European starlings: nestling condition, parasites and green nest material during the breeding season |
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Authors: | Helga Gwinner and Silke Berger |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biological Rhythms and Behavior, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Von-der-Tann-Strasse 7, 82346 Andechs, Germany;(2) Department of Experimental Ecology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89069 Ulm, Germany |
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Abstract: | Male European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) intermingle fresh herbs, preferably species rich in volatile compounds, into their dry nest material. In a field study,
we investigated whether these herbs affect the mite and bacteria load of the nests and the condition of the nestlings either
directly or via parasite control. We examined the amount of herbs and the number of plant species males carried into their
nests, the variation of volatile compounds in the headspace air of the nest boxes and mite/bacteria load of the nests throughout
the season. The amount of herb material and the number of plant species, the number of substances emanated by these plants
and the infestation of the nests with bacteria and mites (Dermanyssus gallinae) increased with season. In a field experiment, we exchanged natural starling nests with experimental nests with or without
herbs. We found that the herbs had no effect on the mites but fewer bacteria were sampled in nests with herbs than in nests
without herbs. The body mass of the fledging was not related to the season or the mite/bacteria load of the nests. However,
nestlings from nests with herbs fledged with higher body mass than nestlings from nests without herbs. Both bacteria and mite
load were related to nestling mortality. In nests containing no herbs, the numbers of fledglings declined significantly with
the increasing mite load while the mites had no effect on the number of fledglings in nests with herbs. Thus, the nest herbs
counteracted the effect of the mites. In conclusion, it seems that volatile herbs can reduce bacterial but not mite infestation
of the starling nests. The positive influence of herbs on nestling growth indicates that herbs either directly (perhaps as
immunostimulants) improve the condition of the nestlings and help them cope with the harmful effects of mites, or they provide
a nest environment beneficial for the nestlings‘ development by the reduction of germs. |
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Keywords: | European starlings Nestlings condition Parasites Herbs Season |
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