scholarly journals Begging calls provide social cues for prospecting conspecifics in the wild Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

The Auk ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 136 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanja B Brandl ◽  
Simon C Griffith ◽  
Toni Laaksonen ◽  
Wiebke Schuett
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cues ◽  
Social Information ◽  
Breeding Site ◽  
Taeniopygia Guttata ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Zebra Finches ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
In The Wild

Abstract Social information can spread fast and help animals adapt in fluctuating environments. Prospecting on the breeding sites of others, a widespread behavior, can help to maximize reproduction by, for instance, settling in the same area as other successful breeders. Previous studies have shown that successful broods have the highest number of prospectors and that they are visited most when offspring in nesting sites are already old, making the information more reliable. In this field study, we experimentally tested how prospectors are attracted to successful nest sites. We presented wild Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata) with different visual or acoustic cues in nest boxes, simulating the presence of small or large clutches or broods. More Zebra Finches visited experimental nests that were associated with playback recordings of begging calls of large broods (7 chicks) as opposed to begging calls of small broods (3 chicks) and controls (white noise and silence). On the other hand, visual cues (nests with different numbers of eggs or rocks), representing nests at early stages, did not influence either the probability of visits, nor number or duration of visits. We present the first evidence that begging calls of chicks in the nest, a signal intended for kin communication, can also provide social information to unrelated prospecting conspecifics. This information could potentially be used for a fast initial assessment of the quality of a breeding site.

Evidence for continuous iteroparity in a temperate-zone frog, the red-crowned toadlet, Pseudophryne australis (Anura : Myobatrachidae)

2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 151 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Thumm ◽  
M. J. Mahony
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Response ◽  
Breeding Site ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Reproductive Loss ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Large Clutch ◽  
Variance In Reproductive Success ◽  
High Recruitment

The breeding behaviour of the red-crowned toadlet, Pseudophryne australis, was observed both in the field and in captivity. Female and male red-crowned toadlets were active in the field throughout the year. New egg masses were observed all year except mid-winter. Females returned in a gravid condition repeatedly to the breeding site over years and presumably deposited eggs, and a captive female has laid 34 clutches over 7.25 years. P. australis has evolved continuous iteroparity in a region where most frogs breed once a year, seasonally, in reliable long-lasting ponds or permanent creeks. We suggest that the comparatively extreme iteroparity observed is a result of the limitations imposed on the species in the choice of oviposition time, due to unpredictable rainfall, and of the limited availability and suitability of nesting sites. Further, iteroparity may have evolved because there is high variance in reproductive success, or particularly high recruitment losses incurred as a result of the desiccation of embryos or larvae in the ephemeral breeding sites. The adaptive response is to lay small clutches often and to gamble that follow up rains will occur on some occasions to enable recruitment. The alternative, to lay a large clutch of eggs at one time and have the ephemeral pond dry because there was no follow-up rain, would lead to total reproductive loss.

SPRING MOVEMENTS IN THE AMERICAN TOAD, BUFO AMERICANUS

1966 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Oldham
Keyword(s):  
Active Sites ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Breeding Site ◽  
Bufo Americanus ◽  
Homing Behavior ◽  
Relative Significance ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Oriented Movement ◽  
Breeding Condition ◽  
Topographic Gradients

Populations of Bufo americanus were studied in London, Ontario, from 1958 to 1962 to determine how they locate their breeding sites.Toads were capable of rapid, well-oriented movement to the breeding site, some moving at least 650 yd.Population turnover at breeding pools was high. There was a continuous influx and exodus of toads during the breeding season.Only 15% of 5937 captured toads were female. This disproportion might have resulted from later sexual maturation of females.Experiments showed that toads in breeding condition, within at least 80 yd of their breeding site, did not move at random but oriented towards the site. After translocation, individuals demonstrated homing behavior, returning over 100 yd to a particular breeding site, even when other active sites were available. Moreover, toads showed annual fidelity to a pool. Homing behavior evidently depended on familiarity with the characteristics of the breeding sites or the routes of influx to them.Experiments were performed on the significance to orientation of auditory, olfactory, hygrotactic, geotactic, and visual cues. Toad populations were capable of orienting towards a pool in the absence of a chorus, but were also able to orient towards the recording of a chorus broadcast from a position on land. Experiments involving surgery indicated that olfaction was not essential to orientation. Similarly, neither humidity nor topographic gradients appeared to be indispensable. Evidence on vision was inconclusive. Toads are probably able to utilize several characteristics of the breeding site, or its surroundings, during orientation. The relative significance of these characteristics probably depends on the nature of the environment.

scholarly journals Nest-boxes for Common Swifts Apus apus as compensatory measures in the context of building renovation: efficacy and predictors of occupancy

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
TONIO SCHAUB ◽  
PETER J. MEFFERT ◽  
GERALD KERTH
Keyword(s):  
Boosted Regression Trees ◽  
Occupation Probability ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
City District ◽  
Absolute Height

SummaryCurrently, renovation and thermal insulation of buildings is happening at a high rate in many European countries, driven in part by the political aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, building renovations often lead to a loss of structures, such as accessible cavities, on which synanthropic species, for example house-nesting birds, depend. In Germany, due to legislative regulations, it is a common practice to install nest-boxes as compensation for destroyed nest sites of birds. However, studies on the efficacy of such measures remain sparse. We monitored the occupancy of 477 compensatory nest-boxes for Common Swifts Apus apus, predominantly placed on renovated prefabricated buildings in a city in Germany. We found 24.3% of the boxes occupied by Swifts. On most buildings, the number of occupied boxes was as high as or even higher than the assumed number of breeding sites prior to renovation. Furthermore, in a district where nearly all buildings had been renovated in the past 10 years, we recorded a remarkably high density of Swifts breeding in nest-boxes. Using boosted regression trees, we analysed whether eight different nest-box properties influenced box occupation probability. The number of neighbouring boxes was the most important. Additionally, box age, facade orientation, city district, relative and absolute height, and manner of installation (external/internal) also played a role. Between different nest-box types, we found only negligible differences in occupation probability. Our findings suggest that installing nest-boxes is likely to be an appropriate measure to compensate for nesting sites of Swifts lost during building renovations. Based on our results, we recommend mounting the boxes a few metres apart from each other and close to the roof edge to maximise success. Further studies should be carried out to assess whether our results and conclusions can be confirmed in other situations.

scholarly journals Influence of the Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) on the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) population in Germany

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Lindner
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
Peregrine Falcon ◽  
Bubo Bubo ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Rock Face ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
Eagle Owl

Abstract In Germany, the Eagle Owl is the only animal species that has a massive impact on the distribution and breeding success of the Peregrine Falcon. Both species compete for the same breeding sites on rocks. In addition, the Peregrine Falcon belongs to the prey spectrum of the Eagle Owl. The Eagle Owl always dominates at places where the two species meet. Since the 1980s, the Eagle Owl has taken over many of the rock face breeding sites of the Peregrine Falcon in Germany. This trend towards the taking-over of Peregrine Falcon nesting sites is ongoing in areas with rocks, as not all regions of Germany have yet been completely colonized by Eagle Owls. Since 1975, the Eagle Owl initially nested on buildings in rural areas, but it is now also colonizing urban areas. Eagle Owls are more and more frequently taking over Peregrine Falcon nest boxes on buildings. The currently growing Peregrine Falcon breeding population on buildings is expected to decline in coming years due to predation by the Eagle Owl, even though these owls do not breed very successfully on buildings and many old and young owls are killed. These statements apply to large parts of Germany. In other areas of Europe, the future usage of buildings as Eagle Owl breeding sites can be expected to have an impact on the Peregrine Falcon populations there. At least eight other Peregrine Falcon breeding sites on buildings and rocks have been taken over by Egyptian Geese (Alopochen aegyptiaca).

scholarly journals An experimental test of information use by North American wood ducks (Aix sponsa): external habitat cues, not social visual cues, influence initial nest-site selection

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena C. Berg ◽  
John M. Eadie
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Social Information ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Aix Sponsa ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Wood Ducks ◽  
Wood Duck

AbstractBirds may use a variety of cues to select a nest site, including external information on habitat structure and nest site characteristics, or they may rely instead on social information obtained directly or indirectly from the actions of conspecifics. We used an experimental manipulation to determine the extent to which a California population of the wood duck (Aix sponsa) used social information gleaned from visual cues inside nest boxes that might indicate the quality or occupancy of that site. Over two nesting seasons, we manipulated the contents of newly installed boxes to simulate one of three states: (1) presence of wood duck eggs, indicating current use of a nest site; (2) presence of down and shell membranes, indicating a previously successful nest; and (3) control nests with fresh shavings indicating an unused box. In addition, we measured habitat characteristics of the area surrounding each box to assess the use of external, non-social information about each nest site. We found no evidence that females laid eggs preferentially, or that conspecific brood parasitism was more likely to occur, in any of the treatments. In contrast, nest site use and reproductive traits of wood ducks did vary with vegetation cover, and orientation and distance of the box from water. Our results suggest that personal information, not social information, influence initial nest site selection decisions when females are unfamiliar with a site. Social cues likely become increasingly important once nest sites develop their own history, and a population becomes well established.Significance StatementIn selecting a nest site, birds may use many types of information, including habitat characteristics, their own previous breeding experience, or social cues inadvertently provided by other individuals of the same or different species. We examined information use in a Californian population of wood ducks by experimentally manipulating the visual cues within nest boxes and found that females did not use internal box cues to direct their nesting behaviors, appearing to rely on key habitat characteristics instead. These results contrast with previous studies of this system, suggesting that females may change the cues they use depending on their prior experience with a particular area. In the nest-site selection literature, there appears to be a divergence between research on passerines versus waterfowl, and we advocate unifying these perspectives.

Comparação de testes coproparasitológicos em criadouro comercial de psitacídeos exóticos

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 100-107
Author(s):  
Marina Camargo de Sousa ◽  
◽  
Julia Ronzani Vial ◽  
Rodrigo Hidalgo Friciello Teixeira ◽  
Andrea Cristina Higa Nakaghi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Clinical Importance ◽  
Breeding Site ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Nematode Eggs ◽  
Commercial Breeding

Birds of the psittaciform order, composed by the Psittacidae and Loridae family have several characteristics making them more frequently kept as companion animals, promoting the increase of breeding sites in Brazil. The present study aimed to analyze the specificity and sensitivity of three different coproparasitological tests, Willis, Hoffman and Direto de feces, through statistical tests: Chi-Square and Kappa. 70 fecal samples of exotic parrots were collected from a commercial breeding site and these were submitted to the three tests, totaling 210 coproparasitological exams. Among the tests performed, 29,5% were positive for nematode eggs, cestodes and oocysts. Coproparasitological exams are inexpensive, have clinical importance, indicating the population of endoparasites and therapeutic treatments.

scholarly journals Adding colour-realistic video images to audio playbacks increases stimulus engagement but does not enhance vocal learning in zebra finches

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith M. Varkevisser ◽  
Ralph Simon ◽  
Ezequiel Mendoza ◽  
Martin How ◽  
Idse van Hijlkema ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cues ◽  
Sound Production ◽  
Visual Stimuli ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Song Learning ◽  
Frame Rate ◽  
Zebra Finches ◽  
Video Content ◽  
Biologically Relevant ◽  
Video Images

AbstractBird song and human speech are learned early in life and for both cases engagement with live social tutors generally leads to better learning outcomes than passive audio-only exposure. Real-world tutor–tutee relations are normally not uni- but multimodal and observations suggest that visual cues related to sound production might enhance vocal learning. We tested this hypothesis by pairing appropriate, colour-realistic, high frame-rate videos of a singing adult male zebra finch tutor with song playbacks and presenting these stimuli to juvenile zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Juveniles exposed to song playbacks combined with video presentation of a singing bird approached the stimulus more often and spent more time close to it than juveniles exposed to audio playback only or audio playback combined with pixelated and time-reversed videos. However, higher engagement with the realistic audio–visual stimuli was not predictive of better song learning. Thus, although multimodality increased stimulus engagement and biologically relevant video content was more salient than colour and movement equivalent videos, the higher engagement with the realistic audio–visual stimuli did not lead to enhanced vocal learning. Whether the lack of three-dimensionality of a video tutor and/or the lack of meaningful social interaction make them less suitable for facilitating song learning than audio–visual exposure to a live tutor remains to be tested.

scholarly journals Reintroduction of the Golden Conure (Guaruba guarouba) in Northern Brazil: Establishing a Population in a Protected Area

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 198
Author(s):  
Marcelo Rodrigues Vilarta ◽  
William Wittkoff ◽  
Crisomar Lobato ◽  
Rubens de Aquino Oliveira ◽  
Nívia Gláucia Pinto Pereira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Lines ◽  
Food Supplementation ◽  
Territorial Disputes ◽  
Amazon Forest ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Viable Population ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Northern Brazil ◽  
Native Foods

Brazil has the highest number of parrots in the world and the greatest number of threatened species. The Golden Conure is endemic to the Brazilian Amazon forest and it is currently considered as threatened by extinction, although it is fairly common in captivity. Here we report the first reintroduction of this species. The birds were released in an urban park in Belem, capital of Para State, where the species was extinct more than a century ago. Birds were trained to recognize and consume local food and to avoid predators. After the soft-release, with food supplementation and using nest boxes, we recorded breeding activity in the wild. The main challenges before the release were the territorial disputes within the aviary and the predation by boa snakes. During the post-release monitoring the difficulties were the fast dispersion of some individuals and the dangers posed by anthropic elements such as power lines that caused some fatalities. Released birds were very successful at finding and consuming native foods, evading predators, and one pair reproduced successfully. Monitoring continues and further releases are programmed to establish an ecologically viable population.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document