Discovery of ten new specimens of large‐billed reed warbler Acrocephalus orinus,and new insights into its distributional range

We here report the finding of ten new specimens of the poorly known large‐billed reed warbler Acrocephalus orinus. Preliminary identifications were made on the basis of bill, tarsus and claw measurements, and their specific identity was then confirmed by comparison of partial sequences of the cytochrome b gene with a large data set containing nearly all other species in the genus Acrocephalus, including the type specimen of A. orinus. Five of the new specimens were collected in summer in Afghanistan and Kazakhstan, indicating that the species probably breeds in Central Asia, and the data and moult of the others suggest that the species migrates along the Himalayas to winter in N India and SE Asia. The population structure suggests a stable or shrinking population.     

Does fragmentation of wetlands affect gene flow in sympatric Acrocephalus warblers with different migration strategies?

Wetlands are naturally patchy habitats, but patchiness has been accentuated by the extensive wetlands loss due to human activities. In such a fragmented habitat, dispersal ability is especially important to maintain gene flow between populations. Here we studied population structure, genetic diversity and demographic history of Iberian and North African populations of two wetland passerines, the Eurasian reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus and the moustached warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon. These species are closely related and sympatric in our study sites, but the reed warbler is a widespread long‐distance migrant while the moustached warbler's breeding range is patchier and it is resident or migrates over short distances. Using microsatellite and mtDNA data, we found higher differentiation in moustached than in reed warblers, indicating higher dispersal capability of the latter species. Our results also suggest that the sea limits dispersal in the moustached warbler. However, we found evidence of gene flow between the study sites in both species, indicating a capability to compensate for habitat fragmentation. In most cases, the gene flow was restricted, possibly because of the large distances between study sites (from ca 290 to 960 km) or breeding site fidelity. The reed warbler had higher haplotype diversity, likely due to dispersal from different populations, past admixture event and a larger population size. We found also signs of postglacial population growth for both species and evidence of a recent colonization or re‐colonization of the Mallorca Island by the moustached warbler.     

How important are climate‐induced changes in host availability for population processes in an obligate brood parasite,the European cuckoo?

In recent years, populations of long‐distance migrant birds have declined markedly. Resource availability, both on breeding and wintering grounds, is likely to be important particularly since changing climates are affecting the timing and synchrony of such resources. We use novel analytical methods to examine whether large‐scale population declines in the brood‐parasite common cuckoo Cuculus canorus are the result of changes in the abundance or timing of breeding of its host species. We find that, due to climate‐induced changes in the timing of breeding, availability of dunnock Prunella modularis nests has decreased, but that availability of reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus has increased. Although there is no evidence that the timing of breeding of cuckoo has changed, these changes are likely to have had only a minimal impact on its population trend, but may explain an increase in the rate of parasitism of reed warbler nests in recent decades.     

Restricted dispersal in a long-distance migrant bird with patchy distribution,the great reed warbler

In patchily distributed species dispersal connects local populations into metapopulations. Reliable quantifications of dispersal are therefore crucial to understanding the population dynamics and genetic structure of such metapopulation systems. The great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) inhabits eutrophic lakes and has a patchy breeding distribution. In this study we investigated the dispersal pattern of the great reed warbler based on an extensive capture-recapture effort covering a large census area (22,500 km²). At two adjacent breeding sites (10 km apart) in southern Central Sweden, the "main study area", we ringed the majority of adult and nestling great reed warblers between 1992 and 1999. In 1998 and 1999, we opportunistically searched for territorial males at the majority of the Swedish breeding sites, and were able to examine about 56% of all males in the region. Analyses of recaptured males demonstrated that philopatry predominated. Sixty-nine percent of the recruiting nestlings returned to breed in the main study area (their natal area), and 92% of the resighted adults were found at the same breeding locality in both study years. Breeding dispersal was significantly more restricted than natal dispersal. Additional data on natal and breeding dispersal within the main study area in 1992-1999 suggested that females were as philopatric as males. The overall high level of philopatry, with only occasional longer dispersal distances documented, yielded a root-mean-square dispersal distance of 33 km per generation. High philopatry, short dispersal distances and similar dispersal patterns of male and female great reed warblers contrast the findings among birds in general, but conform to data of species having patchy breeding habitat and isolated populations. Restricted dispersal suggests limited gene flow even among several Swedish populations, which is in line with some previous findings of the population ecology of the great reed warbler: (1) structured mtDNA lineages among European populations; (2) small-scale population differences in song patterns; and (3) low genetic variation and occurrence of inbreeding depression in our main study population.     

Uniform phenotype conceals double colonization by reed-warblers of a remote Pacific archipelago

Aim Remote oceanic islands often provide good illustrations of adaptive radiations, but phylogenetic studies have also demonstrated unexpected multiple colonization events for a given archipelago. In this study we investigate the relationships among endemic populations of the Marquesas reed‐warbler, Acrocephalus mendanae Tristram, 1883, which have colonized nearly all islands of this remote Polynesian archipelago, and which exhibit a very uniform plumage pattern. We study the phylogeny and morphology of all subspecies in the Marquesas, providing an examination of the position of the Marquesas lineages in relation to reed‐warblers distributed across multiple Polynesian archipelagos. Location This study focused on all the main islands of the Marquesas archipelago, along with samples from other Polynesian archipelagos (Society, Tuamotu, Austral, Cook, Kiribati) and Australia. Methods We used mitochondrial DNA markers (cytochrome b and ND2 genes) to develop a phylogeny of the main eastern Polynesian taxa. All subspecies for the Marquesas were investigated, including multiple individuals per island. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum‐likelihood and Bayesian approaches were employed to infer relationships among A. mendanae populations and between the main Polynesian archipelagos. Morphometric analyses based on 110 specimens from museum collections were performed on external characters to investigate the differences between islands, and these results were compared to the phylogeny. Results Our data indicate that the Marquesas reed‐warbler is in fact a polyphyletic taxon including two independent lineages: the northern Marquesas reed‐warbler, closely related to the Tuamotu reed‐warbler, and the southern Marquesas reed‐warbler, sister taxon to that endemic to the Kiribati. Analyses of morphological characters show that the size and shape features of the Marquesas reed‐warblers exhibit high plasticity linked to adaptation to ecological factors, particularly habitat richness (the diversity of vegetation structure that provides suitable resources and habitat for reed‐warblers, simplified here as the number of indigenous plant species). Main conclusions Our results suggest that reed‐warblers have successfully colonized the Marquesas archipelago, one of the most remote groups of islands in the Pacific Ocean, at least twice. Both events occurred more or less simultaneously at ca. 0.6 Ma, and are more recent than the islands' formation. We outline the taxonomic consequences of our phylogeny and discuss the supertramp strategy of reed‐warblers in the Pacific.     

Breeding success of common cuckoos Cuculus canorus parasitising four sympatric species of Acrocephalus warblers

We investigated the level of parasitism, egg mimicry and breeding success of cuckoos parasitising four sympatric species of Acrocephalus warblers in southern Moravia, Czech Republic. The parasitism rate was highest in the marsh warbler Acrocephalus palustris (44.8%) followed by great reed warbler A. arundinaceus (33.8%), sedge warbler A. schoenobaenus (26.5%) and reed warbler A. scirpaceus (11.6%). Although the cuckoo eggs showed a high level of mimicry the eggs of the marsh warbler this host species rejected 72% of the cuckoo eggs, resulting in a cuckoo breeding success of only 4.3%. Cuckoo eggs laid in great reed warbler and reed warbler nests showed a similar hatching success, but the cuckoo chicks survived better in great reed warbler nests, resulting in a breeding success of 30.4%, as compared to 16.4% in nests of the reed warbler. The relationship between the level of parasitism, host rejection of cuckoo eggs, cuckoo chick survival and breeding success is discussed for the four host species.     

Untersuchungen an Drossel- und Teichrohrs?nger(Acrocephalus arundinaceus, A. scirpaceus): Bestandsentwicklung, Brutbiologie, ?kologie

Zusammenfassung Von 1973–1978 wurden systematische Beringungen und regelmäßige Nestkontrollen einer Drs-Population im Fränkischen Weihergebiet (Nordbayern) durchgeführt (Auswertung von 487 Nestkarten). Die vorhandene Trs-Population wurde nicht systematisch erfaßt (645 Nestkarten).Der Bestand der einzelnen Teilpopulationen des Drs schwankte im Untersuchungszeitraum; die gesamte Population blieb annähernd konstant.Die Nestabstände benachbarter Drs-Bruten innerhalb eines günstigen Schilfstreifens lagen zwischen 7 m und ca. 300 m. Das kolonieartige Brüten der Trs wird mit Beispielen belegt.Medianer Legebeginn des Drs war der 29. Mai, der des Trs der 13. Juni. Der nach Erreichen des Maximums im Legemuster folgende Abfall war beim Drs deutlich steiler als beim Trs. Die mittlere Gelegegröße des Drs betrug 4,73, die des Trs 3,85 Eier. Bei beiden Arten fand eine Gelegegrößenreduktion mit fortschreitender Brutzeit statt.Das Schlüpfen der Jungen erfolgte beim Drs überwiegend am 12. bis 14. Tag nach Ablage des letzten Eies, beim Trs am 11. bis 13. Die Brutdauer betrug meist 14 (Drs) bzw. 13 (Trs) Tage.Beim Drs waren 59,7 % der Nester erfolgreich. Der Ausfliegeerfolg, bezogen auf erfolgreiche Nester, betrug 73,2 %, der Gesamtbruterfolg demnach 43,7 %. Beim Trs ergaben sich entsprechend die Werte 66,6 %, 82,9 % und 55,2 %. Auch die durchschnittliche Anzahl flügger Jungvögel pro Brutnest lag beim Drs mit 2,00 etwas niedriger als beim Trs mit 2,15. Als Reproduktions-rate des Drs wurde ein Wert von 2,24 flüggen Jungen pro errechnet. Für den Trs wird die Reproduktionsrate wesentlich höher geschätzt.Die Verluste wurden nach Ursachen aufgeschlüsselt, wobei besonders verglichen mit gleichaltrigen Trs die vielfach größere Empfindlichkeit nestjunger Drs gegen Regen und Kälte auffiel.In zwei Fällen konnten für Drs- Zweitbruten mittels Beringung nachgewiesen werden. Beobachtungen an Trs gaben zu Vermutungen von Zweitbruten bei dieser Art Anlaß.Bigamie wurde beim Drs mehrfach mittels Farbberingung nachgewiesen. Aus den Nestabständen konnte im Untersuchungsgebiet nicht auf monogames oder polygames Verhalten der Drs geschlossen werden. Es werden Angaben über Alter und Verhalten polygamer in verschiedenen Jahren gemacht. Paarzusammenhalt am Vorjahresbrutplatz wurde beim Drs mittels Beringung einmal nachgewiesen.Die meisten überlebenden der als Brutvögel beringten Drs kehrten ins Untersuchungsgebiet zurück, von den überlebenden nestjung beringten dagegen etwa ein Drittel. 3 nestjung beringte Trs wurden nach 1 bzw. 2 Jahren im Untersuchungsgebiet zur Brutzeit kontrolliert.Ein Drittel der Drs-Population stammte aus dem Untersuchungsgebiet. 2 nestjung beringte aus 78 km und 500 km Entfernung wurden als Brutvögel kontrolliert. Alter der Brutvögel 1–9 Jahre.An Beispielen wird die räumliche und zeitliche Einnischung beider Arten beschrieben.

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Studies onAcrocephalus arundinaceus andscirpaceus: Population trends, breeding biology, and ecology

Summary Results of 6 years (1973–1978) of systematic ringing and regular nest controls of a great reed warbler population in Northern Bavaria are given (data of 487 nests) as well as results on a population of the reed warbler (data of 645 nests).Numbers of great reed warblers fluctuated in different parts of the study area. The whole population, however, remained fairly constant.Data on the arrival of males in the breeding area are given.Distances between neighbouring nests of great reed warblers varied from 7 to about 300 m. Differences in nest densities in the reed warbler could be found.The mean first egg laying dates in the great reed warbler and the reed warbler were May 29 and June 13 respectively. The great reed warbler showed a distinct steeper decrease in its egg laying pattern than the smaller species. Average clutch size in the great reed warble was 4.73 eggs and 3.85 eggs in the reed warbler. In both species clutch size decreased during the season.Great reed warbler nestlings hatched on the 12th to 14th day after the last egg had been laid, reed warbler nestlings on the 11th to 13th day. The incubation period was mainly 14 days in the great reed warbler and 13 days in the reed warbler.In the great reed warbler 59.7 % of the nests were successful. The fledging success of successful nests was 73.2 %, accordingly the total nest success was 43.7 %. The corresponding data in reed warbler were 66.6 %, 82.9 % and 55.2 %. On average great reed warblers produced 2.00 fledglings per clutch, reed warblers 2.15. In the great reed warbler a reproduction rate of 2.24 fledglings per female was calculated. The reproduction rate in reed warbler was estimated substantially higher.Great reed warbler nestlings were much more sensitive to rain and cold weather than reed warbler nestlings of the same age.Two great reed warbler males were proved to make a second brood. The same is supposed for the other species but could not be proved so far.Polygyny was proved several times in the great reed warbler. Age and behaviour of polygynous males in different years are reported. Two great reed warblers were found breeding with their former mates at last year's breeding place.Most of the great reed warblers ringed as breeding birds returned into the study area. Nearly one third of the great reed warbler nestlings returned for breeding. Three reed warblers ringed as nestlings could be controlled in the study area during breeding period after 1 year and 2 years respectively.Distances of returned great reed warblers in relation to their birth places and their former breeding places are specified.One third of the great reed warbler population originates from the study area. Two females breeding in the study area were ringed as nestlings 78 km and 500 km apart.One-year-old to nine-year-old great reed warblers were found breeding. Data on the age composition of breeding birds are given.Plant species supporting the nests of great reed warbler and reed warbler were investigated. Differences in the spatial and temporal habitat selection of both species are described.

     

The molecular basis of the plumage colour polymorphism in the Tahiti reed‐warbler Acrocephalus caffer

The endemic Tahiti reed‐warbler Acrocephalus caffer occurs in two distinct morphs, a typical or ‘yellow’ morph and a melanic or ‘dark’ morph, which are found together in the valleys of the eastern and central parts of the island of Tahiti (Society Islands, French Polynesia). We investigated the molecular basis of the plumage colour polymorphism in this species using sequences of the melanocortin‐1 receptor (MC1R), a gene often found associated to melanism in birds. We found that the MC1R genotype was perfectly associated with plumage colour in the Tahiti reed‐warbler, with the same nonsynonymous substitution that showed a correlation with phenotype in the Caribbean bananaquit Coereba flaveola. An heterozygous reed‐warbler at this site presented a melanic phenotype, suggesting that the melanic allele is dominant. All other Polynesian reed‐warbler species, which do not have a melanic morph, shared the ‘yellow’ nucleotide at this position. These results suggested that the same mutation point was linked to a melanic polymorphism in two unrelated passerine birds.     

Reedbed structure and habitat preference of reed passerines during the post-breeding period

Post-breeding habitats of nine passerine species were studied in the permanently flooded reed beds of ponds near the village Pusté úlany (SW Slovakia) in 2002. Structural features of reed beds and the abundance of all birds studied were sampled at two sites and eight study plots. The reed bed structure and abundance of four passerines differed considerably between the individual study plots. The variations in vegetation structure were also caused by winter reed burning in the SE part of study area. Stems in burnt reed beds were smaller and thinner than unburnt. Abundance of the reed warbler and to a lesser extent sedge warbler was higher in tall reed beds, while the bearded tit preferred thick reed stems. Position of reed beds along the shore — open water gradient was an important factor in terms of abundance at the study plots in the case of the reed bunting. This species showed a strong preference for the reed bed edge with open water. Horizontal distribution of other species seems to be random, however, the birds with the exception of Savi’s warbler preferred the upper stratum of reed bed in vertical distribution. Our field data corroborate with those found in experimental studies concerning with ecomorphological characteristics of birds. Some inconsistencies, however, could also be caused by other factors (e.g. foraging preferences). Comparison of breeding and post-breeding habitat requirements of the studied bird species confirmed a more or less random distribution of the majority of species in the post-breeding period. Some variation was found in the cases of only the reed warbler and bearded tit.     

Do females adjust the sex of their offspring in relation to the breeding sex ratio?

When the adult sex ratio differs between years in local populations, but still is predictable between adjacent years, it has been proposed that the best strategy would be to bias the offspring sex ratio in favour of the rare sex. We tested this hypothesis using a data set of great reed warbler offspring, sexed by molecular techniques, that were collected over 11 breeding seasons at two adjacent reed marshes. Three important assumptions for this hypothesis are fulfilled in the studied great reed warbler population. First, a substantial proportion of great reed warblers are living in small local populations where sex ratio distortions would be sufficiently large and common. Second, breeding adults and their offspring return to breed in the local population to a high degree. Third, females have a possibility to assess the breeding sex ratio before laying their eggs. At our study site, the breeding sex ratio was positively correlated between successive years. However, contrary to our prediction, female great reed warblers seemed not to adjust their offspring sex ratio in relation to the local breeding sex ratio.     

Habitat use by three Acrocephalus warblers in an intensively used farmland area: the influence of breeding patch and its surroundings

Habitat use by the sedge warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, reed warbler A. scirpaceus and marsh warbler A. palustris was studied during 1998–2000 in an intensively cultivated agricultural landscape in western Poland. The birds occupied mid-field marsh patches (0.05–9.84 ha) and drainage ditches. Using logistic regression models, habitat preferences for particular patch type, characteristics of breeding patch vegetation and surrounding crop type were investigated. All habitat measurements were done within 50-m radius circles around breeding territory centers. The most important factors that influenced species distributions were the proportions of particular habitats within patch area and the type of surrounding crops. Sedge and reed warblers preferred areas with a high proportion of reeds and meadows. Marsh warblers avoided emergents other than reeds, and favored herbaceous vegetation and bushes. Open water areas positively affected reed warbler distribution. Crop type had a significant influence on within-year territory distribution and changes in between-year occupation pattern. In general, birds preferred to settle near fields of oil seed rape, while root crops and spring cereals were avoided. Breeding patch type and structure of reedbeds had relatively little influence on the distribution of breeding territories. The results obtained show that the surrounding landscape may significantly influence habitat use of species breeding in habitat islands in farmland. Depending on their structure and food resources, crops might have different value to the birds.     

Heritability of dispersal in the great reed warbler

Dispersal is commonly considered to be a condition‐dependent behaviour with no or low heritability. Here, we show that dispersal in the great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) has a high heritability. Analyses of capture–recapture data of male great reed warblers gathered from the species’ whole Swedish breeding range revealed a remarkable offspring–parent resemblance in dispersal behaviour (philopatry vs. inter‐population dispersal). Also, the degree of dispersal differed between cohorts, which shows that dispersal was partly conditionally dependent. The offspring to mid‐parent estimate of heritability was 0.50. In a previous study of the same data set of male offspring, we did not detect associations between dispersal and several relevant environmental, parental and offspring condition factors. Thus, our results indicate that variation in dispersal partly has a genetic basis in great reed warblers.     

The geographical distribution of populations of the large-billed subspecies of reed bunting matches that of its main winter food

We investigated the effects of resource distribution on the population structure and distribution of a polytypic bird species. We compared the presence of insect remains (mainly dormant larvae) in the winter diet of two reed bunting subspecies, small billed E. s. schoeniclus and large billed E. s. intermedia and studied the distribution of this resource within reed ( Phragmites sp.) stems in seven north Italian localities where the two subspecies breed (three schoeniclus and four intermedia populations). We also tested if the distributions of winter insect resources and breeding populations of the large bill subspecies overlapped. The distribution of the larvae in reed stems matched closely the distribution of large billed breeding populations. The winter diets of the two subspecies were significantly different in terms of frequency of insect remains. These results, when compared to theoretical models of para-patric distribution, suggest that the two subspecies may be subject to ecological (vicariant) selection maintaining their reproductive isolation. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 75 , 21–26.     

Low genetic differentiation among reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus populations across Europe

Migratory birds generally have higher dispersal propensity than resident species and are thus expected to show less genetic differentiation. On the other hand, specific migration patterns may promote genetic structure, such as in situations where migratory divides impede random mixing of individuals. Here we investigated population genetic structure and gene flow patterns in a polytypic passerine, the reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus which shows a migratory divide in central Europe. Using ten polymorphic microsatellite loci and extensive sampling we found low but significant overall genetic differentiation (F_ST=0.013, G’_ST=0.078, D=0.063). Hierarchical F‐statistics and barrier analyses showed low but significant genetic differentiation of Iberian populations, and also slight genetic differences across the migratory divide and between subspecies (A. s. scirpaceus and A. s. fuscus). Three individual‐based Bayesian methods, however, inferred a single genetic unit. Our study thus found low levels of genetic differentiation among reed warbler populations but this genetic differentiation was not pronounced enough to detect a clear population structure using the microsatellite data and no prior information on geographic location of the sampled individuals. This result indicates high levels of gene flow and suggests a possibly recent divergence of European populations after a rapid range expansion. Further studies are necessary to assess divergence times and to reveal the evolutionary history of the reed warbler populations.     

Molecular evidence of a reed warbler × great reed warbler hybrid ( Acrocephalus scirpaceus × A. arundinaceus) in Belgium

We report on the second case of a reed warbler × great reed warbler hybrid (Acrocephalus scirpaceus and A. arundinaceus). The bird was captured during a standardised ringing session in Belgium in autumn 1999, and fell between the parental species in all measurements. Molecular analyses of two microsatellite loci verified that the bird was a female that had a reed warbler father and a great reed warbler mother.     

Stable isotopes reveal differences in diet among reed bunting subspecies that vary in bill size

Reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus subspecies vary considerably in bill size and shape and seem to be at an early stage of speciation, in which bill might be indirectly causing reproductive isolation. Hence, we evaluated whether bill size, as well as age and sex, are associated with foraging niche in three west European subspecies of reed bunting: the thin‐billed schoeniclus, the intermediate‐billed lusitanica and the thick‐billed witherbyi. Blood sampling was undertaken at three sites in southwest Europe during the winter (when these subspecies co‐occur), and stable isotope analyses (carbon and nitrogen) were performed to assess their foraging niches. Stable isotope analyses of potential food items confirmed uniform baseline isotopic composition among sites. schoeniclus showed a significantly broader isotopic niche than lusitanica and witherbyi, which seemed otherwise similar despite the fact that witherbyi is more divergent in bill traits. Stable isotope ratios were consistent with the latter two subspecies feeding on C3‐plant‐feeding insects, whereas schoeniclus diet also included C4 plant material. Despite its lower sexual dimorphism, sex and age differences were found only in schoeniclus, but these differences vary between locations in a complex manner. Our results suggest that bill size and shape differentiated between northern, migratory and southern, resident subspecies as a consequence of natural selection through competition during the winter, which is now reflected in isotopic niche divergence between subspecies. The potential roles of sexual selection, reed thickness and summer temperature on the difference in bill size (and greater sexual dimorphism) between lusitanica and witherbyi are discussed.     

Lost and found: the enigmatic large-billed reed warbler Acrocephalus orinus rediscovered after 139 years

We present compelling evidence of the continued existence of the large-billed reed warbler Acrocephalus orinus , hitherto known only from the unique type specimen collected in NW India 139 years ago. Morphological and genetic analyses of an unusual Acrocephalus warbler mist-netted south-west of Bangkok, Thailand, on 27 March 2006, confirmed its identity as A. orinus , and revealed that it was heterozygous at four out of eight microsatellite markers, indicating the continued existence of a viable population whose breeding and wintering areas are still unknown.     

Foraging niche shift maintains breeding parameters of a colonial waterbird during range expansion

Relating the effects of foraging niche variation to reproductive dynamics is critical to understand species response to environmental change. We examined foraging niche variations of the slender‐billed gull (Chroicocephalus genei), a nomadic colonial waterbird species during its range expansion along the French Mediterranean coast over a 16‐year period (1998–2013). We investigated whether range expansion was associated with a change in chick diet, breeding success, and chicks body condition. We also examined whether breeding success and chicks body condition were explained by diet and colonial characteristics (number of pairs, laying phenology, habitat, and locality). Diet was characterized using dual‐stable isotopic proxies (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) of feather keratin from 331 individuals subsampled from a total of 4,154 chicks ringed and measured at 18 different colonies. δ¹³C decreased and δ¹⁵N increased significantly during range expansion suggesting that chicks were fed from preys of increasing trophic level found in the less salty habitat colonized by the end of the study period. Niche shift occurred without significant change of niche width which did not vary among periods, habitats, or localities either. Breeding success and chick body condition showed no consistent trends over years. Breeding success tended to increase with decreasing δ¹³C at the colony level while there was no relationship between stable isotope signatures and chick body condition. Overall, our results suggest that even if range expansion is associated with foraging niche shift toward the colonization of less salty and more brackish habitats, the shift had marginal effect on the breeding parameters of the Slender‐billed gull. Niche width appears as an asset of this species, which likely explains its ability to rapidly colonize new locations.     

Dynamic risk assessment: does a nearby breeding nest predator affect nest defence of its potential victim?

There is growing evidence that birds are able to discriminate different types of nest intruders and adjust their nest defence behaviour according to intruder dangerousness and distance from the nest (the dynamic risk assessment hypothesis). Here, we tested whether birds’ decisions about nest defence may additionally be affected by an increasing familiarity with a particular nest predator. We tested nest defence responses of great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus to a nest predator, the little bittern Ixobrychus minutus. Great reed warbler nests located close (≤7 m) to synchronously breeding little bitterns were “neighbour”, other nests were “solitary”. Great reed warbler specific aggression towards a little bittern dummy was much lower (~5-times) at neighbour than solitary nests. In contrast, generalised responses to a control innocuous intruder (the turtle dove, Streptopelia turtur) were statistically identical at neighbour and solitary nests. These patterns are in line with dynamic risk assessment hypothesis. We hypothesise that decreased great reed warbler aggression at neighbour nests also represents a specific behavioural adaptation to nesting in association with the little bittern. Little bitterns breeding closer to great reed warblers showed decreased risks of failure due to predation. However, further research is needed to experimentally test the causal links behind these patterns.     

Vocal repertoire of cooperatively breeding Smooth‐billed Anis

Calls are functionally diverse signals that mediate behavior in a wide variety of contexts in both passerines and non‐passerines. However, the call‐based acoustic communication systems of non‐passerines have received less attention from investigators than those of passerines. We examined the vocal repertoire of Smooth‐billed Anis (Crotophaga ani), cooperatively breeding cuckoos that live in groups with multiple breeding pairs. We recorded calls from 22 groups over two breeding seasons at the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge in Puerto Rico. We identified 11 call types and one group vocalization, and used an automated sound measurement program to quantify their acoustic features. Discriminant function analysis (DFA) correctly classified 74.2% of calls based on these features. The vocal repertoire of Smooth‐billed Anis is larger than that reported for the three other species in the subfamily Crotophaginae. Smooth‐billed Anis have at least two alarm calls, two nest‐specific calls, and one nest defense call. We also identified one possible signal of aggressive intent, one possible appeasement signal, and two calls that may communicate identity. The relatively large vocal repertoire of Smooth‐billed Anis and association of distinct call types with different functions and contexts supports the main prediction of the social complexity hypothesis, i.e., species with more complex social systems will have more complex communication systems.