Wyniki wyszukiwania

1

Nest box use for winter roosting within a flock of tits

100%

Typiak J. A., Typiak M. J., Mazgajski T. D.

Polish Journal of Ecology

|

2019

|

tom 67

|

nr 2

2

Egg dimensions of the great Tit [Parus major L.] in Croatia

100%

Dolenec Z., Mrakovcic M., Delic A.

Polish Journal of Ecology

|

2005

|

tom 53

|

nr 1

3

Plumage bacterial load is related to species, sex, biometrics and fledging success in co-occurring cavity-breeding passerines

84%

Saag P., Mand R., Tilgar V., Kilgas P., Magi M., Rasmann E.

Acta Ornithologica

|

2011

|

tom 46

|

nr 2

Plumage bacteria might influence the trade-off between parental and self-preening efforts in birds, therefore affecting breeding success. However, too little is known about natural variation patterns in plumage bacterial communities for these hypotheses to be thoroughly assessed. We studied the density and phylotypic richness of plumage bacterial assemblages in wild breeding populations of Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca and Great Tits Parus major in the same area and breeding season, using flow cytometry and ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (RISA). The density of plumage bacteria was higher in Tits than in Flycatchers, providing evidence that bacterial microflora differs even between co-occurring hosts that share habitat, nest site and foraging preferences. It is concurrent with the finding that migratory birds might have lower bacterial loads than sedentary birds. In both species bacterial loads were higher in females than in males, which along with two earlier studies, indicates the generality of this sex pattern. A negative correlation between parental body mass and the richness of feather-degrading bacterial phylotypes was found in Pied Flycatchers. In Great Tits, higher bacterial densities in the plumage of parent birds were associated with the production of fewer fledglings. However, the causality of these associations remains to be tested experimentally.

4

Variation of heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the Great Tit Parus major - a review

84%

Skwarska J.

Acta Ornithologica

|

2018

|

tom 53

|

nr 2

Permanent changes in the surrounding environment cause long-term stress in birds, which, when lasting days or weeks, affects the activity of the immune system and increases susceptibility to diseases, leading to changes in the levels of haematological parameters. The heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (H:L-ratio) is generally considered an independent and robust indicator of stress level in birds. This parameter allows in a simple way to evaluate activity of the immune system and individual health state of adult and nestling birds. It also enables assessing a body response to short- and long-term stress induced by, among others, the surrounding environment, social stress, blood parasites or a greater energy expenditure of females during breeding. Under conditions of field work the determination of the H:L- ratio is not difficult because what is only needed to conduct a blood smear test is a drop of blood that can be easily obtained even from birds of a small body mass. Moreover, an increase in the H:L-ratio is observed after about an hour from the moment of catching a bird contrary to other measurements like the determination of a baseline level of corticosterone. In this article available literature that discusses the impact of various factors on the H:L-ratio in the Great Tit as a species of 'fast-paced' life is reviewed. In adult and nestling birds the H:L-ratio is influenced by various factors — ecological and ecophysiological ones. In some cases the same factor, e.g. brood size manipulation or a type of habitat, can significantly influence the level of the discussed stress indicator as well as it may not show any impact at all. While interpreting the H:L-ratio one must take into account an impact of various ecological and ecophysiological factors on health state, such as habitat, phase of the annual cycle, differences between brood attempts, sex, age as well as on relations with other indicators of condition e.g. body mass or total blood haemoglobin concentration.

5

Negative effects of high temperatures during development on immediate post-fledging survival in Great Tits Parus major

84%

Rodriguez S., Diez-Mendez D., Barba E.

Acta Ornithologica

|

2016

|

tom 51

|

nr 2

We analyzed the effect of nest temperatures, fledging date, age at fledging, fledgling mass and size on post- fledging survival of Great Tits Parus major in eastern Spain. We manipulated temperature during nestling development in 26 nests (average temperature was 39.8, 34.6 and 26.4 °C for heated, control and cooled nest-boxes, respectively), and used radio-telemetry to monitor the survival of 48 nestlings (16 heated, 18 cooled, 14 controls) during the first 15 days after fledging. Heated chicks were lighter than control and cooled chicks. Estimated survival of heated fledglings was lower than that of controls. Additionally, survival of control fledglings increased with size, but this relationship was reversed for heated fledglings. Our results suggest that high temperatures experienced in the nest could have negative consequences on immediate post-fledging survival, and that smaller nestlings may deal more effectively with temperatures surpassing their optimal thermal range.

6

Body condition parameters of nestling Great Tits Parus major in relation to experimental food supplementation

84%

Banbura J., Banbura M., Gladalski M., Kalinski A., Markowski M., Michalski M., Nadolski J., Skwarska J., Zielinski P.

Acta Ornithologica

|

2011

|

tom 46

|

nr 2

Amount of food supplied to nestlings by their parents is considered to affect the development of nestling physiological condition. In this study we supplied parental Great Tits Parus major with extra food, larvae of Tenebrio molitor, put into feeders close to nest-boxes, assuming that this should facilitate parental care and, as a consequence, nestling nutrition. The following nestling characteristics measured 13 days after hatching were analysed: body mass, haematocrit, blood concentrations of haemoglobin, glucose and triglycerides, heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (H/L), and patagium swelling after PHA injection. Nestlings from extra food broods were significantly heavier than control ones. They also had lower H/L, which indicated lower stress. No other variable was significantly affected by the experiment. Possibly, the rainy weather and non-restrictive natural trophic conditions during the experiment caused weakening of the net benefits from extra food.

7

Relationships between territory quality and carotenoid-based plumage colour, cell-mediated immune response, and body mass in Great Tit Parus major nestlings

84%

Galvan I., Diaz L., Sanz J. J.

Acta Ornithologica

|

2009

|

tom 44

|

nr 2

Plumage colour is classified as pigmentary or structural, depending on whether it is caused by pigments or by feather microstructure. However, recent findings indicate that carotenoid-based plumage colouration also reflects at UV-blue wavelengths and that the underlying structure is related to the reflectance properties of the yellow feathers. Thus, yellow plumage is based on interactions between structural and pigmentary components. This study investigated the relationships among the vegetation structure of breeding territories, both components of plumage colour, T-cell- mediated immune response and body mass of nestling Great Tits Parus major. By using a model of avian visual perception, we found that, while plumage yellowness was associated with mature vegetation, plumage brightness and UV- blue reflectance were related to immature habitats in territories. We noted considerable variability in the development of carotenoid-based colour components under different environmental conditions, as plumage yellowness, but not brightness or UV-blue reflectance, depends on the availability of carotenoids, which is assumed to be high in mature territories with high food abundance. Territorial features denoting mature territories were also related to high body mass and immune response in nestlings, but none of the colour components were related to these variables of the vegetation structure, suggesting that habitat quality is related to nestling body mass and immune response through mechanisms different from those through which it is related to colour.

8

Catch numbers at ringing stations is a reflection of bird migration intensity, as exemplified by autumn movements of the Great Tit [Parus major]

84%

Nowakowski J. K.

The Ring

|

2003

|

tom 25

|

nr 1-2

9

Effect of nest characteristics on breeding success of Great Tits Parus major

84%

Alaburdzinska J., Kalinski A., Slomczynski R., Wawrzyniak J., Zielinski P., Banbura J.

Acta Ornithologica

|

2003

|

tom 38

|

nr 2

In this study, nest characteristics (size and proportions of basic components) were not correlated with the timing of breeding. Clutch size was negatively correlated with total nest mass but positively correlated with the proportion of the mass of the lining in the total nest mass. Analyses of hatching and fledging success showed that the quantity and proportion of moss in the nest structure as well as the nest size influenced the performance of eggs and nestlings at the nest. We suggest that variation in nest size and composition may be due to several contradictory pressures associated with the need to keep the moisture and temperature in the nest relatively constant, to protect the brood from predation, and to control sanitary standards.

10

Timing of hatching and indirect selection on body size - the impact of bad weather on the Great Tit Parus major in Niepolomice Forest [S Poland]

84%

Zajac T.

Acta Ornithologica

|

2002

|

tom 37

|

nr 2

11

Physiological condition of incubating and brood rearing female Great Tits Parus major in two contrasting habitats

67%

Kilgas P., Tilgar V., Magi M., Mand R.

Acta Ornithologica

|

2007

|

tom 42

|

nr 2

129-136

12

Do small hole nesting passerines detect cues left by a predator? A test on winter roosting sites

67%

Ekner A., Tryjanowski P.

Acta Ornithologica

|

2008

|

tom 43

|

nr 1

107-111

There are a lot of studies about relationships between prey and predators. However most have focused on the influence of lethal predators on their prey. We suggested that non-lethal effects may also be very important for a complete understanding of prey-predator interactions. Among many influencing factors predation is important because it affects survival probability, especially in winter, which is a critical period for many passerines living in temperate zones. Apart from killing prey, predators may also have an indirect influence on the choice of nocturnal resting sites. Therefore, small passerines should detect and avoid places where a predator has operated previously. We tested this prediction using data on wintering small passerines, mainly on Great Tits. The study was performed during the winter season of 2005/2006 in western Poland. In the experiment, we put fur and mangled feathers in half of 100 randomly selected nest boxes. Boxes were checked every ten days, from January-March. The birds showed a significantly stronger preference towards "clean" nest boxes (without predator traces). It seems that non-lethal predator influence modifies winter dispersion of birds and wintering passerines may detect, by visual signals left behind, nest boxes where predation has previously occurred.

13

Dependence of nest mass on nest hole depth in the Great Tit Parus major

67%

Mazgajski T. D., Rykowska Z.

Acta Ornithologica

|

2008

|

tom 43

|

nr 1

49-55

Predation is considered an important factor affecting the life histories and breeding strategies of hole nesting birds. Breeding losses in this group of birds are related to such nest site characteristics as entrance size, nest site depth and danger distance - the distance between the outer edge of the entrance to the centre of the nest's bottom, which determines how far a predator unable to enter the hole would have to reach to obtain its contents. It is suggested that birds assess predation risk and adjust their breeding investments accordingly. We tested the hypothesis that in shallow nest sites, birds build smaller nests to maintain the largest danger distance possible. During the experiment, two types of nestboxes were available to birds: those typical for small passerines (with a depth of 21 cm), and shallower ones (with a 16 cm depth). Breeding parameters were obtained by controlling nestboxes, the distances between eggs and entrances were measured, and nests were weighed just after the young fledged. Breeding phenology and clutch size did not differ between the types of nestboxes. Nest site depth influenced nest mass, and according to our assumptions, nests were significantly lighter in shallow nestboxes. A clear, negative relationship was found between nest mass and the danger distance — eggs in larger (heavier) nests were closer to the entrance. Breeding success (number of fledglings per eggs laid) was lower for shallow nestboxes compared to normal ones, and nest mass negatively influenced the number of fledglings and breeding success. The results of this study suggest that Great Tits perceive nest site depth and adjust nest building according to predation risks. Nest size (mass) in shallow sites may be limited by the danger distance, but it is also possible that the number of trips with nest material, which could lead to the detection of the site, is also important. However, both explanations are not mutually exclusive, and both are related to avoiding predator pressure.

14

Egg size variation in Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus and Great Tits Parus major in relation to habitat differences in snail abundance

67%

Banbura M., Sulikowska-Drozd A., Kalinski A., Skwarska J., Wawrzyniak J., Kruk A., Zielinski P., Banbura J.

Acta Ornithologica

|

2010

|

tom 45

|

nr 2

15

Coal Tits Periparus ater build larger nests than Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus and Great Tits Parus major living in the same Mediterranean coniferous woodland habitat

67%

Lambrechts M. M., Haurez J., Bodineau G., Gagliardi G., Maistre M., Perret P., Pihan P., Wilhelm B., Wilhelm J., Bernard C., Blondel J.

Acta Ornithologica

|

2016

|

tom 51

|

nr 1

The size and shape of the nest are species-specific characteristics that are often associated with environmental factors at the time of breeding. Nests are expected to be larger or thicker in colder environments, although the relationships between nest design and weather differ between species. Here we present the results of an analysis of the external height of the nest wall in Paridae that accepted small standardized nesting boxes for breeding. The study populations were monitored in a relatively cold Mediterranean study area. We found that Coal Tits Periparus ater built higher external nest walls than Great Tits Parus major or Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus, after controlling for the first-egg date and clutch size which are assumed to reflect aspects of the quality of the nest builders. Our measures of nest size were not closely associated with the average ambient temperature, but nest walls tended to be shallower when there was more rain. Nest-shape asymmetry, as reflected in the difference in the external height of the nest measured closest to and farthest from the nest-chamber entrance, was observed in all three species, but the average asymmetry was highest in Coal Tits. In asymmetric nests, more nest material was added to the side that was closest to the front wall considered to be the coldest and least protected against harsh weather. Thus, nest size characteristics differ between three ecologically similar species inhabiting the same cavity type in the same coniferous woodland habitat, which would imply that different species do not respond in the same way to the same set of environmental factors.

16

Repeatability and method-dependent variation of blood parameters in wild-caught Great Tits Parus major

67%

Norte A. C., Sheldon B., Sousa J. P., Ramos J. A.

Acta Ornithologica

|

2008

|

tom 43

|

nr 1

64-75

When interpreting responses to experimental manipulations or particular environmental cues, it is necessary to have previous knowledge about the natural variation of the response traits. We studied how nine blood parameters, including four enzymatic activities, varied with time in wild Great Tits by assessing their repeatabilities over periods of 45 days, in the same season (Spring or Autumn/Winter), in the same year and over a four years period. The accuracy of the measurements of these blood parameters was also assessed. Measurement error reflected essentially sample and time of storage rather than assay effects. Hematocrit and haemoglobin had low repeatabilities within Spring, ranging from 0.26 to 0.31; Heterophil/Lymphocyte ratio (H/L), white blood cell count (WBC), total plasma Cholinesterase and red blood cell glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities had moderate to high repeatabilities over periods of 45 days (repeatabilities ranged from 0.47 to 0.81 for GSH-Px and H/L, respectively), but also during longer periods such as during Spring (total plasma Cholinesterase activity) and Autumn/Winter (WBC, H/L and GSH-Px). Of the blood parameters measured, total plasma Cholinesterase, glutathione peroxidase and the haematological parameters WBC and H/L seem relatively constant and therefore reliable indicators of Great Tit's physiological condition within, at least, a 45 days time frame.

17

Faecal analysis as a method of nestling diet determination in insectivorous birds: a case study in Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus and Great Tits Parus major

67%

Michalski M., Nadolski J., Marciniak B., Loga B., Banbura J.

Acta Ornithologica

|

2011

|

tom 46

|

nr 2

Insectivorous birds have very diversified diet, but particular species usually show some specialisation, which leads to a varying level of dependence on special prey. Their reproductive cycles are dependent on the availability of appropriate arthropods; in the case of Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus and Great Tits Parus major reproduction is usually coordinated with the availability of caterpillars as the key food for nestlings. Therefore a picture of nestling diet, with some estimates of the actual frequency of caterpillars and alternative prey, is an important component of explanations of aspects of Tit life-histories. As in most cases a rough assessment of diet composition and relative proportions of prey items is satisfactory, we suggest that faecal analysis is a feasible method to get such a picture. Droppings may be collected to examine the diet of individual nestlings grouped in broods, at a particular age stage or at many stages reflecting development. The most time-consuming part of this method includes segregation and identification of prey remains in the laboratory. We draw attention to the procedures and the most diagnostically useful features of arthropod prey of Tits. Especially, we provide clues to identification of the remains of different arthropods. As an example, clypeus proved to be the most valuable structure to identify caterpillars, while chelicerae were the most diagnostically significant in Arachnids. Exemplary results on diet spectrum for the Blue Tit and Great Tit are also presented. Faecal analysis is fast and effortless at the sampling stage, with almost all effort being postponed to the stage of laboratory work.

18

Nest quality in relation to adult bird condition and its impact on reproduction in Great Tits Parus major

67%

Alvarez E., Barba E.

Acta Ornithologica

|

2008

|

tom 43

|

nr 1

3-9

Birds' nests are special structures built with reproductive aims. Size and structure of the nest can arise from evolutionary trade-offs between benefits such as the insulation from unfavourable conditions, maintenance of eggs or chicks, or security against predation, and costs such as energy spent in construction of the nest and the risk of predation in more visible nests. Therefore, building a good nest is beneficial in terms of reproductive output but expensive in terms of time and energy, so probably only "good" parents would be able to build "good" nests. Our objective was to study possible relationships between the quality of the parents and the quality of the nest, and between the quality of the nest and breeding performance in a Great Tit Parus major population. We found positive relationships between different components of the nest quality and components of breeding performance. However, we did not find any significant relationship between quality of the parents and that of the nest. A weak, though significant positive correlation was found between female size and breeding success rate.

19

Does habitat structure affect body condition of nestlings? A case study with woodland Great Tits Parus major

67%

Sanchez S., Cuervo J. J., Moreno E.

Acta Ornithologica

|

2007

|

tom 42

|

nr 2

200-204

20

Long-term changes in population density of nest-box breeding Great Tits and Blue Tits in two contrasting habitats in Central Poland

67%

Gladalski M., Wawrzyniak J., Banbura M., Kalinski A., Markowski M., Skwarska J., Zielinski P., Banbura J.

Polish Journal of Ecology

|

2016

|

tom 64

|

nr 3

Urbanization affects the ecological and behavioral traits of various species of animals, including birds.We present results concerning long-term fluctuations in breeding densities of nest-box populations of the Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus and the Great Tit Parus major in two, structurally and floristically contrasting types of habitat (an urban parkland and a rich deciduous forest) located 10 km apart, in central Poland. This study was conducted in 1999–2012 in the parkland site and in 2002–2012 in the forest site. We found a strong correlation of year-to-year changes in breeding densities of Great Tits between the parkland site and the forest site and a lack of such a correlation in Blue Tits. Breeding densities of Great Tits were much higher in the parkland than in the forest area every year during the study period. Annual changes in breeding densities were not correlated between the species studied. The North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAO-winter index) tended to influence the density dynamics of the two bird species in the forest area but not in the parkland area.

Ograniczanie wyników

Nest box use for winter roosting within a flock of tits

Egg dimensions of the great Tit [Parus major L.] in Croatia

Plumage bacterial load is related to species, sex, biometrics and fledging success in co-occurring cavity-breeding passerines

Variation of heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the Great Tit Parus major - a review

Negative effects of high temperatures during development on immediate post-fledging survival in Great Tits Parus major

Body condition parameters of nestling Great Tits Parus major in relation to experimental food supplementation

Relationships between territory quality and carotenoid-based plumage colour, cell-mediated immune response, and body mass in Great Tit Parus major nestlings

Catch numbers at ringing stations is a reflection of bird migration intensity, as exemplified by autumn movements of the Great Tit [Parus major]

Effect of nest characteristics on breeding success of Great Tits Parus major

Timing of hatching and indirect selection on body size - the impact of bad weather on the Great Tit Parus major in Niepolomice Forest [S Poland]

Physiological condition of incubating and brood rearing female Great Tits Parus major in two contrasting habitats

Do small hole nesting passerines detect cues left by a predator? A test on winter roosting sites

Dependence of nest mass on nest hole depth in the Great Tit Parus major

Egg size variation in Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus and Great Tits Parus major in relation to habitat differences in snail abundance

Coal Tits Periparus ater build larger nests than Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus and Great Tits Parus major living in the same Mediterranean coniferous woodland habitat

Repeatability and method-dependent variation of blood parameters in wild-caught Great Tits Parus major

Faecal analysis as a method of nestling diet determination in insectivorous birds: a case study in Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus and Great Tits Parus major

Nest quality in relation to adult bird condition and its impact on reproduction in Great Tits Parus major

Does habitat structure affect body condition of nestlings? A case study with woodland Great Tits Parus major

Long-term changes in population density of nest-box breeding Great Tits and Blue Tits in two contrasting habitats in Central Poland