Plastering mud around the entrance hole affects the estimation of threat levels from nest predators in Eurasian Nuthatches  

作　　者：Jiangping Yu Li Zhang Guodong Yi Keqin Zhang Jiyuan Yao Jian Fang Chao Shen 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]School of Life Sciences,Jilin Normal University,Siping 136000,China [3]School of Zoological Science,Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology University,Jilin 132109,China [4]College of Animal Science and Technology,Jilin Agricultural University,Changchun 130118,China [5]Jilin Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization,Northeast Normal University,Changchun 130024,China

出　　处：《Avian Research》2021年第4期658-663,共6页鸟类学研究（英文版）

基　　金：supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31870368 to KZ,No.31770419 and No.31971402 to HW,No.32001094 to J.Yu);the Science and Technology Project Program of Jilin Provincial Department of Education(JJKH20190281KJ to J.Yu)。

摘　　要：Background:For cavity-nesting birds,the nest entrance plays an important role in preventing predators from accessing nests.Several species of nuthatches use mud to narrow the entrance of cavities.In theory,the smaller the entrance hole size,the more effective it is against predators;however,few studies have tested whether narrowing the entrance hole size can affect the estimation of threat levels from nest predators in cavity-nesting birds.Methods:Using dummy experiments,we tested whether Eurasian Nuthatches(Sitta europaea,narrow the entrance hole of cavities)and Cinereous Tits(Parus cinereus,do not narrow the entrance hole,as a control)perform different nest defence behaviours against Common Chipmunks(Tamias sibiricus,small nest predator)and Red Squirrels(Sciurus vulgaris,larger nest predator).Results:Both nuthatches and tits exhibited stronger response behaviours(high dummy response scores)against chipmunks than against squirrels.Compared with tits,nuthatches exhibited more aggressive behaviours to chipmunks,but their responses to squirrels were similar.Conclusions:Nest defence behaviours of nuthatches to chipmunks differed from tits,and the results suggested that nuthatches might estimate threat levels of nest predators according to their narrowed entrance-hole size.

关 键 词：Cavity-nesting birds Entrance-hole size Eurasian Nuthatches Nest defence behaviour Nest predator 

分 类 号：Q958.1[生物学—动物学]