Habitat fragmentation influences nestling growth in Mediterranean blue and great tits |
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| Institution: | 1. Área de Zoología, Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales, Facultad de Ciencias del Medio Ambiente, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Avenida Carlos III, s/n, E-45071, Toledo, Spain;2. Grupo de Investigación de la Biodiversidad Genética y Cultural, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain;3. Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), C/ José 13 Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain;1. UNESP – Universidade Estadual Paulista, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Vegetal, Av. 24 A, 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil;2. ESALQ – Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, USP – Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia e Restauração Florestal, Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Caixa Postal 9, Piracicaba, CEP 13418-900, São Paulo, Brazil;3. UNESP – Universidade Estadual Paulista, Departamento de Zoologia, Av. 24 A, 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil;1. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Centro Universitario, Mendoza, CP M5502JMA, Argentina;2. Instituto Argentino de Nivología y Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales (IANIGLA), Centro Científico Tecnológico (CCT) CONICET, Mendoza, Av. A. Ruiz Leal s/n Parque General San Martín, Mendoza, CP 5500, C. C. 503, Argentina;3. Department of Biology, John Carroll University, 1 John Carroll Blvd., University Heights, OH, 44118, USA;1. CONICET, Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, CC 34, Yerba Buena, 4107, Tucumán, Argentina;2. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy, Alberdi 45, San Salvador de Jujuy, 4600, Jujuy, Argentina;3. Departamento de Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur s/n, Barrio de María Auxiliadora, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, 20290, Mexico;1. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas, Centro de Ecología y Recursos Naturales Renovables (CONICET – Universidad Nacional de Córdoba), Av. Vélez Sarsfield 1611, X5016GCA Córdoba, Argentina;2. ONG Ecosistemas argentinos, Argentina |
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| Abstract: | In patchy forest areas, the size of the forest patch where birds breed has a strong influence on their breeding success. However, the proximate effects contributing to lowering the breeding success in small forest patches remain unclear; and a shortage of crucial resources in those forest patches has been suggested to account in some degree for this failure. With the aim to further investigate this issue, we have monitored the breeding cycle of blue and great tits in three ‘large’ forest patches (ranging between 26.5 and 29.6 ha) and twelve ‘small’ forest patches (ranging between 1.1 and 2.1 ha) in a Mediterranean area in central Spain, during three years (2011–2013). We also recorded the nestling diet inside the nest-boxes with the aid of handy-cams. Only males significantly differed between forest patch size categories; being on average younger and with better body condition in small patches for great and blue tits respectively. Reproductive traits did not vary between forest patch size categories, but the body condition of blue tit nestlings and the size of great tit nestlings did, being significantly better and larger respectively in large forest patches. The recruitment rate of blue tit nestlings was also higher in large patches. Regarding nestling diet, blue tits did not differ but great tits did, delivering a larger amount of caterpillars in large forest patches. Most variation in the reproductive traits occurred between years, probably due to annual differences in environmental conditions. This study suggests that food supply could be limiting the breeding success of birds above all in small patches, but also in large patches under particular environmental conditions. |
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| Keywords: | Forest patch Feeding behavior Recruitment Nestling diet Body condition |
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