OBSERVATIONS ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF BIRDS IN SOUTHERN RHODESIA

Maclean, G. L. 1974. The breeding biology of the Rufouseared Warbler and its bearing on the genus Prinia. Ostrich 45: 9–14.

The Rufouseared Warbler Prinia pectoralis, a common species of the Kalahari scrub, nests after rain at any time of the year. Nest construction and nest sites are described. The clutch is normally three or four eggs. Incubation takes 12 to 13 days and the nestling period is 11 to 13 days. Data suggest that the Rufouseared Warbler is not a member of the genus Priniu, the generic position it currently occupies.     

两种山鹪莺的繁殖参数比较

生活史是鸟类生态学研究的重要内容之一,分析生活史的影响因子对于研究鸟类的生态适应具有重要意义。2007年3~9月,在广东省肇庆市江溪村对黄腹山鹪莺(Prinia flaviventris)和纯色山鹪莺(P.inornata)的繁殖参数进行了比较研究。结果表明:1)除筑巢集中期、窝卵数、巢捕食率和割草毁巢率外,两种山鹪莺各繁殖参数均存在显著性差异;2)黄腹山鹪莺的窝卵数相对较小,但卵重较大,而纯色山鹪莺则相反;3)与体重相似的9种雀形目鸟类相比,两种山鹪莺具有相对较高的年生产力;4)两种山鹪莺在部分繁殖参数上出现了分化,这可能是它们对不同巢捕食风险的响应,黄腹山鹪莺的巢捕食率相对较高,采取低窝卵数和高的卵重,而纯色山鹪莺则为高的窝卵数和低的卵重。     

Nest composition and worker relatedness in three slave-making ants of the genus Rossomyrmex Arnoldi and their Proformica Ruzsky hosts (Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

Abstract In this paper, we analyze and compare nest composition and architecture as well as worker relatedness in three related species of slave-making ants: Rossomyrmex anatolicus, R. minuchae, and R. quandratinodum. Colony structure within nests is an important trait in ants, especially in the case of mixed societies, when host and parasite coexist in the same nest. Data for their respective free-living hosts, Proformica korbi, P. longiseta and P. sp., are also provided. For our study, we integrated a meticulous excavation procedure with a genetic method. We conclude that the average number of parasites, as well as of slaves, is species-specific, whereas nest depth depends on the nest architecture of the host. The genus Rossomyrmex seems to be monogynous and monandrous, whereas Proformica shows differences in the number of queens and mating frequency. R. quandratinodum shows different traits in nest composition (host/parasite ratio: P/R) and architecture. The difference in traits may account for some differences in parasitism: raid process or avoidance of parasitism.     

SOCIAL ORGANIZATION AND NEST-BUILDING IN THE FOREST WEAVER BIRDS OF THE GENUS MALIMBUS (PLOCEINAE)

A comparative study was made of social organization during breeding among the genus Malimbus. In M. nitens, the male chooses the nest site, builds the nest alone, guards the nest during incubation, and feeds the young; the female incubates, broods alone and with the male feeds the young. In M. malimbicus, the male chooses the nest site, builds the nest with the female and guards the nest; the female builds the nest with the male, but incubates alone. In M. racheliae and M. cassini, the nest is built by one female and a multi-male party of two or three. One male drives off the other males when the nest is completed. One male and one female incubate alternately. The female seems to be the leader of the building group, and works like a male. In M. coronatus, the nest is built by a mixed party of males and females (3–6 birds), all working together without any overt leadership. Only one male and one female however, incubate, brood and feed the young. In their morphology and behaviour, Malimbus spp. are close to the weaver birds of the genus Ploceus. M. nitens seems the least evolved species while M. cassini and M. coronatus are behaviourally the most evolved. In the last species, which has a very elaborate nest, the pair of breeding birds is helped by one to four other birds. These helpers are birds in full adult plumage, and are probably capable of breeding and may do so at another period in the long breeding season of at least six months.     

SOME NOTES ON THE CAPE GANNET,Morus capensis

Tarboton, W. R. 1978. Breeding of the Little Banded Goshawk. Ostrich 49:132-143.

The behaviour and vocalizations of a pair of Little Banded Goshawks Accipiter badius during part of their breeding cycle is described. Both sexes built the nest. Two eggs were laid three days apart. The first egg was incubated for 52% of the day, but this increased to 90% when the clutch was complete, of which the female's share was 86% and the male's 4%. The second egg hatched after 29 days, 18 h. The female did not hunt during the incubation or early nestling period and was fed by the male who brought her, on average, 7,0 food objects per day. Lizards formed 73% of the 91 identified prey objects, and small birds, 24%. The female and chick, when 16 days old, were killed by a predator on the nest at night.     

VOCAL REPERTOIRE OF WILD BREEDING ORANGE-WINGED PARROTS AMAZONA AMAZONICA IN AMAZONIA

ABSTRACT

The vocal repertoire of Amazona amazonica during its breeding season has been recorded from wild individuals in Santa Bárbara do Pará, Pará State, Brazil. At individual nests, we continuously recorded vocalizations and behaviour for four hours in the early morning and three hours in the late afternoon, three times a week throughout the breeding season. We identified nine vocalizations that we classified in three behavioural categories: (1) Flight call—emitted when parrots arrive in the nest area; (2) Perched contact calls—two different vocalizations, one of them related to feeding, were emitted when the pair was perched in the nest area and interacted socially between themselves or with other individuals; (3) Aggressive calls—emitted when birds were in a dangerous situation, i.e. alarm (three types of calls), agonistic contact and distress calls (two types of call). The Orange-winged Parrot is a highly social species and the complexity of its social interactions is reflected in the diversity of its vocal repertoire.     

COMPARATIVE ETHOLOGY OF THE CICONIIDAE. THE WOOD-STORKS (GENERA MYCTERIA AND IBIS)*

This paper reports on an 11-year study of the comparative behaviour of the four species of wood-storks. All species were studied under natural conditions at breeding colonies in the U.S.A., East Africa, India, and Indonesia. In addition, observations were made on hand-reared young of two species (Mycteria americana and Ibis ibis). Various aspects of signal (display) and non-signal behaviour are described. The most common ritualised display away from the nest is the Forward Threat. At the neBt, the following displays are seen, mainly during courtship and pair-formation: Aerial Clattering Threat, Forward Clattering Threat, Snap Display, Anxiety Stretch, Flying Around, Gaping, Balancing Posture, Swaying Twig-Grasping, Display Preening, Up-Down, and Copulation Clattering. Each of these patterns is described in the text and many of them are illustrated. The four species treated here are similar to each other in most behaviour patterns. They do show some quantitative differences in courtship displays, particularly in the Up-Down, a common “greeting” display shown to the mate at the nest. The behavioural and morphological evidence now available does not justify the separation of M. americana into a monotypic genus, and I suggest that all four wood-storks be combined in the genus Mycteria. Thus, the wood-storks include: M. americana, M. cinerea, M. ibis, and M. leucocephala.     

INTRA-SEASONAL AND INTER-SEASONAL NEST RENOVATION IN THE MASKED WEAVER,PLOCEUS VEIATUS

Howman, H.R.G., & Begg, G.W. 1995 Intra-seasonal and inter-seasonal nest renovation in the Masked Weaver, Ploceus velatus. Ostrich 66:122-128.

This paper describes a series of observations relating to the intra-seasonal and inter-seasonal renovation of nests by a single male Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus, over a period of three breeding seasons (1991 to 1993). These data shed new light on the nest building techniques and nest building behaviour of the species and demonstrate that nest building can be flexible in the same individual. It is suggested that the partial demolition of nests and the renovation of nests would be advantageous because of the energetic savings.     

BREEDING NOTES ON THE BLACK-NECKED GREBE PODICEPS NIGRICOLLIS BREHM

Summary

Tarboton, W. R. &; Fry, C. H. 1986. Breeding and other behaviour of the Lesser Jacana. Ostrich 57: 233–243.

Breeding Lesser Jacanas were studied briefly at Lake St Lucia (Zululand), Hwange (Zimbabwe) and the Okavango Delta (Botswana). The species is monogamous and breeding birds are dispersed as territorial pairs. Male and female share incubation nearly equally, alternating at the nest in shifts averaging 39min; the eggs are attended (incubated or shaded), on average, for 82% of the daylight hours. Eggs are incubated by holding them against the breast with the underside of the wings; at least one chick was seen carried under a parent's wing. The pullus, foraging behaviour, courtship and vocalisations are described. It is suggested that the Lesser Jacana's small egg necessitates a high rate of nest attendance which could account for the sociosexual differences between this species and other jacanas.     

Alarm communication in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ropalidia</Emphasis> social wasps

Summary Alarm pheromones, chemical substances produced by social insects to alert the colony to threat, are the principal means by which colony defence is co-ordinated. We present the results of a study on alarm behaviour in 5 swarming species of wasps belonging to the genus Ropalidia. These species show a remarkably efficient strategy of alarm communication, including visual display and attack synchronization. We show that pheromones released from the venom gland play an important role in alarm recruitment in species belonging to the Ropalidia flavopicta group, but not in Ropalidia sumatrae. We analysed the contents of the venom reservoirs content of four of the studied species by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Glands were found to contain a complex mixture of volatile compounds as well as spiroacetals of higher molecular weight. Interestingly, despite all species producing similar chemical compounds from the venom gland, these were found to elicit alarm behaviour in only those species that build nest envelopes, suggesting a link between chemical release of alarm behaviour and the evolution of nest architecture in Ropalidia wasps.Received 19 August 2003; revised 29 February 2004; accepted 10 March 2004     

Responses of naive yellow warblers to a novel nest predator

Naive parental yellow warblers, Dendroica petechia, were tested with a mounted eastern grey squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis, a novel predator on the study site, during the nest-building, egg-laying, incubation and nestling stages of the nesting cycle. Testing parents only once avoided the possibility that the nest defence behaviour of the parents was modified by reinforcement and loss of fear. In 96% of 80 trials, the female parent responded first to the model. Males rarely showed nest defence behaviour. Female nest defence as measured by defensive vocalizations (i.e., ‘chipping’), closest and modal distance of approach to the model, distraction displays, strikes, and close passes or hovers, did not increase significantly over the breeding season. ‘Chipping’ frequency by both sexes tended to increase after the incubation period but not significantly so. Distraction displays increased significantly only between nest-building and nestling stages. Age, clutch or brood size, and nest success were not correlated with the intensity of nest defence. Females defending exposed nests gave more distraction displays than those defending cryptic nests.     

Dopamine receptor D2 deficiency reduces mouse pup ultrasonic vocalizations and maternal responsiveness

Dopamine signalling facilitates motivated behaviours, and the D2 dopamine receptor (D2R) is important in mother–infant interactions. D2R antagonists disrupt maternal behaviour and, in isolated rat pups, reduce ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) that promote maternal interaction. Here, we examined the effects of genetic D2R signalling deficiency on pup‐dam interaction with Drd2 knockout (D2R KO) mice. Using heterozygous (HET) cross littermates, the effect of pup genotype on isolation‐induced USVs was quantified. Independent of parental genotype, D2R‐deficient pups emitted fewer USVs than wild type (WT) littermates in a gene dose‐dependent manner. Using reciprocal D2R KO‐WT crosses, we examined how parental genotype affects pup USVs. Heterozygous pups from D2R KO dams produced fewer USVs than HET pups from WT dams. Also, exposure to USV‐emitting pups increased plasma prolactin levels in WT dams but not in D2R KO dams, and KO dams showed delayed pup retrieval and nest building. These findings indicate the importance of the interaction between pup and dam genotypes on behaviour and further support the role of D2R signalling in maternal care.     

BEHAVIOUR OF THE BLUE-CROWNED HANGING PARROT LORICULUS GALGULUS WITH COMPARATIVE NOTES ON THE VERNAL HANGING PARROT L. VERNALIS

The maintenance activities of Loriculus galgulus and L. vernalis are described and discussed, and compared with the behaviour of the parrots of the genus Agapornis. Maintenance activities reveal some adaptations to the genus-typical habit of resting and sleeping upside-down. A peculiar defaecation posture ensures that the plumage of hanging birds is not soiled. L. galgulus holds food either in the foot or in the bill, but L. vernalis seems not to use the foot in feeding:there is much regurgitation and remastication of food. Scratching is indirect, as in the Agapornis species, though the foot is brought directly to the bill to be preened. Loriculus is more ready to bathe in standing water than is Agapornis, actually entering the water, and not merely splashing from the edge. There is some evidence that L. galgulus rain-bathes hanging upside down, as does A. cana. Agonistic behaviour is highly ritualized in Loriculus:some actions are identical with those of the more primitive species of Agapornis. Threat displays are described: the so-called Super Threat Display combines all agonistic actions in one. There are three appeasement displays. Group upside-down pseudo-sleeping as a response to the appearance of potential predators is frequent in both species: it is not certain if this is a displacement reaction or a normal escape reaction to the safety of an inaccessible refuge. Little is known about reproductive behaviour in captivity and even less about behaviour in the wild. Pair formation appears to occur late in the period of attaining maturity, and to be initiated and maintained by courtship feeding: homosexual pairing is not unusual n flocks of captive birds. Of the courtship displays, one-Strutting-seems to be common to several Loriculus species. Cutting of nest material is an activity of both male and female Loriculus. A maturing or learning process is seen in the cutting of little “bits” by inexperienced and immature birds, and by the cutting of straight or arcuate strips by those more experienced. In Loriculus galgulus, females were seen to tuck strips of nesting material in the throat and breast feathers, though they have been reported to tuck material into the rump feathers also: L. oernalis females tucked arcuate strips among the rump feathers only. Both male and female L. galgulus and L. vernalis investi- gated nest boxes, but none actually nested. This study in general reinforces the ideas about the relationship of the genera Loriculus and Agapornis but more data on other Loriculus species are needed. At this stage of investigation it appears that both L. galgulus and L. oernalis are behaviourally closest to the more primitive species of Agapornis, namely, cana, tarantu and pullaria.     

Distribution of foundress group size in Ropalidia fasciata and R. plebeiana (Hymenoptera: Vespidae): an analysis using zero-truncated distribution models

Distribution patterns of the number of foundresses per newly established nest (foundress group size, FGS) of two primitively eusocial, independent-founding wasps, Ropalidia fasciata and R. plebeiana, were studied using zero-truncated distribution models. The distribution pattern of the FGS of R. fasciata is significantly different from a zero-truncated Poisson distribution but fits the zero-truncated negative binomial distribution well, indicating a strongly contagious distribution. R. plebeiana sometimes establishes new colonies by reusing old nests. In this case, distributions are strongly contagious. Competition among foundresses may be one reason for the contagious distribution of FGS in R. fasciata and in cases of old-nest reuse by R. plebeiana, but further studies, especially on the behaviour of foundresses in relation to FGS, are necessary. Electronic Publication     

A comparison of the autecology of two seed-taking ant genera, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhytidoponera</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melophorus</Emphasis>

Members of the genus Rhytidoponera and, to a lesser extent, certain Melophorus spp. are keystone mutualists for the dispersal of seeds in the southwest of Western Australia, with important ramifications for the ecology and speciation of plants in this biodiversity hotspot. For this reason, it is important to understand the autecology of the relevant ant species and the way in which they interact with plant seeds. This paper addresses key aspects of the ecology of three such ant species, Rhytidoponera violacea (Forel), R. inornata Crawley and Melophorus turneri perthensis Wheeler. Data are presented on their geographic distribution, seasonality of foraging, diurnal activity, response to fire, nest site preference, nest structure, colony size, feeding habits, foraging response to seed availability, and seedling emergence from nests. The role of all three species as seed dispersers is confirmed, and all three species have ecologies that are well-suited for dispersal and survival of native plant seeds. Preservation of this interaction is important for the conservation of plants, and it is fortuitous that all three species are able to survive disturbance and return to rehabilitated areas. However, the smaller R. inornata, and to a lesser extent, the larger R. violacea, are vulnerable to invasive ant [Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius)] incursions. M. turneri perthensis is able to coexist with the invasive ant unless this is at high densities, probably as a result of its ability to forage during high temperatures when the invasive species is inactive.     

Elaborate Nests in a Weaverbird: A Role for Female Choice?

Studies on sexual selection have focused on behaviour and morphology, but several groups of animals build elaborate structures associated with acquiring a mate. I investigated female choice for nests built by male baya weavers (Ploceus philippinus). Nest choice by females should be strong, as nests are obvious direct benefits provided by males. I used a field experiment supplemented with correlational information to ask whether females appear to base mate choice decisions on male behaviour, nest architecture, and nest location. When the nests of highly visited males were exchanged with those of poorly visited males, female visits remained highest at the original male and location. I found no relationship between female choice and male display or other behaviour. Correlational analyses show that nest location was a better predictor of female choice than was nest architecture. These data suggest that current female choice is driven more by access to safe nesting sites rather than to well‐built nests, possibly because all males are able to build nests of adequate quality. However, nest architecture is unlikely to be irrelevant to females, and its role deserves further investigation.     

Strong selection on mandible and nest features in a carpenter bee that nests in two sympatric host plants

Host plants are used by herbivorous insects as feeding or nesting resources. In wood‐boring insects, host plants features may impose selective forces leading to phenotypic differentiation on traits related to nest construction. Carpenter bees build their nests in dead stems or dry twigs of shrubs and trees; thus, mandibles are essential for the nesting process, and the nest is required for egg laying and offspring survival. We explored the shape and intensity of natural selection on phenotypic variation on three size measures of the bees (intertegular width, wing length, and mandible area) and two nest architecture measures (tunnel length and diameter) on bees using the native species Chusquea quila (Poaceae), and the alloctonous species Rubus ulmifolius (Rosaceae), in central Chile. Our results showed significant and positive linear selection gradients for tunnel length on both hosts, indicating that bees building long nests have more offspring. Bees with broader mandibles show greater fitness on C. quila but not on R. ulmifolius. Considering that C. quila represents a selective force on mandible area, we hypothesized a high adaptive value of this trait, resulting in higher fitness values when nesting on this host, despite its wood is denser and hence more difficult to be bored.     

Nest Sanitation in Social Spider Mites: Interspecific Differences in Defecation Behavior

Nest sanitation behavior is an important adaptation in nest‐building animals. The social spider mite Stigmaeopsis miscanthi (Saito) constructs woven nests on the leaf undersurface of perennial pampas grass (Miscanthus sinensis Anderss) and lives in the nests in large groups. Nest members of this species defecate at only one site inside the nest for nest sanitation, and the waste management is maintained by volatile chemical and tactile cues. Other members of the genus Stigmaeopsis Banks also construct woven nests, live in groups, and manage their fecal wastes, but the species differ in nest and group size, host plant, and social behavior. We investigated the details of waste management in four Stigmaeopsis spp. and found differences in the location of the defecation site and in the way each species recognizes this site. Like S. miscanthi, Stigmaeopsis longus defecates at only one site and uses volatile chemical and tactile cues, whereas Stigmaeopsis takahashii and Stigmaeopsis saharai both defecate at two sites and use only tactile cues. We discuss the reasons for the waste management differences within the genus, and the relationship between the means of waste management, nest and group size.