Burton 2006;Hartman and Oring 2003;With and Webb 1993;Yanes et al 1996), both of which may have a direct effect on the microclimate of the nest (Ardia et al 2006;Hartman and Oring 2003). Thus, nest orientation and placement are important aspects of avian reproduction and may affect embryonic development, hatching success, and nestling growth (Austin 1974;Burton 2006;Cook et al 2003;Lloyd and Martin 2004;Viñuela and Sunyer 1992), the energetics of attending adults (Vleck 1981;White and Kinney 1974), and overall nesting success (Filliater et al 1994;Martin and Roper 1988;Rauter et al 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

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Nest orientation of the Spotted Barbtail, Premnoplex brunnescens, is strongly correlated with stream flow

Greeney

2008

J Ethol

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The placement and orientation of bird nests may strongly influence reproductive success. For many species, nest orientation is related to the cardinal directions and has to do with prevailing winds or solar exposure. Nest orientation differs among species in different environments, variously cooling or warming nests to maintain a nest microclimate optimal for successful development of eggs and young. The Spotted Barbtail (Premnoplex brunnescens) builds mossy, enclosed nests along shaded streams in Neotropical cloud forests. It shows a unique pattern of nest orientation, whereby nests are oriented in relation to the direction of water flowing below the nest entrance, rather than compass bearing. Nests face in one of three directions in relation to the stream: downstream, upstream, or perpendicular to the flow of the water. I discuss the ability of various hypotheses to explain this pattern in the context of factors affecting nest orientation in other species. While the reasons for this pattern of orientation remain unclear, orientation is likely driven by the need to create and maintain an optimal internal nest microclimate.

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“…By selecting nest orientations that optimize nest microclimate, species in cooler environments maximize the suns warming potential during the early morning cold temperatures. For example, tree pipits (Anthus trivialis) orient their nests to maximize thermal conditions that promote hatching success (Burton 2006). Ardia et al (2006) found that tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor, hereafter swallows) also orient their nest according to more favorable temperature conditions.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%