Bird nest building: visions for the future

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 378(1884)

Опубликована: Июль 10, 2023

Successful reproduction for most birds requires them to have built 'good' nests. The remarkable diversity of nests across approximately 10 000 species living suggests that nest design depends critically on a species' microhabitat, life history and behaviour. Unravelling the key drivers remains research priority-bolstered by renewed appreciation museum collections increasing correlational field experimental laboratory data. Phylogenetic analyses-coupled with powerful datasets traits-are increasingly shedding light evolution morphology there are functional questions yet be addressed. For birds, at least, developmental mechanistic analyses building (behaviour, hormones, neuroscience) itself, rather than measurements morphology, already becoming next major challenge. We moving towards holistic picture in which Tinbergen's four levels explanation: evolution, function, development, mechanism, being used explain variation convergence design-and, turn, could shed question how know build This article is part theme issue 'The evolutionary ecology nests: cross-taxon approach'.

Язык: Английский

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A Review of the Roles Materials Play in Determining Functional Properties of Bird Nests

Acta Ornithologica, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 58(1)

Опубликована: Ноя. 10, 2023

Avian nests are crucial to reproduction as they the site for incubation of clutch eggs and, in many cases, it is location rearing chicks hatched. Despite years reports characteristics from species our understanding their functional properties has been very poor. Over past few years, interest increased and this review brings together information regarding how materials used construct nest contribute various properties. The starts with a brief consideration functions but thereafter focus on key roles that plays during incubation. Details variety construction emphasises importance quantitative data types amounts allows analysis can improve Subsequent sections explore structural thermal more detail. play maintaining humidity weather-proofing contents also explored. concept an extended phenotype role niche creation explored before concludes future directions research.

Язык: Английский

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Anthropogenic nest material use in a global sample of birds

Journal of Animal Ecology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 93(6), С. 691 - 704

Опубликована: Март 25, 2024

As humans increasingly modify the natural world, many animals have responded by changing their behaviour. Understanding and predicting extent of these responses is a key step in conserving species. For example, tendency for some species birds to incorporate anthropogenic items-particularly plastic material-into nests increasing concern, as cases, this behaviour has harmful effects on adults, young eggs. Studies phenomenon, however, date been largely limited geographic taxonomic scope. To investigate global correlates (including plastic) nest material use, we used Bayesian phylogenetic mixed models data set recorded materials 6147 birds. We find that, after controlling research effort proximity human landscape modifications, use correlated with synanthropic (artificial) nesting locations, breeding environment number different use. also demonstrate that body mass, range size, conservation status brain size do not explain variation materials. These results indicate are more likely be included when they readily available, well potentially flexible choice.

Язык: Английский

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Nest traits for the world's birds

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 33(2), С. 206 - 214

Опубликована: Ноя. 27, 2023

Abstract Motivation A well‐constructed nest is a key element of successful reproduction in most species birds, and morphology varies widely across the class. Macroecological macroevolutionary studies tend to group design into small number discrete categories, often based on taxonomic inference. In reality, however, many display considerable intraspecific variation their nest‐building behaviour, broad‐level categories may include several functionally distinct types. To address this imprecision literature facilitate future broad‐scale avian parental care, we here introduce detailed, global comparative database building together with preliminary correlations between these traits species‐level environmental variables. Main types variables contained We present data for structure, location, height, material composition, sex builder, time dimensions. Spatial location grain Global. Maps are presented at 1 0 × level. Time period Included generally extant, although some recently extinct taxa. The were collected 2017–2021 was drawn from secondary sources published 1992–2021. Major taxa level measurement Partial or complete trait 8601 representing 36 orders 239 243 families. Software format Data have been uploaded as Supplementary Material .csv separated by source all (Dataset , Metadata) well summarized major structure Metadata).

Язык: Английский

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The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 378(1884)

Опубликована: Июль 10, 2023

Nests, including the enormous structures housing colonies of eusocial insects and elaborately built nests some fishes, have long fascinated scientists, yet our understanding evolutionary ecology has lagged behind subsequent reproductive stages. There has, however, been a burgeoning amount interest in over past decade, this special issue on ‘The nests: cross-taxon approach' outlines form function diverse animal lineages. Papers mechanisms adaptive benefits' theme examine various functions nests, while papers evolution nest characteristics' nesting behaviours. Meanwhile, ‘Large communal harsh environments' how constructed by social birds enable them to inhabit arid environments, whereas ‘Nests Anthropocene' shifts architecture allow animals adapt breed age accelerating global human impacts. Finally, synthesis mixture ideas approaches from researchers studying different taxa will advance exciting field research. This article is part approach’.

Язык: Английский

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Beakiation: how a novel parrot gait expands the locomotor repertoire of living birds

Royal Society Open Science, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 11(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2024

Occupation of arboreal habitats poses myriad locomotor challenges, driving both anatomical and behavioural innovations across various tetrapod lineages. Here, we report biomechanically assess a novel, beak-driven mode—‘beakiation’—by which parrots advance along the underside narrow substrates. Using high-speed videography kinetic analyses, describe limb loading patterns pendular mechanics beakiation, compare biomechanical characteristics this gait with other suspensory behaviours (namely, forelimb-driven brachiation inverted quadrupedal walking). We that parrot beak experiences comparable force magnitudes (approx. 150% body weight in normal plane; approx. 50% fore–aft plane) to forelimbs brachiating primates. Parrot beakiation is also characterized by longer-than-expected periods, similar observations gibbon brachiation. However, terms mechanical energy recovery, typified lower levels energetic recovery than specialists: product its slower, more careful nature. The observation novel behaviour—which adds growing base literature regarding beak-assisted strategies birds—highlights extraordinary plasticity birds, functional versatility avian beak, difficulties reconstructing an animal's repertoire from morphological alone.

Язык: Английский

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Ecophysical constraints on avian adaptation and diversification

Current Biology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Март 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Causes and consequences of material variation in avian nest building

Journal of Avian Biology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 2025(2)

Опубликована: Март 1, 2025

Houses around the world are built with a variety of materials like timber and brick, depending on number factors such as local climate material availability. Similarly, non‐human animals birds use diverse to build nests. Very little is known about how choose nest materials, these choices, in turn, affect function nests they build. As an initial attempt address this question, we investigated causes consequences nest‐material by Dartford warblers Sylvia undata . The breeding England show considerable variation materials: some made almost entirely heather, while others contain lot grass. We found that warbler were explained composition habitats, but no evidence for relationships between insulation capacity or performance. Warblers appear be able equally functional using whatever readily available respective habitats. Studying nest‐building behaviour individual species could inform animal architecture evolved.

Язык: Английский

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Bats of a feather: Range characteristics and wing morphology predict phylogeographic breaks in volant vertebrates

Frontiers of Biogeography, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 18

Опубликована: Апрель 15, 2025

Intraspecific genetic variation and phylogeographic structure can be influenced by factors such as landscape features, environmental gradients, historical biogeography organismal traits dispersal ability. Since deep is often considered a precursor to speciation, identifying the that are associated with contribute greater understanding about diversification. Here, we use repurposed data perform global analysis of volant vertebrates (i.e. bats birds) estimate where intraspecific breaks occur identify important predictors these breaks. We using Monmonier’s maximum difference barrier algorithm conduct random forests presence break response variable. In bats, concentrated in biodiversity hotspots while estimated bird species more widespread across temperate tropical zones. However, for both clades, geographical features latitude, measures wing morphology feeding ecology were found Our identifies areas suites could serve starting point detailed studies processes. Phylogeographic breaks, particularly high ability, interest evolutionary biologists potential speciation. Repurposed used large-scale trends biodiversity. differences employed georeferenced sequence data. For vertebrates, predicted aspects geographic range, ecology. birds evenly distributed

Язык: Английский

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From Nest to Feather: Evolutionary and Ecological Insights Into Natal Down in Birds

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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