四川南充市夜鹭的巢址选择

2006年3~6月,在四川省南充市太和保护区对夜鹭的巢址选择进行了研究。野外调查了夜鹭巢47个,对照样方26个,通过主成分分析和对比分析,表明影响夜鹭巢址选择的主要因子依次为:营巢树高度、植被平均高度、巢高、竹平均直径、隐蔽度、巢上方盖度、距水(西河)距离、距白鹭巢距离、植被盖度、巢下盖度。     

福建漳江口红树林鹭科鸟类巢址选择

2011年4～5月、2012年4～5月,采用样线调查和样方调查相结合的方法对福建漳江口红树林国家级自然保护区内鹭科鸟类巢址与影响其选择的因子进行研究.t-检验结果显示,红树基径、盖度、距地面平均高度、植株密度及秋茄比5个参数在巢区样方(n=23)与对照样方(n=37)之间存在显著差异(P＜0.05),桐花比、距道路距离、距村庄距离与距池塘距离4个参数存在极其显著差异(P＜0.01).主成分分析表明,植被结构和干扰条件是影响鹭科鸟类巢址选择的主要因子,植被结构不仅能够影响鹭科鸟类群落结构,还受到鹭科鸟类集群繁殖影响.     

新疆阜康地区家麻雀的巢址选择

2013年7月和2014年5~7月,在新疆阜康地区对家麻雀(Passer domesticus)的巢址选择进行调查,以分析影响家麻雀巢址选择的生态因子。在研究区内共找到75个家麻雀的自然巢,筑巢生境为农田和防护林带,均在白杨(Populus adenopoda)林和胡杨(P.euphratica)林中的树上筑巢。其中,繁殖成功巢40个,繁殖失败巢20个,15个巢未记录到繁殖结果。在研究区内的居民房屋、墙洞等没有发现家麻雀的巢。采用逻辑斯蒂回归和主成分分析方法对筑巢地海拔(m)、筑巢树种、筑巢树高(m)、巢距路距离(m)、巢距地面高度(m)、巢上方盖度(%)、筑巢树胸径(m)、最近邻巢的距离(m)这些家麻雀的主要巢址参数进行分析,结果表明,影响新疆阜康地区家麻雀巢址利用的主要因素为巢距地面高度(m)、巢上方盖度(%)和巢距路距离(m)。对家麻雀繁殖成功巢(n=40)和繁殖失败巢(n=20)的巢址参数进行比较,两者差异不显著,因而推测,在研究区域的尺度内,家麻雀的巢址选择并不是影响其繁殖成效的主要因素。     

扎龙保护区人工林内中华攀雀巢址特征分析

作者2011年9 ～ 10月在黑龙江省扎龙国家级自然保护区对人工林内中华攀雀(Remiz consobrinus)的巢址特征进行了研究.研究期间共发现36巢,选取巢距地面距离、巢距主干距离、巢距挂枝末端距离、巢树胸径等9个巢址因子进行主成分分析.结果表明,巢下生境、巢距地面距离和巢距主干距离以及巢距挂枝末端距离在中华攀雀巢址选择中起主要作用;巢树胸径、巢向和巢挂枝年龄次之.中华攀雀巢距地面(5.59±1.44)m,距主干距离为(1.81±0.50)m,距挂枝末段距离为(0.10±0.04)m,巢树胸径(0.29±0.08)m.巢距地面高度(P =0.002 3)和巢距明水面距离(P =0.003 7)在芦苇沼泽与林地草甸2种生境类型之间差异显著,巢树胸径在林地草甸与房屋农田2种生境类型之间差异显著(P=0.003 4),不同生境类型之间巢距主干距离、巢距挂枝末端距离和巢挂枝年龄无显著差异.     

内蒙古达赉湖西岸地区大鵟巢穴特征和巢址选择

2010年和2011年3月-6月,对内蒙古达赉湖国家级保护区达赉湖西岸地区大鵟(Buteo hemilasius)的巢穴结构和巢址选择因子进行了调查研究.采用野外观察和样方法定位了13个大鵟巢址,并对巢址样方的20个生态因子进行测量,运用主成分分析法对影响大鵟巢址选择的主要因子进行了分析.测量显示,大鵟巢穴的基本结构特征为:外径(94.7+4.2) cm;巢高度(46.1±2.7) cm;内径(24.8±1.5)cm;巢深(14.0±+0.9)cm.生境因子分析结果表明,达赉湖西岸地区大鵟的巢集中分布在湖岸或水塘附近的悬崖,营巢点坡度为15°-45°之间的阳坡或半阳坡;隐蔽度高于20％;草本密度大于5株/m2;植被均高大于30cm;巢距悬崖上部距离2-5m;距水源l00m以内;距居民点距离大于lkm;距草原道路的距离大于0.5km;而对于物种丰富度没有特殊要求.主成分分析显示,影响大鵟巢址选择的主要因子有3个,依次为:隐蔽性因子(主要包括巢址区域的植物特征和地形特征)、干扰因子和食物因子.各主成分中,相对系数绝对值最高的变量依次是:植被盖度、距居民点距离、巢的高度和距草原道路距离.     

长尾缝叶莺和栗头缝叶莺的巢址选择比较

2013年3—6月、2014年3—6月,在广西弄岗地区对长尾缝叶莺(Orthotomus sutorius)和栗头缝叶莺(O.cuculatus)的巢址特征进行调查,以比较两者巢址选择的差异。野外共发现64个长尾缝叶莺和47个栗头缝叶莺的巢,其中长尾缝叶莺有60巢(93.7%)位于村庄林下,4巢(6.3%)位于山脚阔叶林;栗头缝叶莺有3巢(6.3%)位于村庄林下,44巢(93.6%)位于山脚阔叶林。主成分分析结果表明:影响长尾缝叶莺巢址选择的主要生态因子为筑巢植物的高度、距林缘距离和海拔;影响栗头缝叶莺巢址选择的主要因素为筑巢植物的高度、巢四周的隐蔽度和距山峰的距离。判别分析结果表明,距山峰的距离是区分2种缝叶莺巢址选择的最重要参数。     

扎龙保护区散养与野生丹顶鹤巢址选择比较

为了探讨扎龙保护区散养与野生丹顶鹤(Grus japonensis)巢址选择的异同,2009年3～5月在扎龙国家级自然保护区内用生境因子测定法对散养丹顶鹤与野生丹顶鹤巢址选择进行比较。独立样本t-检验(independent-samples t-test)结果表明,散养丹顶鹤和野生丹顶鹤在巢址选择中,植被高度、植被密度、巢周围苇丛面积及巢距人为干扰地距离均存在着显著差异。说明野生丹顶鹤对巢址选择具有严格要求,倾向于选择人为活动较少,植被高度较高,植被密度和巢周围苇丛面积较大的生境中筑巢;散养丹顶鹤对生境要求不高。     

甘肃南部蓝马鸡的巢址选择

蓝马鸡(Crossoptilon auritum)是我国特有的雉类,仅分布在青海东部、东北部,甘肃西北部及南部,四川西北部以及宁夏西部。2007和2008年在甘肃南部林区对蓝马鸡巢址进行了研究。在发现的12个蓝马鸡巢中,4巢(33.3%)在乔木下,4巢(33.3%)在岩石上或者岩洞内,2巢(16.7%)在枯枝下,2巢(16.7%)在灌丛下。U检验和T检验表明,坡位、坡度、灌木高度、灌木数量、灌木盖度、0.5m植被盖度、1.0m植被盖度、2.0m植被盖度、干扰度等9个生态因子在巢址(n=12)与对照样方(n=24)中存在显著差异。对13个变量进行逐步判别分析,结果显示,高坡位、高林下植被盖度及低干扰度是蓝马鸡巢址优先选择的生态因子。     

河南新乡黄河湿地鸟类国家级自然保护区苍鹭巢特征与巢址选择

河南新乡黄河湿地鸟类国家级自然保护区是我国候鸟迁徙中线的必经之路,鸟类物种丰富。目前,该湿地的人为干扰现象日益突出,对鸟类栖息和繁殖造成了影响。苍鹭Ardea cinerea是该湿地鸟类的重要代表,其繁殖活动与栖息环境密切相关。为了解干扰鸟类繁殖的主要因素、有效管理保护区、维持湿地的鸟类多样性,于2017年5—8月,采用GPS定位、样方调查等方法对保护区陈桥东湖苍鹭繁殖地内的巢特征、巢址区和对照区生态因子进行了调查。研究结果表明:苍鹭筑巢位置对芦苇phragmites australis丛有极高的偏爱;巢材主要是芦苇;巢口向上呈浅盘状,巢内径、巢外径、巢高、巢深分别为(39.00±3.28)cm、(79.10±15.39)cm、(31.00±19.80)cm和(5.00±1.43)cm。对比苍鹭巢址区与对照区生态因子发现,巢址区植被密度、植被高度和植被盖度显著低于对照区(P0.05);水深、巢距人为活动不频繁地距离和巢距人为活动频繁地距离显著高于对照区(P0.05)。采用AIC信息准则法对可能影响苍鹭巢址选择的生态因子进行Logistic回归分析,结果发现,植被状态和干扰因子是制约苍鹭巢址选择的关键因素。建议通过采取适当扩大水域面积及水生植物面积、封锁湿地中的道路、定期蓄水、处理好湿地保护与旅游开发之间的关系等措施来改善苍鹭等鸟类的栖息环境,保护保护区鸟类多样性。     

卧龙国家级自然保护区水鹿夏季生境选择

015年7- 8月,采用样方法对卧龙国家级自然保护区水鹿夏季生境进行了调查。共布设160个样方,其中75个为空白对照样方,85个为利用样方,测量、比较了两类样方中海拔、坡度等15个生境变量,并根据Logistic回归分析及赤池信息标准（Akaike information criterion, AIC）选取出最佳的水鹿夏季生境选择模型。结果表明：影响卧龙水鹿夏季生境选择的主要因素为隐蔽度、坡度、距人为干扰距离和距水源距离。在夏季,卧龙水鹿通常选择隐蔽度较好、缓坡（< 20°）、距人为干扰距离远（≥ 1 000 m ）及距离水源近（< 500 m）的生境。此外,植被类型对于卧龙水鹿夏季生境选择也有一定的影响( χ2= 11.499 , df= 4, P= 0.021)。有约92%的利用样方分布于各种类型的森林中,仅有约8%的利用样方分布于海拔3 500 m左右的杜鹃及高山栎灌丛带。     

Availability and selection of arboreal termitaria as nest-sites by Orange-fronted Parakeets Aratinga canicularis in conserved and modified landscapes in Mexico

Few studies have investigated the use of termitaria by nesting parrots, or how this may be affected by habitat transformation. We determined selection of termitaria by nesting Orange-fronted Parakeets Aratinga canicularis , and evaluated the effect of habitat transformation on the availability of termitaria nest-sites for Parakeets in the tropical dry forest of Western Mexico. Availability of termitaria was quantified in 24 survey plots in a factorial design of six 1-ha plots in each of conserved and modified, deciduous and semi-deciduous forest. Characteristics of termitaria were determined in survey plots, as well as 21 nest-termitaria used by Parakeets, and their nearest adjacent termitarium. There was an overall density of 1.6 termitaria/ha suitable for nesting by Parakeets, which did not differ between habitats, although only 8% of apparently suitable termitaria were occupied by nesting Parakeets. However, termitaria in conserved semi-deciduous forest were significantly higher above the ground, and termitaria in conserved deciduous forest were significantly smaller in volume. In the modified landscape, termitaria were significantly lower and their volume significantly larger than in conserved landscapes. Termitaria used by nesting parrots were at a significantly greater height above the ground than the nearest adjacent termitaria. Termitarium volume did not reliably predict the likelihood of nest-site selection, although Parakeets only used termitaria between 15 and 150 l. Parakeets nesting in modified habitats used termitaria at a significantly lower height than Parakeets nesting in conserved habitat. It is unclear whether this represents a decline in nest-site quality in modified habitats, which could affect reproductive success of Parakeet populations in fragmented landscapes.     

Effect of methodological and ecological approaches on heterogeneity of nest-site selection of a long-lived vulture

The application of scientific-based conservation measures requires that sampling methodologies in studies modelling similar ecological aspects produce comparable results making easier their interpretation. We aimed to show how the choice of different methodological and ecological approaches can affect conclusions in nest-site selection studies along different Palearctic meta-populations of an indicator species. First, a multivariate analysis of the variables affecting nest-site selection in a breeding colony of cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) in central Spain was performed. Then, a meta-analysis was applied to establish how methodological and habitat-type factors determine differences and similarities in the results obtained by previous studies that have modelled the forest breeding habitat of the species. Our results revealed patterns in nesting-habitat modelling by the cinereous vulture throughout its whole range: steep and south-facing slopes, great cover of large trees and distance to human activities were generally selected. The ratio and situation of the studied plots (nests/random), the use of plots vs. polygons as sampling units and the number of years of data set determined the variability explained by the model. Moreover, a greater size of the breeding colony implied that ecological and geomorphological variables at landscape level were more influential. Additionally, human activities affected in greater proportion to colonies situated in Mediterranean forests. For the first time, a meta-analysis regarding the factors determining nest-site selection heterogeneity for a single species at broad scale was achieved. It is essential to homogenize and coordinate experimental design in modelling the selection of species' ecological requirements in order to avoid that differences in results among studies would be due to methodological heterogeneity. This would optimize best conservation and management practices for habitats and species in a global context.     

Flexible nest-site selection under anthropogenic habitat change in an Afrotropical understorey insectivore

Human activities impact upon natural habitats used by birds for breeding and foraging, and lead to changes in the composition and spatial distribution of predator communities, mainly through loss, fragmentation and disturbance of formerly pristine habitat. Yet possible fitness consequences of such changes through impacts on bird nest-site selection remain poorly known. Here we study nest-site selection and reproductive success of Placid Greenbuls Phyllastrephus placidus in the Taita Hills, southeast Kenya. We show that habitat features associated with nest-site selection by this insectivorous, open-cup-nesting bird species vary among forest fragments that are exposed to different levels of habitat disturbance. Such differences in sites selected for breeding result from a plastic response to fragment-specific conditions or may be driven by fragment-specific variation in the distribution and availability of certain habitat features. Given the overall high nest predation rates in our study area, we expected variation in nest-site selection to correlate with reproductive success and nestling condition, but detected no such relationship. Because predator density and nest predation rates may vary strongly in space and time, a better understanding of spatio-temporal variation in predator communities is needed to assess the possible adaptive value of nest-site selection strategies for reducing the high predation rates that are typical for this and many other open-cup-nesting tropical passerines.     

Multi-scale habitat selection in highly territorial bird species: Exploring the contribution of nest,territory and landscape levels to site choice in breeding rallids (Aves: Rallidae)

Habitat selection often involves choices made at different spatial scales, but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood, and studies that investigate the relative importance of individual scales are rare. We investigated the effect of three spatial scales (landscape, territory, nest-site) on the occurrence pattern of little crake Zapornia parva and water rail Rallus aquaticus at 74 ponds in the Masurian Lakeland, Poland. Habitat structure, food abundance and water chemical parameters were measured at nests and random points within landscape plots (from 300-m to 50-m radius), territory (14-m) and nest-site plots (3-m). Regression analyses suggested that the most relevant scale was territory level, followed by landscape, and finally by nest-site for both species. Variation partitioning confirmed this pattern for water rail, but also highlighted the importance of nest-site (the level explaining the highest share of unique variation) for little crake. The most important variables determining the occurrence of both species were water body fragmentation (landscape), vegetation density (territory) and water depth (at territory level for little crake, and at nest-site level for water rail). Finally, for both species multi-scale models including factors from different levels were more parsimonious than single-scale ones, i.e. habitat selection was likely a multi-scale process. The importance of particular spatial scales seemed more related to life-history traits than to the extent of the scales considered. In the case of our study species, the territory level was highly important likely because both rallids have to obtain all the resources they need (nest site, food and mates) in relatively small areas, the multi-purpose territories they defend.     

白尾地鸦的巢址选择

2017年4和5月,在位于新疆塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘的和田地区民丰县对白尾地鸦（Podoces bidduphi）的巢址选择进行研究。共记录白尾地鸦巢12个,测量了巢参数,用Mann-Whitney U检验分析巢样方与对照样方的差异,用主成分法分析影响白尾地鸦巢址选择的主要因子。结果显示：1）白尾地鸦巢多筑于绿洲边缘的柽柳（Tamarix）灌丛,巢距地面高（109.1 ± 13.2）cm,巢深（8.5 ± 0.5）cm,巢厚（3.8 ± 0.4）cm,内径（13.9 ± 0.9）cm,外径（21.6 ± 1.3）cm;2）巢样方的植被物种数和植被盖度远高于对照样方;3）影响白尾地鸦巢址选择的主要因素为植被物种数及干扰,其中干扰主要指距道路以及距居民点的距离。综上所述,白尾地鸦的巢址选择受食物等生存需求和躲避干扰等安全因素的双重影响,是生存与繁殖权衡的结果。     

Factors influencing the abundance of parrots and hornbills in pristine and disturbed forests on New Britain, PNG

We estimated densities of parrot and hornbill species in primary and selectively logged forest and forest gardens at two lowland sites on New Britain, PNG. We related differences in abundance to food and nest-site availability in the different habitats and determined whether nest-site availability might limit local breeding populations. Blue-eyed Cockatoo Cacatua ophthalmica and Blyth's Hornbill Rhyticeros plicatus were usually rarer in forest gardens than in primary forest, but both fared well in logged forest. Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus was more common in all human-altered forests than in primary forest, and Eastern Black-capped Lory Lorius hypoinochrous was reasonably common throughout but extremely abundant in forest gardens at one site. Parrots and hornbills were recorded eating fruits of 15 tree species and flowers of nine species. Densities of these fruiting and flowering trees were highest in logged forest and forest gardens, respectively, indicating the importance of these anthropogenic habitats as feeding grounds for the assemblage. Active nest cavities were found in large individuals of 12 tree species. Densities of potential nest cavities were highest in primary forest and lowest in forest gardens. At both sites, estimates of potential nest-site density were significantly lower than estimates of the density of pairs of all species of parrots and hornbills: there may be 10–20 parrot/hornbill individuals per nest-hole. Continuing forest alteration, whilst further reducing nest-site availability, may allow large populations of parrots and hornbills to persist due to increased availability of food in some anthropogenic habitats. However, current abundance of such bird species may be a poor correlate of future extinction risk as long-lived taxa may remain common for some period even when annual recruitment has declined to critically low levels.     

Importance of Montane Riparian Forest and Influence of Wildfire on Nest-Site Selection of Ground-Nesting Birds

Abstract: We studied breeding populations of 2 coexisting ground-nesting birds, the red-faced warbler (Cardellina rubrifrons) and yellow-eyed junco (Junco phaeonotus), in high-elevation (>2,000 m) forested drainages of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona, USA. From 2004 to 2005, we 1) estimated density and nesting success of breeding populations of red-faced warblers and yellow-eyed juncos, 2) identified nest-site characteristics for each species (i.e., used sites vs. random plots), 3) compared nest-site characteristics between the 2 species, and 4) examined effects of a recent (2003) wildfire on distribution of nests of both species. In addition, we estimated the areal extent of montane riparian forest (the preferred breeding habitat of both species) within high-elevation forests of the Santa Catalina Mountains. We found that red-faced warblers and yellow-eyed juncos were the 2 most common ground-nesting birds within our study area with an average density of 2.4 and 1.4 singing males/ha, respectively, along drainage bottoms. Compared to random plots, most red-faced warbler and yellow-eyed junco nests were located close (≤30 m) to drainage bottoms within a strip of montane riparian forest characterized by abundant brush, small woody debris, ferns, and forbs (both species), high number and diversity of saplings and small trees (red-faced warblers), and abundant shrubs and downed logs and less canopy cover (yellow-eyed juncos). Although both species nested in close proximity within montane riparian forest, nest-site characteristics differed between the 2 species, especially at finer spatial scales. For example, most yellow-eyed juncos nested adjacent to grass (principally Muhlenbergia spp.), whereas red-faced warblers nested adjacent to a variety of plant species, including grass, bigtooth maple (Acer grandidentatum), white fir (Abies concolor), and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Both red-faced warblers and yellow-eyed juncos avoided nesting in areas burned during a recent wildfire. In addition, nesting success was low for red-faced warblers (13%) and yellow-eyed juncos (19%) following the wildfire, suggesting an indirect negative effect of fire on breeding populations in the short-term. Montane riparian forest appears to provide important breeding habitat for red-faced warblers and yellow-eyed juncos. However, little research or conservation planning has been directed toward montane riparian forest in the region, even though this forest type is limited in its areal extent (<11% of high-elevation forest in the Santa Catalina Mountains) and increasingly threatened by disturbance. Results from our study can be used to facilitate the management and conservation of breeding populations of red-faced warblers and yellow-eyed juncos in high-elevation forests of the southwestern United States.