Nest-moving by the polydomous ant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cataglyphis iberica</Emphasis>

In this paper we analyze emigration from nests by the polydomous ant Cataglyphis iberica. Social carrying of workers of this species between different nests of the colony is frequent. In Bellaterra (Barcelona, NE Spain), we monitored field emigration of C. iberica by noting for each nest the migratory behavior of C. iberica workers and, when the nests were attacked by another ant species, Camponotus foreli, we noted the number of C. foreli workers involved in the attacks. Emigration of C. iberica from nests was highly variable. We suggest the main factor determining emigration by this species was attack by workers of C. foreli, so emigration from C. iberica nests was much faster when harassment by C. foreli increased. The system of multiple nests of C. iberica enables this species to abandon attacked nests and to reinstall their population in other nests of the same colony. This reduces risk to the colonies because the route between the different nests is well known by transporter workers.     

Nest preference of laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) and their motivation to exert themselves to gain nest access

In connection with the development of a test method for the attractiveness and appropriateness of nests for laying hens, we carried out an investigation by using a preference test and motivation measuring with the help of push doors. Hens were offered two different nest sites either consisting of a tray filled with wood shavings (litter tray) or a wooden nest box plus wood shavings (nest box). Hens were individually housed in pens (2.0 m × 2.0 m) and had free access to the nest sites until they laid their 15th egg. From that day the hens had to overcome a push door to reach the nest sites. Resistance for entrance was also increased stepwise at the door leading to the hens’ nest. The experiment ended when a hen stopped to lay in her usual nest site for four consecutive days (postexperimental period). The behaviour during the last hour before oviposition was video taped at a level of resistance of 3.5, 6.0, 7.5 and 10.0 N.The hens were categorized into nest and litter layers depending on nest choice. All but one hen pushed maximum resistances between 11.5 and 18.0 N with no differences between nest and litter layers. Behaviour did not significantly change with increasing levels of resistance, but there were significant differences between nest and litter layers. Nest layers spent more time nesting than litter layers while the latter showed a strong tendency to more exploring behaviour. For litter layers, more entries through the push door leading to their nest site and more unsuccessful pushes were detected than for nest layers. According to our results, two types of layers could be distinguished whereas the two were equally motivated to access their nest site.     

Identifying potential breeding sites for the stone curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) in the UK

The stone curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) is one of the rarest breeding birds in the UK with an estimated breeding population of under 300 pairs. In the UK a marked decrease in the numbers has occurred, mainly due to habitat change or loss, resulting in the bird no longer breeding on many of its traditional nesting grounds. Using a Geographic Information System we define potential breeding areas in a landscape known to historically support a stone curlew breeding population. With an understanding of the birds’ abiotic nesting requirements, we model optimal locations for potential breeding sites for the bird, using known historical breeding data to verify the selection process. In total, we identify 424 parcels of land (2866 hectares) providing the critical habitat requirements for the stone curlew in the overall study area, 323 (1958 hectares) of which correspond with the known historic breeding distribution of the bird. We conclude that the modelling approach outlined is valuable in the identification of potential breeding sites for the stone curlew and that the model could be operated in tandem with agri-environment payments such as those offered within the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, in an attempt to focus these payments upon areas which will deliver maximum nature conservation potential. In addition we suggest that, subject to appropriate data availability, the approach outlined be applied to other species of high-conservation concern, particularly those which are currently under consideration for introduction or re-introduction programmes.     

Incubation ability of the functional envelope in paper wasp nests (Hymenopteta, Vespidae, Polistes): I. Field measurements of nest temperature using paper models

Temperature characteristics in paper models of Polistes wasp nests with various numbers (N = 7, 19, 37, or 61 cells) and lengths (L = 10–50 mm) of cells were measured in the field. Temperature distribution in a N61L50 model showed that the central cell provided the best thermal conditions in terms of gained temperature and its fluctuation. The mean temperature excess (difference between cell and ambient temperatures) observed in the diel trial 1 (L50 models with different cell numbers) was 1.5°C in N7 model and 2.3°C in N61, whereas in trial 2 (N37 models with different cell lengths) it was 0.6°C in the L10 model (with 10-mm-long cells) and 2.4°C in L50. In these trials, models with larger numbers of cells or longer cells attained a higher temperature. It seemed that length was more effective in gaining higher maximum temperature than the number of cells. By their heat insulation effect, peripheral cell rings ameliorated the temperature fluctuation in cells at the central part of the comb. Models with more and longer cells maintained temperature slightly higher than the ambient level even during the nighttime. Received: March 10, 2000 / Accepted: December 18, 2000     

绿鹭的繁殖习性观察

2001年4－9月在合肥市对绿鹭（Butorides striatus)的繁殖习性进行了观察。绿鹭营巢生境主要选择在建筑物附近的高大阔叶树上,常一树一巢,未见与其他鹭类混群营巢。每巢产3－5枚卵,孵卵期21d,育雏期41d,42日龄后幼鸟离巢飞走,出飞存活率62．5％。育雏期雏鸟主要食物为小型鱼类。在4所大学校园及1处公园统计到有效巢56个,推算绿鹭224只。绿鹭在合肥繁殖属首次记录。     

Correlation between two components of parental investment: nest defence intensity and nestling provisioning effort of willow tits

Nest defence intensity and nestling provisioning effort of female willow tits (Parus montanus) were significantly correlated at the end of nestling period: well-fed young were defended most intensely. Increased effort was rewarded, since broods with the highest female per-offspring provisioning rates were the most likely to produce local recruits. This suggests that the feeding ability is an important cue for parental investment decisions, at least in a species like the willow tit which has adopted the clutch adjustment strategy. Thus, the most valuable broods would not necessarily be the largest ones, but the ones in which the original number of young could be fed most adequately. However, no associations were found between the level of parental effort and offspring weight, size or condition, nor did the broods producing recruits differ from other broods in timing of breeding or number and size of offspring. The female behaviour may suggest that they invest the most time, energy and risk in the young whose chances of joining the winter flock are the best. The first well-fed young also gain an advantage of prior residency in joining the flock. The first to join normally obtain higher social status, and hence better winter survival, than latecomers. The corresponding patterns in male parental investment behaviour were weak or absent, which suggested that the male effort was affected by the female behaviour. Males seemed to invest in nestling provisioning in such a way as to supplement the female effort. During nest defence action males also seemed to invest in protection of females against predation.     

Predation risk of artificial ground nests in managed floodplain meadows

Nest predation highly determines the reproductive success in birds. In agricultural grasslands, vegetation characteristics and management practices influences the predation risk of ground breeders. Little is known so far on the predation pressure on non-passerine nests in tall swards. Investigations on the interaction of land use with nesting site conditions and the habitat selection of nest predators are crucial to develop effective conservation measures for grassland birds.In this study, we used artificial nests baited with quail and plasticine eggs to identify potential predators of ground nests in floodplain meadows and related predation risk to vegetation structure and grassland management.Mean daily predation rate was 0.01 (±0.012) after an exposure duration of 21 days. 70% of all observed nest predations were caused by mammals (Red Fox and mustelids) and 17.5% by avian predators (corvids). Nest sites close to the meadow edge and those providing low forb cover were faced with a higher daily predation risk. Predation risk also increased later in the season. Land use in the preceding year had a significant effect on predation risk, showing higher predation rates on unmanaged sites than on mown sites. Unused meadows probably attract mammalian predators, because they provide a high abundance of small rodents and a more favourable vegetation structure for foraging, increasing also the risk of incidental nest predations. Although mowing operation is a major threat to ground-nesting birds, our results suggest that an annual removal of vegetation may reduce predation risk in the subsequent year.     

Different nest predator faunas and nest predation risk on ground and shrub nests at forest ecotones: an experiment and a review

This study examined predator faunas of artificial ground and shrub nests and whether nest predation risk was influenced by nest site, proximity to forest edge, and habitat structure in 38 grassland plots in south-central Sweden. There was a clear separation of predator faunas between shrub and ground nests as identified from marks in plasticine eggs. Corvids accounted for almost all predation on shrub nests whereas mammals mainly depredated ground nests. Nest predation risk was significantly greater for shrub than for ground nests at all distances (i.e. 0, 15 and 30 m) from the forest edge. However, nest predation risk was not significantly related to distance to forest edge, but significantly increased with decreasing distance to the nearest tree. Different corvid species robbed nests at different distances from the forest edge, with jays robbing nests closest to edges. We conclude that the relationship between the predation risk of grassland bird nests and distance to the forest edge mainly depends on the relative importance of different nest predator species and on the structure of the forest edge zone. A review of published articles on artificial shrub and ground nest predation in the temperate zone corroborated the results of our own study, namely that shrub nests experienced higher rates of depredation in open habitats close to the forest edge and that avian predators predominantly robbed shrub nests. Furthermore, the review results showed that predation rates on nests in general are highest <50 m inside the forest and lower in open as well as forest interior habitats (≥50 m from the edge). Received: 16 March 1998 / Accepted: 30 July 1998     

复齿鼯鼠生态的初步研究

复齿鼯鼠(Trogopterus xanthipes Milne-Edwards)为我国特有种,其粪便即五灵脂,为中医常用药。近年来,山西、河北二省已有饲养(王福麟,1981,1981a),其饲养方法亦有报道(高士贤等,1977;单宏权等,1980),但对其生态报道甚少,本文于此加以补充。 我们自1978年9月进行了复齿鼯鼠的家、野生态观察。家养观察在3个饲养点进行,介休县榛树公社兴地大队;平定县东回公社互岭大队;灵石县小柏沟生产队。野外工作地在介休县棉山黄士湾;灵石县北大沟、石板沟。     

甘肃安西荒漠伯劳的繁殖生态

2010年4～8月在甘肃安西极旱荒漠国家级自然保护区,采用样点法对荒漠伯劳(Lanius isabellinus isabellinus)的繁殖生态进行了研究,采用单因素方差分析(ANVON)对荒漠伯劳卵体积与卵序之间的关系进行了研究,用二元Logistic回归对雏鸟生长曲线进行拟合。结果表明,荒漠伯劳的繁殖时间为4月底至8月初,每巢产卵3～6枚,平均窝卵数为4.67±0.57(n=21),卵体积为(3.14±0.32)cm3(n=95),卵鲜重(3.48±0.20)g(n=20),卵体积随着产卵顺序显著减小(R=-0.427,P=0.021,n=29),其采取的是"窝雏减少"的繁殖策略。雌鸟产首枚卵后即开始孵卵,雄鸟负责情饲及警戒。温度自动记录仪测量平均孵卵温度为(38.19±0.77)℃(n=2),雌鸟在巢率为93.95%。平均孵卵时间为(15.33±0.52)d(n=6)。荒漠伯劳雏鸟留巢期12～15 d,幼鸟离巢后亲鸟继续饲喂幼鸟,整个育雏期最长达31 d。研究地区荒漠伯劳种群的孵卵率为82.50%(n=80),卵成功率为46.25%(n=80),雏鸟离巢率为56.06%(n=66),巢成功率58.62%(n=29)。在2010年环志标记的12对繁殖鸟中只有1对繁殖了第二窝。