Old nest material functions as an informative cue in making nest-site selection decisions in the European Kestrel(Falco tinnunculus)  

作　　者：Mingju E Tuo Wang Shangyu Wang Ye Gong Jiangping Yu Lin Wang Wei Ou Haitao Wang 

机构地区：[1]Jilin Engineering Laboratory for Avian Ecology and Conservation Genetics,School of Life Sciences,Northeast Normal University,Changchun 130024,China [2]Northeast Normal University Natural History Museum,Northeast Normal University,Changchun 130024,China [3]School of Life Sciences,Jilin University,Changchun 130012,China [4]Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology,School of Life Sciences,Northeast Normal University,Changchun 130024,China [5]Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment,Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Changchun 130102,China [6]Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Changchun 130033,China [7]Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization,School of Life Sciences,Northeast Normal University,Changchun 130024,China

出　　处：《Avian Research》2019年第4期423-430,共8页鸟类学研究（英文版）

基　　金：financed by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31770419,31272331,30970375,30400047 to HW);the Postdoctoral Program of Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Center in North-east China(No.150482 to WO)

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 neBackground: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

关 键 词：European Kestrel Informative cue Nest box Nest materials 

分 类 号：H32[语言文字—法语]