Breeding ecology of the Eastern Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus orientalis at Lake Kasumigaura,central Japan

CapsuleTwo populations of the Eastern Great Reed Warblers, one close to settlements and one far away, differed mainly in nest losses which were higher at the latter site.

Aims To compare the breeding ecology of two Japanese populations, and with breeding data from Polish sites.

Methods We studied two sites in 1996. The Seimei site comprises a natural reed-bed (Phragmites australis) (2.0 ha) c. 2 km from residential areas. The Sakura site occurs as smaller reed-bed (0.8 ha) close to residential areas. Field study comprised mainly nest searching and nest monitoring.

Results Breeding density, nest height, number of stems supporting nest, clutch size and brood size were not significantly different between sites. The proportion of nests built on reed stems standing in the water (60%) was significantly higher at the Seimei site (P < 0.001), and the warblers in this habitat experienced significantly higher nesting failure (P < 0.05). Predation was a principal cause of failure at both sites. Significantly more nests suffered from predation at Seimei (53%) than at Sakura (16%). Breeding density was higher at both sites compared with European populations but it fell within ranges of other Japanese populations. Mean first-egg date of first brood does not differ between our sites and Polish ones.

Conclusion The differences between the two Japanese populations and between Japanese and Polish populations were relatively small and were seen mainly in nest losses, breeding density and proportion of nests built over water.     

The common cuckoo Cuculus canorus is not locally adapted to its reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus host

The obligate avian brood parasitic common cuckoo Cuculus canorus comprises different strains of females that specialize on particular host species by laying eggs of a constant type that often mimics those of the host. Whether cuckoos are locally adapted for mimicking populations of the hosts on which they are specialized has never been investigated. In this study, we first explored the possibility of local adaptation in cuckoo egg mimicry over a geographical mosaic of selection exerted by one of its main European hosts, the reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus. Secondly, we investigated whether cuckoos inhabiting reed warbler populations with a broad number of alternative suitable hosts at hand were less locally adapted. Cuckoo eggs showed different degrees of mimicry to different reed warbler populations. However, cuckoo eggs did not match the egg phenotypes of their local host population better than eggs of other host populations, indicating that cuckoos were not locally adapted for mimicry on reed warblers. Interestingly, cuckoos exploiting reed warblers in populations with a relatively larger number of co-occurring cuckoo gentes showed lower than average levels of local adaptation in egg volume. Our results suggest that cuckoo local adaptation might be prevented when different cuckoo populations exploit more or fewer different host species, with gene flow or frequent host switches breaking down local adaptation where many host races co-occur.     

The response of the Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus to climate change

We examined long-term responses in the breeding performance of the Great Reed Warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus to climate change. The study took place in various years from 1970 to 2007. During the study period, mean temperatures in the breeding season of the species increased and precipitation decreased significantly. We found evidence for the significant advancement in both earliest and annual median first-egg-laying dates. This advancement correlated with temperature increases early in the season. The latest first-egg laying dates, however, remained unchanged. Other breeding statistics: clutch size, nest losses, and production of young per nest, did not change significantly over the study period. Precipitation did not affect any of the analysed measures. It is important to note, though, that during dry seasons, the production of young per successful nest was higher. In contrast to some woodland species, the Great Reed Warbler seems to adapt well to climate change by shifting laying dates. The reason for this is probably to optimise food resources.     

Birds of a feather winter together: migratory connectivity in the Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus

To investigate migratory connectivity in the Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus, we analysed (1) all available sub-Saharan ringing recoveries and (2) stable isotopes in feathers grown in Africa sampled at 17 European breeding sites across a migratory divide. A cluster analysis of ringing recoveries showed remarkable connectivity between breeding and non-breeding grounds. Two main clusters represented populations taking the two main migratory routes [southwesterly (SW) and southeasterly (SE)]. Stable isotope analysis confirmed the separation of wintering areas of SW- and SE-migrating populations. Higher δ¹⁵N values in feathers of SE-migrating birds indicated that they occupied more xeric biome types. Values of δ¹³C that did not differ significantly among populations were higher than those from feathers of known European origin and indicated a C4 biome. Three populations with an unknown migratory direction were assigned to the SE-migrating populations on the basis of δ¹⁵N values.     

Survival of British Sedge Warblers Acrocephalus schoenobaenus in relation to west African rainfall

Fluctuations in the population levels and annual adult survival rates of British Sedge Warblers Acrocephalus schoenobaenus since the late 1960s are strongly correlated with indices of wet season rainfall in the west African winter quarters. Population changes are unrelated to estimates of breeding productivity in the previous year. Habitat availability in the winter quarters has probably been the main factor limiting the size of the Sedge Warbler population in Britain during the period of study.     

Egg phenotype matching by cuckoos in relation to discrimination by hosts and climatic conditions

Although parasites and their hosts often coexist in a set of environmentally differentiated populations connected by gene flow, few empirical studies have considered a role of environmental variation in shaping correlations between traits of hosts and parasites. Here, we studied for the first time the association between the frequency of adaptive parasitic common cuckoo Cuculus canorus phenotypes in terms of egg matching and level of defences exhibited by its reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus hosts across seven geographically distant populations in Europe. We also explored the influence of spring climatic conditions experienced by cuckoos and hosts on cuckoo-host egg matching. We found that between-population differences in host defences against cuckoos (i.e. rejection rate) covaried with between-population differences in degree of matching. Between-population differences in host egg phenotype were associated with between-population differences in parasitism rate and spring climatic conditions, but not with host level of defences. Between-population differences in cuckoo egg phenotype covaried with between-population differences in host defences and spring climatic conditions. However, differences in host defences still explained differences in mimicry once differences in climatic conditions were controlled, suggesting that selection exerted by host defences must be strong relative to selection imposed by climatic factors on egg phenotypes.     

An assessment of British farmers' and gamekeepers' experiences, attitudes and practices in relation to the European Polecat Mustela putorius

Postal questionnaires were distributed to farmers and gamekeepers within the Polecat’s Mustela putorius main range in Britain. Only 11% of responding farmers had ever experienced damage by Polecats; 28% regarded the species as a threat to livestock. Conversely 53% of farmers believed Polecats control Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus, and 39% believed they control rodents on the farm. Two-thirds of responding gamekeepers had experienced Polecat predation of penned game, with the commonest access routes via ‘pop-holes’ and beneath the perimeter wire. Most gamekeepers (68%) regarded the Polecat as a minor pest, but ranked it as a less serious threat to game than predators such as the Fox Vulpes vulpes, Feral Cat Felis catus, Stoat Mustela erminea, corvids and Mink Mustela vison. Majorities of both farmers and gamekeepers would be concerned about an increase in the numbers of Polecats, and most wished to be free to control the species. Trapping was regarded as the main defence against Polecat predation of game; 91% of gamekeepers had trapped Polecats over the preceding 5 years. A minority of farmers carried out Polecat control; this activity was more prevalent on farms near the fringe of the species’ range. Pest-control practices likely to impact accidentally or indirectly upon Polecats, such as rodenticide use, fumigation (‘gassing’) of Rabbit burrows and ferreting, were also more prevalent on farms towards the fringe of the species’ range. These findings are discussed in the light of the Polecat’s status as a Scheduled species recovering its range in Britain. In anticipation of the species’ further spread into areas where game shooting is prevalent, recommendations are made regarding the need to improve game husbandry and to modify trapping practice. In particular, the night-time closure of pop-holes and the effective exclusion of Polecats from tunnel traps are suggested as a means of promoting greater tolerance of Polecats and compliance with the law.     

Diversity and abundance of birds in relation to forest fragmentation,habitat quality and heterogeneity

This study investigated the importance of habitat quality and habitat heterogeneity for the abundance and diversity of breeding birds in continuous forest and in forest fragments surrounded by farmland in central Sweden. Positive correlations were found between species number and area, volume of Aspen Populus tremula and habitat heterogeneity. Spatial segregation of habitats at a relatively fine-grained scale is suggested to allow for the co-occurrence of more species. The abundance of at least 18 of the species in this study was influenced by fragmentation, and nine of these species preferred fragments to forest sites. The total density of birds was higher in fragments than in forest sites, probably because several fragment species forage in farmland surrounding the sites and a few also forage at edges. Nine species were more common in forest sites than in fragments, but only one species was restricted to continuous forest. However, several fragments were relatively close to forests (150 m) and forest was common in larger scale contexts. The abundance of most species (25 of 33 species) in this study was correlated with habitat quality variables (i.e. variables measuring the size, volume and diversity of ‘tree species’). Among these habitat variables the most important was the occurrence of deciduous trees which seemed to be important for 14 species. The second most important habitat factor seemed to be the diameter of trees, which was positively correlated with the abundance of eight species of which five are hole-nesters. Among coniferous trees, six species were positively correlated with the volume of Norway Spruce Picea abies, whereas no species seemed to be correlated with the volume of Pine Pinus sylvestris.     

A comparative analysis of the evolution of variation in appearance of eggs of European passerines in relation to brood parasitism

Host of brood parasites increase the ability of rejecting cuckooeggs by production of (1) a clutch with little variation amongeggs and (2) a clutch that differs the most from the modal phenotypeof the population. These hypotheses have been tested by Øienet at. (1995), although they did not control for common phylogeneticancestry. We analyze the evolution of egg color and markingpatterns in European passerines, which are potential hosts ofdie European cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), using Felsenstein's (1985)independent comparative method to control for the effect ofcommon phylogenetic descent We found a significant positiverelationship between interclutch variation in appearance ofhost eggs and parasitism rate, but this relationship disappearedwhen hole-nesting species were excluded from the analysis; andwe found a highly significant multiple regression between rejectionrate and intra- and interclutch variation in egg appearance,even when hole nesters were excluded from the analysis. Thepartial correlation coefficients were negative for intraclutchvariation and positive with interclutch variation in agreementwidi the hypotheses. Therefore, the use of the independent comparativemethod strengthens the hypothesis that the evolution of eggpatterns in hosts is associated with different stages of coevolutionwith the brood parasite.     

Survival of six species of African ticks in relation to saturation deficits

The survival of unfed males and females of six species of African ticks was monitored at five different saturation deficits at constant temperature (25°C). The survivorship curves for each species comprised a pre-mortality period, prior to when ticks started to die and a mortality period corresponding to a rapid increase in the mortality rate. Longevity was defined as pre-mortality plus mortality. A negative correlation between the longevity of the ticks and the saturation deficits was found with ticks surviving longer at lower deficits. The survival of males and females was similar. At low saturation deficits (2–4 mmHg) Amblyomma hebraeum survived the longest periods (74 weeks). Some correlation was found between the tick survival under dehydrating conditions and habitat associations. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Haemaphysalis leachii, the most mesic in distribution, had the shortest longevity (21 and 13 weeks, respectively) at high saturation deficits (7–21 mmHg). Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, the most xerophilic in distribution, had the longest survival (39.3±10.5 weeks) at high saturation deficits. Other factors apart from the adult survival should be taken into account when accounting for the tick distribution, in particular the tolerance of earlier developmental stages to desiccation.     

Patterns of extrapair mating in relation to male dominance status and female nest placement in black-capped chickadees

In sexually promiscuous animals, females may benefit by nestingclose to the edge of their partner's territory to facilitateextrapair copulations. In the present study, we describe theextrapair mating system of black-capped chickadees, Poecileatricapillus, and test whether nest locations are influencedby conspecific attraction to extrapair partners. We conducteda spatial analysis of female mating strategies by using microsatellitepaternity analysis in conjunction with geographic informationsystem (GIS) analysis of nest and territory locations. Extrapairoffspring comprised 52 of 351 offspring (14.8%) and were presentin 19 of 57 broods (33.3%). Females paired to males with lowdominance status in the previous winter's flock hierarchy weremore likely to engage in a mixed reproductive strategy thanwere females paired to males with high dominance status. Femaleshad extrapair copulations and extrapair fertilizations withhigh-ranking males more often than with low-ranking males. Notall extrapair copulations resulted in extrapair fertilizations.Females constructed their nests within 16.8 ± 1.0 m ofthe edge of their partner's territory, significantly closerto the edge of their nearest neighbor's territory than to thecenter of their own partner's territory. Extrapair males usuallyshared territory boundaries with cuckolded males. Females pairedto low-ranking males constructed nests near the territory edgesof neighboring high-ranking males. However, females did nothave extrapair copulations with the neighbor nearest to theirnest or even with the high-ranking neighbor nearest to theirnest. We conclude that conspecific attraction to neighbors mayinfluence nesting location in black-capped chickadees; however,it does not operate by facilitating extrapair copulations.     

Survival and reproductive rate of mites in relation to resistance of their barn swallow hosts

Parasite resistance may act via a number of different mechanisms that regulate or control the survival and the reproductive rate of parasites. Observations and experiments were used to test for effects of host resistance on parasite survival and rate of reproduction. Natural levels of infestation of barn swallow Hirundo rustica nests by the tropical fowl mite Ornithonyssus bursa were positively related to brood size, inversely related to the length of the outermost tail feathers of male nest owners (a secondary sexual character) and affected by time of reproduction by the host. A mite inoculation experiment, in which 50 adult mites were introduced into nests during the laying period of the host, was used to test for differential survival and reproduction of mites as a function of host resistance. The relationship between survival and reproduction of parasites, male tail length and host resistance was investigated. There was a negative relationship between mite numbers per nest after fledging of nestlings and male tail length. This relationship was mainly caused by a reduction in the number of mites in the first and second nymph stage with increasing tail length of male hosts, implying a reduction in rate of reproduction of mites. The proportion of mites that had recently fed was inversely related to tail length of male hosts. The proportion of nymph stages was positively related to the proportion of mites that had recently had a blood meal. Parasite resistance of barn swallows to the tropical fowl mite thus appeared to act through increased mortality rate of adult and nymph stages of mites, and through reduced reproductive rates of mites on resistant hosts. This is the first study demonstating a direct relationship between fitness components of a parasite and the expression of a secondary sexual character of a host. Received: 11 January 2000 / Accepted: 22 March 2000     

Survival of Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, oocytes in relation to intracellular ice formation

The effect of IIF in Pacific oyster oocytes was studied using cryo and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The viability of oocytes at each step of a published cryopreservation protocol was assessed in an initial experiment. Two major viability losses were identified; one when oocytes were cooled to −35 °C and the other when oocytes were plunged in liquid nitrogen. Although the cryomicroscope showed no evidence of IIF in oocytes cooled with this protocol, TEM revealed that these oocytes contained ice crystals and were at two developmental stages when frozen, prophase and metaphase I. To reduce IIF, the effect of seven cooling programmes involving cooling to −35 or −60 °C at 0.1 or 0.3 °C min⁻¹ and holding for 0 or 30 min at −35 or −60 °C was evaluated on post-thaw fertilization rate of oocytes. Regardless of the cooling rate or holding time, the fertilization rate of oocytes cooled to −60 °C was significantly lower than that of oocytes cooled to −35 °C. The overall results indicated that observations of IIF obtained from cryomicroscopy are limited to detection of larger amounts of ice within the cells. Although the amount of cellular ice may have been reduced by one of the programmes, fertilization was reduced significantly; suggesting that there is no correlation between the presence of intracellular ice and post-thaw fertilization rate. Therefore, oyster oocytes may be more susceptible to the effect of high solute concentrations and cell shrinkage than intracellular ice under the studied conditions.     

Survival of Lactobacillus helveticus entrapped in Ca-alginate in relation to water content, storage and rehydration

Lactobacillus helveticus CNRZ 303 entrapped in Ca-alginate gel beads was investigated for improved survival and stability during fluidized-bed drying, storage and rehydration. Addition of protective solutes was very important. Studies of the conditions showed that inactivation of entrapped L. helveticus started when the water content exceeded 0.3–0.4 g H₂O (g dry wt)⁻¹ for adonitol, glycerol and reconstituted non fat milk solids (NFSM). With Ringer’s solution (control) and betaine, the fall in viability was evident above 1 g H₂O (g dry wt)⁻¹. Drying down to 0.2 g H₂O (g dry wt)⁻¹ required the removal of 98.5–98.9% of the water. The best survival rate with the least injured cells among survivors was experienced with adonitol and NFMS, respectively, 71% and 57% (compared to the initial) immediately after dehydration. Adonitol and NFMS were also best for survival during storage. The highest cell recovery was obtained by rehydrating the cells in cheese whey permeate between 20–30°C done at pH 6.0–7.0, satisfying the demands for cell survival, repair and slow swelling (adaptions). Received 04 January 1999/ Accepted in revised form 29 April 1999     

The biology of the stoat (Mustela erminea) in the National Parks of New Zealand III. Morphometric variation in relation to growth,geographical distribution,and colonisation

Abstract

A total of 1599 stoats were collected from 14 study areas (including all 10 National Parks) from 1972 to 1976. Samples were larger in summer, and contained more females. Young stoats are born in September-October, and females reach adult weight by the following March, though males not until after August. There was significant geographic variation in the body size of adult stoats sampled: males from lowland podocarp/broadleaved forests averaged 3% smaller than males from upland beech forests in skull length, and 4% smaller in head-and-body length. This pattern was repeated, less clearly, in females and in young (approximately 2–5 months old). In contrast with stoats in Britain, assumed to be still the same size as the colonising stock introduced into New Zealand in 1884 and subsequently, males from lowland podocarp forests were unchanged or possibly smaller, and males from upland beech forests were larger; females were larger in all habitats. In males, the extent of geographic variation is almost as great in New Zealand as in the whole of continental Europe. Possible explanations of this pattern are discussed.     

Survival of Svalbard pink-footed geese Anser brachyrhynchus in relation to winter climate, density and land-use

1. Global change may strongly affect population dynamics, but mechanisms remain elusive. Several Arctic goose species have increased considerably during the last decades. Climate, and land-use changes outside the breeding area have been invoked as causes but have not been tested. We analysed the relationships between conditions on wintering and migration staging areas, and survival in Svalbard pink-footed geese Anser brachyrhynchus. Using mark-recapture data from 14 winters (1989-2002) we estimated survival rates and tested for time trends, and effects of climate, goose density and land-use. 2. Resighting rates differed for males and females, were higher for birds recorded during the previous winter and changed smoothly over time. Survival rates did not differ between sexes, varied over time with a nonsignificant negative trend, and were higher for the first interval after marking (0.88-0.97) than afterwards (0.74-0.93). Average survival estimates were 0.967 (SE 0.026) for the first and 0.861 (SE 0.023) for all later survival intervals. 3. We combined 16 winter and spring climate covariates into two principal components axes. F1 was related to warm/wet winters and an early spring on the Norwegian staging areas and F2 to dry/cold winters. We expected that F1 would be positively related to survival and F2 negatively. F1 explained 23% of survival variation (F1,10=3.24; one-sided P=0.051) when alone in a model and 28% (F1,9=4.50; one-sided P=0.031) in a model that assumed a trend for survival. In contrast, neither F2 nor density, land-use, or scaring practices on important Norwegian spring staging areas had discernible effects on survival. 4. Climate change may thus affect goose population dynamics, with warmer winters and earlier springs enhancing survival and fecundity. A possible mechanism is increased food availability on Danish wintering and Norwegian staging areas. As geese are among the main herbivores in Arctic ecosystems, climate change, by increasing goose populations, may have important indirect effects on Arctic vegetation. Our study also highlights the importance of events outside the breeding area for the population dynamics of migrant species.     

Fire survival of lowland tropical rain forest trees in relation to stem diameter and topographic position

The objective of this study was to relate patterns in forest structure, tree species diversity, and tree species composition to stem diameters and topography in unburned, once burned and twice burned lowland dipterocarp rain forests in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. To do this four unburned old growth forests were compared with three forests that burned once (1997/1998) and three forests that burned twice (1982/1983 and 1997/1998). Fire resulted in a strong reduction of climax tree density which was negatively related to tree diameter. However, a disproportionate reduction in small diameter understorey climax tree species occurred only after repeated fires. Climax tree species in both burned forest types were most common in swamps, river valleys and on lower slopes, while their density was much lower on places higher along hillsides. In unburned forest the opposite was observed, with climax tree density increasing steadily from swamp and river valleys to upper slopes and ridges. In contrast to climax trees, pioneer trees were abundant throughout the burned forest, with highest numbers on hill sides and ridges. Our results indicate that both diameter and topographic position of trees strongly affect their fire survival chances in tropical lowland forests.     

Frequency of partial and missing rings in Acer saccharum in relation to canopy position and growth rate

Locally absent growth rings are known to occur in trees during periods of environmental stress, but little evidence has been available on their frequency in moist temperate forests or on their potential for causing problems in dendroecological studies. In this study, 95 stem disks of Acer saccharum cut from trees representing a wide range of size and age were examined for ring anomalies using three techniques – inspection of disks for partial rings, crossdating of each tree against regional master chronologies, and use of stand history evidence. The number of ring anomalies in Acer saccharum was inversely related to growth rate and vigor. Mean percentage of ring anomalies was 1.3% in dominant canopy trees, 4.6% in trees of the intermediate crown class, and 16.2% in overtopped trees. All of the overtopped trees had partial or missing rings, with a mean of 10 per tree and a range of 2 to 20. Use of crossdating to correct for ring anomalies appeared to be successful in 88% of the canopy trees. However, crossdating results were inconclusive in 32% of the overtopped trees because of low ring width variability, multiple missing rings, and short duration of trouble-free segments. Because overtopped trees are of limited value in reconstructing disturbance history and often cannot be crossdated reliably, we suggest that they normally be excluded from disturbance chronologies.     

Survival of the Colorado potato beetle on virus-infected tomato in relation to plant nitrogen and alkaloid content

Infection by tobacco mosaic virus improved the suitability of tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. for survival of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), larvae. This improvement was due, at least in part, to the increase in total nitrogen content of virus-infected plants. The simultaneous increase in tomatine content had no discernable effect on L. decemlineata survival. Our results are consistent with the suggestions that virus infection may improve the suitability of partially resistant or non-preferred hosts, and that virus infection may facilitate the adaption of phytophagous insects to such marginal host plant species.

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Résumé Pour vérifier l'hypothèse selon laquelle une contamination par un virs végétal peut accroître la consommation de plantes délaissées ou partiellement résistantes, nous avons examiné les interactions entre Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., et le virus de la mosaïque du tabac (TMV). La survie des larves de L. decemlineata a augmenté avec la contamination par TMV; les teneurs en azote et en tomatine étaient toutes deux plus élevées dans les plantes contaminées par le virus. La survie a augmenté linéairement avec la teneur en azote, mais sans dépendre de la teneur en tomatine. L'influence positive pour L. decemlineata de la contamination par le virus peut être attribuée au moins en partie à la teneur en azote plus élevée. Nos résultats correspondent à l'hypothèse selon laquelle la consommation de plantes délaissées ou partiellement résistantes peut être augmentée par la contamination virale, et que cette contamination peut faciliter l'adaptation d'insectes phytophages sur des plantes marginalement consommables.