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Behavioral and Reproductive Strategies of Birds under Natural Selection and Global Changes

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A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Birds".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2023) | Viewed by 19961

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Canchao Yang

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Guest Editor

College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
Interests: animal coloration; avian brood parasitism; behavioral ecology, evolution and coevolution

Prof. Dr. Yiqiang Fu

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Guest Editor

College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610101, China
Interests: avian breeding ecology; avian life-history strategy; conservation of endangered birds

Dr. Jianqiang Li

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Guest Editor

School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
Interests: bird ecology; animal behavior; life-history evolution

Prof. Dr. Bo Du

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Guest Editor

School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Interests: avian breeding strategies; animal behavior

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Birds are among the most widely studied organisms on earth. Their colorful plumage, diversified behavior and sophisticated nest structures have fascinated and inspired not only natural scientists, but also the general public. Today's global environment is facing increasing challenges due to human activities and climate change, with birds representing a sensitive indicator group for determining the effects of these global changes. Accordingly, this Special Issue aims to reveal the behavioral and breeding strategies of birds in response to natural selection and global changes, which will help enrich the theory of life-history evolution. Manuscripts within the scope of this Special Issue, either original research or review articles, are welcome to be submitted.

Prof. Dr. Canchao Yang
Prof. Dr. Yiqiang Fu
Dr. Jianqiang Li
Prof. Dr. Bo Du
Guest Editors

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Keywords

avian behavior and ecology
climate change
human activities
life-history evolution

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 3347 KiB

Open AccessArticle

First Account of the Breeding Biology of Indian Blue Robin (Larvivora brunnea) in Southwest China

by Jun Nie, Shixiang Fan and Xu Luo

Animals 2024, 14(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14010039 - 21 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1081

Abstract

Breeding biology lies at the core of life history research on birds, and it provides important information for avian conservation. We discovered one nest of the Indian Blue Robin (Larvivora brunnea) on 28 May 2021, at the Laojun mountains in Lijiang, northwestern Yunnan, China. Field observation was combined with the use of a GoPro camera for video shooting to quantitatively study the incubation and brooding behavior. We also conducted measurements of the eggs and nestlings on site and inspected the nesting materials used. A bowl-shaped nest with four eggs was located at 2830 m in the evergreen deciduous broad-leaved forest. All eggs were successfully incubated and two nestlings fledged on 22 June 2021, resulting in a total breeding success of 50%. Only the female bird incubated the eggs and brooded the nestlings. The incubation period was at least 13 days and the nestling period was 13 days. As incubation progressed, the incubation bout duration decreased. During the incubation period, the nesting time of the female bird shows a declining trend as incubation progresses. Both parents participated in feeding the nestling, and the frequency of parental supply increased with the maturity of the nestling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Behavioral and Reproductive Strategies of Birds under Natural Selection and Global Changes)

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11 pages, 2348 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Recent Northward Expansion of a Passerine Bird Species, Brownish-Flanked Bush Warbler (Horornis fortipes)

by Qianyi Zhang, Per Alström and Canwei Xia

Animals 2023, 13(23), 3633; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13233633 - 23 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1277

Abstract

Northward expansions of bird distributions have been commonly observed in the Northern Hemisphere, likely as a result of climate change. The causes and ecological impacts of such range shifts have received extensive attention, but studies on the process of range shifts are still relatively scarce. The Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler (Horornis fortipes) has expanded northward from 35° N to 40° N during the past decade. In this study, we collated 77 records of the species beyond its traditional distribution during the past ten years from citizen science data. Most of the new records were from northeast of its traditional distribution, including the North China Plain, Taihang Mountains, and Taishan Mountain, and a few records from the northern margin of the Qinling Mountains and Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. We concluded that the Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler has bred in this new area in at least six sites. The newly established populations are assumed to belong to the subspecies H. f. davidianus, which can be divided into eastern and western dialect groups based on differences in songs. Song recordings from 10 males from Beijing and its adjacent areas were collected. Bayesian analysis based on the acoustic traits indicated that these males were most likely from the western dialect area, with a posterior probability of 99.975%. Combining topographical data with the habitat preference of the species, we inferred that these individuals spread northeastward from the Qinling Mountains to Taihang Mountains, and further along the Yanshan Mountains. This study is a case study of the distribution expansion of a bird species, which reflects the dynamics of a species in the early stage of its northward expansion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Behavioral and Reproductive Strategies of Birds under Natural Selection and Global Changes)

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12 pages, 1607 KiB

Open AccessArticle

To Flee or Not to Flee: How Age, Reproductive Phase, and Mate Presence Affect White Stork Flight Decisions

by Laïd Touati, Mohamed Athamnia, Abdennour Boucheker, Bourhane-Edinne Belabed, Farrah Samraoui, Ahmed H. Alfarhan, Anders P. Møller and Boudjéma Samraoui

Animals 2023, 13(18), 2920; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13182920 - 14 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1277

Abstract

Recognizing, assessing, and responding to threats is critical for survival in the wild. Birds, especially in their role as parents, must decide whether to flee or delay flight when threatened. This study examines how age, reproductive stage, and the presence of a mate influence flight initiation distance (FID) and nest recess duration in white storks. Analyzing the data with a generalized additive mixed model (GAMM), we found significant correlations between FID and age, reproductive stage, and presence of a mate. These results suggest that the trade-off between current and future reproduction shifts during critical breeding periods, such as incubation and nestling care. To increase breeding success, White Storks appear willing to take risks and extend their stay in the nest when offspring are most valuable and vulnerable. In the presence of a mate, individuals leave the nest earlier, suggesting possible sexual conflict over parental care. The duration of nest abandonment is consistent with FID, except for age. These results illustrate how parental age, brood value, vulnerability, and sexual dynamics influence white stork flight decisions in complex ways. Understanding these dynamics enriches our knowledge of bird behavior and adaptations to environmental challenges and highlights the complexity of parental decision making. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Behavioral and Reproductive Strategies of Birds under Natural Selection and Global Changes)

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19 pages, 2179 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Climate Change on the Nesting Phenology of Three Shorebird Species in the United States

by Virginia E. Abernathy, Abby Good, Autum Blanchard, Marlisa Bongiovanni, Emily Bonds, Hampton Warner, Eleni Chaknis, Gabriella Pulsifer and Faith Huntley

Animals 2023, 13(15), 2459; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13152459 - 29 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3412

Abstract

Previous research suggests that a frequent response of organisms to the ongoing climate crisis is the adjustment of their reproductive timing or breeding phenology. Shorebirds may be especially vulnerable to increasing temperatures and precipitation, as many are migratory and depend on coastal habitats for wintering and breeding. These particular habitats could be at risk due to changes in climate, and nesting times often depend on food availability, which is often directly influenced by temperature. We investigated if clutch initiation dates (CID) for three shorebird species in the United States have become earlier over time with increasing temperatures and precipitation. We used nest records from Cornell’s NestWatch program and various museum databases and weather station data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. We found evidence that CIDs have become earlier over time, though this was only a significant factor for one species. While temperature in our study areas has increased significantly over time, precipitation changes were more variable and not always significantly predicted by time. We found evidence that one species may be responding to increasing temperatures by nesting earlier, but there was no support for our hypothesis that CID has changed due to changes in precipitation for any species. Results varied for each species, indicating the importance of further studies on shorebirds as the effects of climate change on their nesting phenology may not be fully realized and will likely depend on the species’ biology and distribution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Behavioral and Reproductive Strategies of Birds under Natural Selection and Global Changes)

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16 pages, 4288 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Variations in the Reproductive Strategies of Different Charadrius alexandrinus Populations in Xinjiang, China

by Peng Ding, Zitan Song, Yang Liu, Tamás Székely, Lei Shi and Mardan Aghabey Turghan

Animals 2023, 13(14), 2260; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13142260 - 10 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1682

Abstract

Due to the influence of bio-geographical and environmental factors, as well as anthropogenic landscape features, organisms show different reproductive strategies among different populations. There is a lack of detailed information on the reproductive biology of Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus in arid lands in Central Asia. In this study, we summarized the characteristics of the reproductive biology of three geographically distinct plover populations in Aibi Lake in northwestern Xinjiang, Taitema Lake in southern Xinjiang and artificial reservoirs around Urumqi City in northern Xinjiang, based on 440 eggs from 158 nests observed and analyzed from April to July of 2019 and 2020. We found that there was no significant difference in clutch size among the three populations. However, the egg size of the Taitema Lake population was significantly larger than those of the other two populations, whilst the egg volume and clutch volume of the artificial reservoirs’ populations were significantly larger than that of Aibi Lake. With the postponement of laying dates, the northern and northwestern populations showed the characteristics of a small clutch size and a relatively small egg size, respectively, and a decrease in reproductive output. The heavier female plovers in Taitema Lake laid eggs earlier, and there was a significantly positive correlation between female body mass and clutch size and egg size. The tarsometatarsus length of the female plovers was significantly positively correlated with the reproductive output in all three populations. The model selection results show that female body size and ambient temperature restrict the egg size and reproductive output of Kentish plovers, which is consistent with the upper limit hypothesis of the maternal condition and maternal constraint. Our data support the hypothesis that Kentish plovers show distinct flexibility in their breeding strategies to cope with the harsh natural environment in the arid lands of Xinjiang, China. The results of a relatively high average clutch size and average egg size imply that the saline wetlands of Western China are important breeding habitats for Kentish plovers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Behavioral and Reproductive Strategies of Birds under Natural Selection and Global Changes)

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12 pages, 1367 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Foraging, Fear and Behavioral Variation in a Traplining Hummingbird

by Katarzyna Wojczulanis-Jakubas and Marcelo Araya-Salas

Animals 2023, 13(12), 1997; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13121997 - 15 Jun 2023

Viewed by 2060

Abstract

Traditionally, foraging behavior has been explained as the response to a trade-off between energetic gain from feeding resources and potential costs from concomitant risks. However, an increasing number of studies has shown that this view fails to explain an important fraction of the variation in foraging across a variety of taxa. One potential mechanism that may account for this variation is that various behavioral traits associated with foraging may have different fitness consequences, which may depend on the environmental context. Here, we explored this mechanism by evaluating the foraging efficiency of long-billed hermit hummingbirds (Phaethornis longirostris) with regard to three behavioral traits: (a) exploration (number of feeders used during the foraging visit), (b) risk avoidance (latency to start feeding) and (c) arousal (amount of movements during the foraging visit) in conditions at two different levels of perceived risk (low—control and high—experimental, with a threatening bullet ant model). Foraging efficiency decreased in response to threatening conditions. However, behavioral traits explained additional variation in foraging efficiency in a condition-dependent manner. More exploration was associated with a higher foraging efficiency under control conditions, but this was reversed when exposed to a threat. Regardless of the conditions, arousal was positively associated with foraging efficiency, while risk avoidance was negatively related. Importantly, exploratory behavior and risk avoidance were quite repeatable behaviors, suggesting that they may be related to the intrinsic traits of individuals. Our findings highlight the importance of taking into account additional behavioral dimensions to better understand the foraging strategies of individuals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Behavioral and Reproductive Strategies of Birds under Natural Selection and Global Changes)

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11 pages, 2573 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Illegal and Exploitative Sand-Digging Activities Could Be Managed to Create Suitable Nesting Habitats for Blue-Tailed Bee-Eaters (Merops philippinus)

by Canchao Yang, Gang Lu, Ting Cai, Xiaogang Yao and Yan Cai

Animals 2023, 13(6), 1112; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13061112 - 21 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1991

Abstract

The development of human society often interferes with wild animals and their natural habitats. Interference during resource exploitation is mostly negative; however, in some cases, it can be positive and even have significance for some species. In this study, we investigated the number of blue-tailed bee-eaters (Merops philippinus), a species under ‘state protection category II’ in China, between controlled and manipulated nesting habitats from 2017 to 2022. Our results indicated that commercial sand-digging activities, either illegal or approved, initially created suitable nesting habitats to attract blue-tailed bee-eaters but subsequently led to damage of nests or nesting habitats. However, sand digging can be modified by avoiding the breeding season to provide safe and suitable nesting habitats for bee-eaters. The number of breeding birds more than tripled when digging during the breeding season was avoided. We also found that conventional conservation strategies, which strictly prohibited sand-digging activities, did not contribute to the nesting habitats of bee-eaters. This study enriches the theories of conservation biology and emphasizes the importance of dialectical thinking regarding exploitative and seemingly destructive activities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Behavioral and Reproductive Strategies of Birds under Natural Selection and Global Changes)

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13 pages, 1408 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reproductive Success of a Tropical Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Population Is Lower Than That in Temperate Regions

by Li Tian, Yu Liu, Zhuoya Zhou, Huaxiao Zhou, Shengjun Lu and Zhengwang Zhang

Animals 2023, 13(1), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010062 - 23 Dec 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2673

Abstract

Temperate–tropical comparisons of avian life history traits are helpful to understand the different selective pressures placed on birds by different climate zones. Although there have been many comparative studies targeting multiple species in different regions, there are few comparative studies on the reproductive successes of the same species between tropical and temperate regions. In this study, we monitored the breeding activities of the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) simultaneously at a single tropical site and a single temperate site in China, compared the breeding performances of the two populations, and investigated the effects of weather conditions on reproductive success separately. The clutch and brood sizes of the Barn Swallow at the topical site were significantly smaller than those at the temperate site. Furthermore, the breeding success of the Barn Swallow at the tropical site was significantly lower than that at the temperate site. The mean daytime temperature had a negative effect on the clutch size and brood size at both sites; it had a negative effect on nestling survival at the tropical site, but not the temperate site. This study will help us understand the adaptation strategies of widely distributed bird species in different environments, and how climate change will affect birds in different climate zones. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Behavioral and Reproductive Strategies of Birds under Natural Selection and Global Changes)

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10 pages, 1056 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Egg Rejection and Nest Sanitation in an Island Population of Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica): Probability, Response Latency, and Sex Effects

by Qiuhui Yang, Xiangyang Chen, Ziqi Zhang, Jingru Han, Neng Wu and Canchao Yang

Animals 2022, 12(21), 3027; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12213027 - 3 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3205

Abstract

Bird nests function as vessels for eggs and nestlings, and an environment for rearing offspring. However, foreign objects falling into bird nests and nestling eggshells may be harmful. Moreover, the smell of fecal sacs increases the risk of detection by predators. Many bird species have evolved nest sanitation to prevent damage to their nests. Furthermore, egg rejection evolved in some birds to thwart brood parasites that lay eggs in their nests. We studied 133 nests of barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) in an island population through a nest content manipulation experiment to determine nest sanitation and egg rejection behaviors and their relationship. Swallows rejected non-egg foreign objects more frequently (100% vs. 58.6%) and sooner than parasite eggs, which supports the hypothesis that nest sanitation is a pre-adaptation to egg rejection. However, nest sanitation did not increase egg rejection, either in probability or latency. Furthermore, both sexes incubated the eggs, cleaned the nests, and removed parasite eggs, implying that both are confronted with natural selection related to nest sanitation and brood parasitism. However, females invested more time in these behaviors than males. This provides evidence for the evolutionary relationship of nest sanitation and egg rejection behaviors in barn swallows. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Behavioral and Reproductive Strategies of Birds under Natural Selection and Global Changes)

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