The impact of soil texture on the selection of nesting sites by the Malachite Kingfisher (Alcedinidae: <i>Alcedo cristata</i> Pallas 1764)

Kafutshi, Robert Kisasa; Komanda, Jules Aloni

doi:10.2989/00306525.2011.616696

Cited by 7 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The Malachite kingfishers studied by Kafutshi and Komanda (2011) favoured sand-sized particles with low clay. They described a ground material with a BWR of around 1.0.…”

Section: Comparisonsmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…There have been some interesting studies of ground nature relative to kingfisher tunnelling and nesting behaviour (e.g. Heneberg, 2004;Kafutshi and Komanda, 2011), and these might be compared to sand martin and bee-eater results. In particular, the kingfisher is digging into a fluvial sediment, ground material deposited by rivers, which consists largely of sand and silt and clay.…”

Section: Comparisonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Loess and bee-eaters I: Ground properties affecting the nesting of European bee-eaters (Merops apiaster L.1758) in loess deposits

Smalley

O’Hara-Dhand

McLaren

et al. 2013

Quaternary International

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Please cite this article as: Smalley, I., O'Hara-Dhand, K., McLaren, S., Svircev, Z., Nugent, H., Loess and Bee-Eaters I: Ground properties affecting the nesting of European bee-eaters (Merops apiaster L.1758) in loess deposits, Quaternary International (2012), doi: 10.1016/j.quaint.2012.09.005. This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. AbstractThe European bee-eater (Merops apiaster L.1758) nests in tunnels in loess deposits. The properties of loess make it particularly suitable for tunnel nesting birds (a major factor is the metastable nature of the ground). The 'Heneberg Compromise' operates whereby the conflicting requirements of tunnel stability and ease of excavation dictate the optimum particle size for usable ground. The open structure of loess deposits, due to particle shape and airfall sedimentation, allows gas movement in nesting tunnels. It also allows local compaction during nest building which strengthens tunnel walls. The short range nature of the interparticle bonds in the ground material provides an almost ideal construction environment, ensuring a low plasticity index, which appears to be critical for tunnel building birds. Bee-eaters and sand martins dig tunnels in loess as 'primary nesters'.These loess tunnels are used by many 'secondary nesters'. The bee-eater is an efficient ecosystem engineer.

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“…The Malachite kingfishers studied by Kafutshi and Komanda (2011) favoured sand-sized particles with low clay. They described a ground material with a BWR of around 1.0.…”

Section: Comparisonsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Comparisonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loess and bee-eaters I: Ground properties affecting the nesting of European bee-eaters (Merops apiaster L.1758) in loess deposits

Smalley

O’Hara-Dhand

McLaren

et al. 2013

Quaternary International

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“…These results are in line with previous studies conducted with swallows, which demonstrated their preference for sites with less clay content, which makes excavation easier [ 10 , 11 ]. According to [ 17 ], soil texture is a parameter closely linked to the selection of nesting sites by the malachite kingfisher Corythornis cristata , which selects sites with a higher concentration of silt. In addition, the higher proportion of C-horizon exposed in the soil allows the construction of nests in a higher position—preferential for nesting—which could, for example, reduce the risk of predator accessing the nest, as shown by some studies, ensuring grater breeding success [ 1 , 48 , 49 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the attributes of the substrate that drive nest-site selection are still poorly studied for excavating birds, even though the first observations on the subject were published decades ago [ 9 – 11 ]. Although some authors have addressed this topic in recent years, these studies were mostly conducted in temperate regions (e.g., [ 6 , 7 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]), and seldom in the tropics (e.g., [ 17 ]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil attributes drive nest-site selection by the campo miner Geositta poeciloptera

et al. 2018

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Substrate type is a key-factor in nest-site selection and nest architecture of burrowing birds. However, little is known about which factors drive nest-site selection for these species, especially in the tropics. We studied the influence of soil attributes on nest-site selection by the campo miner Geositta poeciloptera, an open grassland bird that builds its nests within soil cavities. For all nests found, we measured the depth of the nest cavity and the resistance of the soil to penetration, and identified the soil horizon in which the nest was located. In soil banks with nests, we collected soil samples for granulometric analysis around each nest cavity, while in soil banks without nests we collected these samples at random points. From 43 nests found, 86% were located in the deeper soil horizons (C-horizon), and only 14% in the shallower horizons (B-horizon). Granulometric analysis showed that the C-horizons possessed a high similar granulometric composition, with high silt and low clay contents. These characteristics are associated with a low degree of structural development of the soil, which makes it easier to excavate. Contrarily, soil resistance to penetration does not seem to be an important criterion for nest site selection, although nests in more resistant the soils tend to have shallower nest cavities. Among the soil banks analyzed, 40% of those without cavities possessed a larger proportion of B-horizon relative to the C-horizon, and their texture was more clayey. On the other hand, almost all soil banks containing nest cavities had a larger C-horizon and a silty texture, indicating that soil attributes drive nest-site selection by G. poeciloptera. Thus, we conclude that the patchy distribution of G. poeciloptera can attributed to the infrequent natural exposure of the C-horizon in the tropical region, where well developed, deep and permeable soils are more common.

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“…A network of 29 protected areas consisting of 7 parks and 22 reserves has been established in the country but detailed ornithological work in these protected areas is largely absent (Inogwabini et al 2005). Efforts have been made to describe the ecology of some species (Kisasa and Aloni 2011;Kisasa 2012aKisasa , 2012b) but more comprehensive monitoring and research programs are required to guide management strategies in these protected areas (Struhsaker et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Birds of the Man and Biosphere Reserve of Luki, Bas-Congo province, Democratic Republic of Congo

Liyandja¹,

Andersen²,

Oliveros³

et al. 2015

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The Democratic Republic of Congo holds the most diverse assemblage of birds in Africa. However, ornithological surveys in its network of reserves are rare. In this paper we pre-sent the first detailed list of birds from the Man and Biosphere Reserve of Luki in the country’s southwestern tip based on collected specimens, photographs, audio recordings, and direct observations from two surveys conducted in 2012–2013. We document a total of 136 species, including the threatened Psittacus erithacus. Range extensions of four species and breeding records for 19 species are also reported. Further surveys in the reserve, which covers the largest remaining forest patch along the Lower Congo River, are highly recommended.

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The impact of soil texture on the selection of nesting sites by the Malachite Kingfisher (Alcedinidae: Alcedo cristata Pallas 1764)

Cited by 7 publications

References 14 publications

Loess and bee-eaters I: Ground properties affecting the nesting of European bee-eaters (Merops apiaster L.1758) in loess deposits

Loess and bee-eaters I: Ground properties affecting the nesting of European bee-eaters (Merops apiaster L.1758) in loess deposits

Soil attributes drive nest-site selection by the campo miner Geositta poeciloptera

Birds of the Man and Biosphere Reserve of Luki, Bas-Congo province, Democratic Republic of Congo

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