文献类型： 外文期刊

作者： E, Mingju ¹ ; Wang, Tuo ² ; Wang, Shangyu ³ ; Gong, Ye ¹ ; Yu, Jiangping ¹ ; Wang, Lin ⁵ ; Ou, Wei ⁶ ; Wang, Haitao ¹ ;

作者机构： 1.Northeast Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Jilin Engn Lab Avian Ecol & Conservat Genet, Changchun 130024, Jilin, Peoples R China

2.Northeast Normal Univ, Nat Hist Museum, Changchun 130024, Jilin, Peoples R China

3.Jilin Univ, Sch Life Sci, Changchun 130012, Jilin, Peoples R China

4.Northeast Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Minist Educ, Key Lab Vegetat Ecol, Changchun 130024, Jilin, Peoples R China

5.Chinese Acad Sci, Northeast Inst Geog & Agroecol, Key Lab Wetland Ecol & Environm, Changchun 130102, Jilin, Peoples R China

6.Jilin Acad Agr Sci, Changchun 130033, Jilin, Peoples R China

7.Northeast Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Jilin Prov Key Lab Anim Resource Conservat & Util, Changchun 130024, Jilin, Peoples R China

关键词： European Kestrel; Informative cue; Nest box; Nest materials

期刊名称：AVIAN RESEARCH （ 影响因子：1.774； 五年影响因子：1.908 ）

ISSN： 2053-7166

年卷期： 2019 年 10 卷 1 期

页码：

收录情况： SCI

摘要： Background For secondary cavity-nesting bird species that do not add lining materials to nests, the presence of old nest material or organic remains that have accumulated within nest cavities from previous breeding events may be a cue of nest-site quality. These materials potentially contain information about past breeding success in con- and heterospecifics and may improve the thermal insulation of eggs during incubation. However, few studies have addressed whether the presence of old nest materials serves as a cue for cavity-nesting raptors when choosing specific nest sites. Methods We conducted a 9-year nest box experiment to test whether old nest materials from con- and heterospecifics serve as informative cues to the European Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) when making nest selection decisions, as this species uses nest boxes without adding nesting material. Results The presence of old nest materials and entrance size best discriminated nest boxes occupied by European Kestrels from unoccupied boxes. Nest boxes containing conspecific organic remains, artificial dry leaf and branch material, and material left behind by Great Tits (Parus major) were reused at higher rates, especially those containing conspecific nest material, than nest boxes containing true or simulated nest materials from predators. In 2010, no single nest box was occupied by the same banded individual that occupied the box in the previous year (10 females and 2 males were banded in 2009). Conclusions European Kestrels preferred nest boxes containing old nest material over empty boxes, which is consistent with previous findings that they exploit con- and heterospecific cues when deciding where to settle and breed, as old nest or organic material provides substrate for incubating females. Kestrels may be able to assess the predation risks associated with a specific nest site based on experience or the presence of prey remains. The repeated use of nest boxes across breeding seasons by kestrels cannot be entirely ascribed to philopatry. This study provides evidence that old nest materials are potentially used as informative cues when making nest-site selection decisions in European Kestrels.