Adam Kaliński - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Adam Kaliński
Dataset for the experiment on microbial load on nests and great tit nestlings.<br>
Landscape conversions induced by human activities can affect dispersal patterns of various bird s... more Landscape conversions induced by human activities can affect dispersal patterns of various bird species and, as a result, affect genetic structure of their populations. Genetic differentiation of bird populations may be enhanced by habitat variation, especially in urban-non-urban systems. The majority of population genetic studies focus on single species, which inflicts limitations for direct comparisons of genetic responses of avian populations to urbanization. Here, we used a set of microsatellite markers to examine genetic diversity, gene flow and population structure in two common parid species, great tits Parus major and blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus occupying three sites in habitats with contrasting urbanization level in central Poland. We found low but significant divergence of urban park population with both suburban and non-urban forest great tit populations, while no differentiation was found between suburban forest and non-urban forest populations. In contrast, no evidenc...
Acta Ornithologica
Enduring changes in the surrounding environment cause long-term stress in birds, which can affect... more Enduring changes in the surrounding environment cause long-term stress in birds, which can affect the activity of the immune system and lead to changes in heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (H:L). The aim of this paper is to investigate if the H:L ratios of male and female Great Tits Parus major during the first breeding attempt differ between two sites of dissimilar habitats – an urban parkland site and a deciduous forest site. In the final model we found a difference between sites, while separate submodels for the study sites showed that females had higher H:L ratio than males in the urban parkland site, with the opposite result being found in the forest site. We suppose that the pattern of variation in H:L ratios we found may result from greater parental expenditures of females as compared to males. Such difference in the H:L ratio between habitats could be the reason for the substantial difference in trophic conditions between the forest and park areas during the breeding of tits.
Conservation Physiology
Most passerines use nests as the exclusive place to lay and incubate eggs and bring nestlings up ... more Most passerines use nests as the exclusive place to lay and incubate eggs and bring nestlings up to fledging. Nests of secondary cavity nesters, like tits, provide a moist, warm and protected habitat for reproduction of blood parasites. Offspring fitness depends on interactions between parental care and environmental constraints. Life-history theory suggests that macro-and micro-parasites may generate selection pressures by affecting host health. In the present study, we replaced natural great tit Parus major nests in two, structurally and floristically contrasting sites (an urban parkland and a rich deciduous forest, located 10 km apart in Łódź, central Poland), with fresh, sterilized, artificial moss-cotton wool nests, twice, on the fifth and tenth day of nestlings life. We then examined haematological condition indicators (haemoglobin and glucose concentrations) of about 14-day-old nestlings. Nestlings that were developing in treated nests improved their health status in comparison with control nestlings. The mean haemoglobin and glucose concentrations (treated and control) also varied between both study areas. Our study confirms that the level of haemoglobin and especially the level of glucose may be treated as reliable indicator of environmental characteristics in great tits.
International Journal of Biometeorology
Long-term and short-term changes in ambient temperature can cause stress in birds, leading to cha... more Long-term and short-term changes in ambient temperature can cause stress in birds, leading to changes in the level of hematological parameters. The H:L ratio (heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) is a hematological index that allows for the assessment of the stress induced by environmental changes, including weather conditions. In this paper, we examined the influence of temperatures and the sum of precipitation on the health of nestling pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) by using the H:L ratio reflecting the body’s response to stress. All examined temperature indicators influenced the H:L ratio, yet the average value of daily minimum temperature during the first 12 days of nestling life had the strongest influence, maximum temperature had the weakest effect, while precipitation had no significant influence. Our research indicates that even a small increase in temperature caused a stress reaction in nestling pied flycatchers, which was reflected by an increase in the H:L ratio. The in...
Journal of Ornithology
Nests of secondary-cavity breeding birds are structures constructed to lay and incubate eggs and ... more Nests of secondary-cavity breeding birds are structures constructed to lay and incubate eggs and raise nestlings to fledging. These nests are characterized by relatively stable conditions, which makes them a suitable habitat for various microorganisms. It has been suggested that bacteria inhabiting nests and nestling skin may affect nestlings both positively and negatively. In this study, nests of Great Tits Parus major were replaced with artificial nests on the fifth day of the nestling phase in two different study sites to create two categories of nests: (i) natural and (ii) artificial with a reduced bacterial load. Four days later, bacterial samples were collected from the nestling skin and from the edge of the nest to assess skin and nest bacterial loads, expressed as colony forming units (CFUs). It was predicted that (i) the previous season occupancy of nest boxes would influence bacterial loads, (ii) the experimental treatment would reduce nest and skin bacterial loads, and (i...
International Journal of Biometeorology
It has been suggested that extreme weather events may be treated as natural experiments that may ... more It has been suggested that extreme weather events may be treated as natural experiments that may unravel the mechanisms by which birds adjust their phenology and breeding parameters to environmental variability. In 2017, a sudden and heavy drop of temperatures for several days affected many European bird populations. This event occurred during the laying–early incubation period in the great tit (Parus major) population in central Poland, causing a large delay in hatching and had sustained reproductive consequences. This cold snap occurring once breeding activity had already started in 2017 was followed by the warm and invariable breeding season of 2018. This natural experiment had an essential influence on great tit reproductive parameters. We found a significant difference in hatching date, number of fledglings, hatching success, and fledging success between 2017 and 2018. In 2017, there were about two fledglings per nest fewer than in 2018. Fledging success was positively associat...
Acta Ornithologica
Abstract. Egg size is a basic species-specific life-history trait in birds which influences offsp... more Abstract. Egg size is a basic species-specific life-history trait in birds which influences offspring performance through the nestling stage and, therefore, fitness. Shells of snails are the principal source of calcium for female parids and some other passerines during egg formation. Shortages in the availability of snail shells may lead to laying smaller eggs with thinner shells. In urban green spaces that require protection against pests, the numbers of snails may become greatly reduced in response to molluscicide treatments. The use of a molluscicide treatment against pest slugs in the Botanic Garden, Łódź, Poland, in 2013 and 2014 provided a unique quasi-experimental setting to study the effect of molluscicide on both non-target snails and Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus eggs. Using a forest study site where no treatment was applied as a control area, we tested for effects of the molluscicide treatment in the Botanic Garden on the density of snails and on the egg volume of Blue Tits. We found that after the molluscicide treatment a dramatic drop in snail numbers occurred, which likely restricted the availability of snail shells for egg laying Blue Tits in the Botanic Garden. Correspondingly, egg sizes significantly decreased in the Garden, while they stayed constant over time in the forest. Eggs in bigger clutches were more strongly affected by the molluscicide treatment than eggs in smaller clutches. Our quasi-experimental study suggests that Blue Tits are sensitive to poor availability of snail shells. This is manifested by laying smaller eggs, which require less calcium to be incorporated in the eggshell, in response to a dramatic drop in the availability of snail shells. This result is expected to raise awareness of potential indirect and inadvertent effects of park pest management on biota other than molluscan pests.
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
The blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is one of a few known passerine birds that incorporate fresh f... more The blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is one of a few known passerine birds that incorporate fresh fragments of aromatic plants in their nest during the nesting period. In this study, we experimentally tested whether aromatic plants in blue tit nests affect physiological condition of nestlings as indicated by hemoglobin and glucose in the blood. Nestlings in nests supplemented with fresh, aromatic plants had elevated blood hemoglobin, and therefore improved physiological condition, as compared with control nestlings. There was no difference between nestlings in two contrasting habitats (urban parkland and forest). Although mean levels of blood glucose did not differ between treatment and control nestlings, the blood of forest nestlings contained more glucose than the blood of parkland nestlings, which indicates poorer health for forest nestlings. In general, knowledge of the effects of incorporating fresh green, aromatic plant material into avian nests on physiological condition of nes...
Frontiers in Zoology
Background: Interspecies variation in avian egg shape and size is understandable in terms of adap... more Background: Interspecies variation in avian egg shape and size is understandable in terms of adaptation, allometry and phylogeny. Within-species variation in egg properties influences offspring fitness and can be explained by differences in allocation of resources into reproductive components of life history in mulidimensionally variable environments. Egg size is inherently traded-off with clutch size, which may also be true of egg shape in some cases. We investigated long-term variation in egg shape and size between two geographically close populations of blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus in relation to clutch size and habitat differences. Results: The main finding is that there exists a persistent long-lasting pattern of spatial variation of egg size and shape between the two study populations of blue tits, 10 km apart, controlling for clutch size. Eggs in the urban park site were on average larger in volume and less spherical in shape than eggs in the forest site over 12 years of this study. Egg sizes were negatively associated with clutch sizes. Egg shape was not correlated with clutch size. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the pattern of variation in egg size and shape results from different trophic richness of the breeding habitats of the study populations, demanding different allocation of resources and, especially, from the contrasting difference in the availability of calcium.
Scientific Reports
In seasonal environments, a temporal decline in breeding performance (e.g. clutch size, nestling ... more In seasonal environments, a temporal decline in breeding performance (e.g. clutch size, nestling condition, and fledging success) of altricial bird species is a well-known phenomenon. In this study, we present the effect of laying phenology on the physiological condition of nestling great tits (Parus major) in 14 consecutive breeding seasons. We used blood haemoglobin and baseline glucose concentrations as indicators of nestling physiological condition. Nestling blood haemoglobin reflects food base quality and availability during the breeding period. Blood glucose concentration can be used as a supplementary reverse index of condition, since it is negatively related to environmental quality. It might be indicative of the stress caused by unfavourable extrinsic factors, though, due to potential confounding factors such as adverse weather conditions, low food quality, or feeding interruptions, glucose levels should be used in this ecological context with caution. Great tit nestlings from earlier broods were characterised by higher mean haemoglobin concentrations, indicating a seasonal decline in food quality and availability. the blood glucose concentration displayed an opposite pattern, with nestlings from earlier broods being characterised by lower mean concentrations than those from later broods. However, very little of the variation in blood glucose concentration can be explained by the variation in laying date, which suggests that blood glucose concentration is of little importance in the context of breeding phenology. our results show that the physiological condition of nestlings of this species decreases as the breeding season progresses, most probably due to environmental factors. Proper timing of breeding is crucial in highly seasonal environments at temperate latitudes, and is primarily determined by the prevailing weather and trophic conditions 1-3. Environmental factors influencing the onset of reproduction have been widely studied across various avian taxa 4-6. Breeding phenology is affected by selective pressures acting on different life history stages 7. In birds, photoperiodic cues together with the rise in temperature in spring appear to be key proximate factors activating breeding behaviour 8-11. The match-mismatch hypothesis suggests that the timing of breeding activity evolved to match the timing of maximum food demands of nestlings with the period of peak food availability, and fitness is lower for birds that breed both earlier and later than the seasonal food peak 12,13. However, in general, selection is thought to favour an earlier onset of reproduction, which might be beneficial for parents, enabling them to access rich food sources and proper feeding conditions for their nestlings; this is caused mainly by seasonally deteriorating external conditions, including predation or intra-and inter-specific competition 14,15. Early-breeders then benefit from access to rich food sources, which is particularly important for resident species in temperate zones, including the European tits Paridae, where there might be inter-and intra-specific competition for nesting sites and good-quality territories 16. Breeding early also allows parents to raise more than one clutch and produce more offspring per season 17,18. The seasonal decline in reproductive performance might be caused by variation in quality between early breeding high-quality birds and
Avian Biology Research
The vegetation structure surrounding nest sites is a crucial component of habitat quality and may... more The vegetation structure surrounding nest sites is a crucial component of habitat quality and may have large effects on avian breeding performance. Habitat quality reflects the extent to which the environmental characteristics of an area correspond to the preferred habitat characteristics of the species. The concentration of haemoglobin is considered a simple biochemical indicator of nestling body condition. We present results concerning the effects of variation in habitat characteristics on the concentration of haemoglobin in the blood of 14-day-old nestlings and breeding success of European Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) in a mature mixed deciduous forest in central Poland. The haemoglobin concentration of nestlings was higher when there were more native oaks and deciduous, native trees on the territory. Breeding success was reduced by the number of alien oak (the Red Oak, Quercus rubra) and other alien deciduous trees, but increased by the number of native oaks in the territory. This study was conducted on only one site so further research is needed to examine the broader applicability of our results. Our data support the idea that haemoglobin concentration may serve as a simple indicator of body condition in nestlings and is useful in field ecophysiology studies of European Pied Flycatchers.
Acta Ornithologica
Abstract. Partial mortality in broods of altricial passerines results from various reasons, inclu... more Abstract. Partial mortality in broods of altricial passerines results from various reasons, including deficiency of resources, inadequate parental care, diseases and other external factors. In this study we test two hypotheses concerning the phenomenon of partial mortality in nestling altricial passerines: (1) non-adaptive starvation hypothesis based on the assumption that partial brood losses are caused by starvation and undernourishment and has no adaptive value, and (2) adaptive starvation hypothesis assuming that losses from starvation might be elements of an adaptive strategy of reducing surplus nestlings in broods that are over-large. To test the above hypotheses we divided broods of two tit species Great Tit Parus major and Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus into two categories: broods with incomplete, less than 100% fledging success and broods with complete 100% fledging success. Subsequently, we compared physiological performance of nestlings between brood categories using blood hemoglobin concentration. We predicted, that if non-adaptive starvation hypothesis was correct, in broods with complete fledging success nestlings should be in better condition. Alternatively, if the adaptive starvation hypothesis was correct, no such difference in nestling condition should occur. In accordance with our prediction, we found that for both species, broods of nestlings that attained 100% fledging success had a higher mean hemoglobin concentration than broods in which fledging success was less than 100%. This result strongly supports non-adaptive starvation hypothesis.
International journal of biometeorology, Jan 17, 2018
Variation in ambient temperature affects various life stages of organisms. It has been suggested ... more Variation in ambient temperature affects various life stages of organisms. It has been suggested that climate change not only implies higher global temperatures but also more unpredictable weather and more frequent extreme weather events. Temperature has a major influence on the optimal laying-incubation-hatching dates of insectivorous passerines, because it poses energetic constraints and affects the timing of food abundance. We have been studying breeding characteristics of great tits Parus major and blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus in two areas, an urban parkland and a deciduous forest, around the city of Łódź since 2002. During the egg-laying period in 2017, both tit species at both study areas faced an unusual cold spell as reflected by a sudden decrease in the mean ambient temperature to ca. 2-3 °C for about 5 days, which caused mean hatching delays of up to 6 days. Since flexibility of behavior plays a major role in adjusting to unpredictable weather conditions, examining its li...
Acta Ornithologica
Abstract. Birds have specific habitat requirements during the breeding period. The Blue Tit Cyani... more Abstract. Birds have specific habitat requirements during the breeding period. The Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus is a species evolutionarily associated with forest areas that prefers deciduous and mixed forests, whilst its breeding in urban areas is a relatively recent phenomenon. Long-term data (2002–2015) on reproductive performance (number of hatchlings, hatching success, number of fledglings and fledging success (fledging success as the number of fledglings in relation to the number of hatchlings)) were quantified for two Blue Tit populations in two, floristically and structurally contrasting areas (a mature deciduous forest and an urban parkland) in central Poland. The principal aim of this study is to see whether the habitat type, year or the food availability affect the breeding success of Blue Tits. Forest Blue Tits produced significantly more hatchlings (9.82 ± 2.64 (SD) in the forest vs.9.17 ± 2.16 in the parkland) and fledglings (9.18 ± 2.84 in the forest vs. 8.14 ± 2.68 in the parkland) than urban Blue Tits. The number of fledglings was positively correlated with the number of hatchlings in both study areas. Both forest and urban Blue Tits shared a similar hatching success (85.9 % in the parkland and 85.5 % in the forest), while the fledging success was significantly higher in the forest (83.4 % in the parkland and 86.1 % in the forest). The amount of caterpillar frassfall was also studied (caterpillars are the optimal food for nestlings) at both study areas and it suggested that caterpillars were more abundant in the forest than in the parkland (the maximum amount of frassfall, averaged 0.21 ± 0.11 g frass/m2/day in the urban parkland and 0.59 ± 0.50 g frass/m2/day in the forest in 2003–2015). In the forest area, the mean number of fledglings tended to be related to the amount of frassfall but in the parkland, this relation was non-significant. The long-term dynamics of fledging success in our study sites seems to be mutually independent. Thus low fledging success in the forest site does not mean similarly low fledging success in the urban parkland site and vice versa. We suggest that food availability is one of key drivers of differences in the tits breeding success between both studied habitats.
Avian Biology Research
Plasma biochemistry values are useful tools for ecophysiological research of birds and other vert... more Plasma biochemistry values are useful tools for ecophysiological research of birds and other vertebrates. They provide data on the physiological and nutritional state of individuals in various life stages. We predicted that blood triglyceride levels correlate with nutritional state of birds and that this trait is temporally variable. Therefore, we studied the effects of year and distinct habitat type (urban parkland vs woodland) on triglyceride concentration in the blood of nestling Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus. We ascertained both seasonal and inter-habitat variation within the trait. Specifically, (1) nestlings from trophic rich forest site were characterised with significantly higher mean triglyceride levels, and (2) mean triglyceride content was significantly higher in one out of three breeding seasons. These results suggest that the studied trait may be used as a robust indicator of habitat trophic abundance and quality.
Polish Journal of Ecology, 2016
Avian Biology Research, 2016
Haematological and blood chemistry variables are widely used in ecophysiological research as phys... more Haematological and blood chemistry variables are widely used in ecophysiological research as physiological indices of body condition in various vertebrate taxa. In this study, we analysed relationships between blood glucose and blood haemoglobin concentrations of adult birds in wild populations of Blue Tits ( Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tits ( Parus major) during the breeding season in central Poland. We found that blood glucose and blood haemoglobin concentrations are negatively correlated. We also show that individual Blue Tits have higher mean haemoglobin levels adjusted for the common value of glucose concentration than individual Great Tits and that females of both species have higher mean haemoglobin concentrations than males. Our results suggest that haematological as well as biochemical variables may be used in tune as complementary indices of body condition in wild bird populations.
International Journal of Biometeorology, 2016
Many avian species in Europe breed earlier as a result of higher temperatures caused by global cl... more Many avian species in Europe breed earlier as a result of higher temperatures caused by global climate changes. Climate change means not only higher temperatures but also more frequent extreme weather events, sometimes contrasting with the long-term trends. It was suggested that we should look closely at every extreme phenomenon and its consequences for the phenology of organisms. Examining the limits of phenotypic plasticity may be an important goal for future research. Extremely low spring temperatures in 2013 (coldest spring in 40 years) resulted in birds laying unusually late, and it was followed in 2014 by the earliest breeding season on record (warmest spring in 40 years). Here, we present results concerning breeding phenology and doublebroodedness in the Great Tit (Parus major) and the Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) in 2013 and 2014 in an urban parkland and a deciduous forest in central Poland. Great Tits started laying eggs 18.2 days later in 2013 than in 2014 in the parkland, whereas the analogous difference was 21.1 days in the forest. Blue Tits started laying eggs in the parkland 18.5 days later in 2013 than in 2014, while the analogous difference was 21.6 days in the forest. The difference in the proportion of second clutches in Great Tits between 2013 (fewer second clutches) and 2014 (more second clutches) was highly significant in the parkland and in the forest. This rather large extent of breeding plasticity has developed in reaction to challenges of irregular inter-annual variability of climatic conditions. Such a buffer of plasticity may be sufficient for Blue Tits and Great Tits to adjust the timing of breeding to the upcoming climate changes. Keywords Parus major. Cyanistes caeruleus. Climate change. Climate warming. Laying date. Second clutch. Extreme weather event. Delayed breeding time. Accelerated breeding time
Dataset for the experiment on microbial load on nests and great tit nestlings.<br>
Landscape conversions induced by human activities can affect dispersal patterns of various bird s... more Landscape conversions induced by human activities can affect dispersal patterns of various bird species and, as a result, affect genetic structure of their populations. Genetic differentiation of bird populations may be enhanced by habitat variation, especially in urban-non-urban systems. The majority of population genetic studies focus on single species, which inflicts limitations for direct comparisons of genetic responses of avian populations to urbanization. Here, we used a set of microsatellite markers to examine genetic diversity, gene flow and population structure in two common parid species, great tits Parus major and blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus occupying three sites in habitats with contrasting urbanization level in central Poland. We found low but significant divergence of urban park population with both suburban and non-urban forest great tit populations, while no differentiation was found between suburban forest and non-urban forest populations. In contrast, no evidenc...
Acta Ornithologica
Enduring changes in the surrounding environment cause long-term stress in birds, which can affect... more Enduring changes in the surrounding environment cause long-term stress in birds, which can affect the activity of the immune system and lead to changes in heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (H:L). The aim of this paper is to investigate if the H:L ratios of male and female Great Tits Parus major during the first breeding attempt differ between two sites of dissimilar habitats – an urban parkland site and a deciduous forest site. In the final model we found a difference between sites, while separate submodels for the study sites showed that females had higher H:L ratio than males in the urban parkland site, with the opposite result being found in the forest site. We suppose that the pattern of variation in H:L ratios we found may result from greater parental expenditures of females as compared to males. Such difference in the H:L ratio between habitats could be the reason for the substantial difference in trophic conditions between the forest and park areas during the breeding of tits.
Conservation Physiology
Most passerines use nests as the exclusive place to lay and incubate eggs and bring nestlings up ... more Most passerines use nests as the exclusive place to lay and incubate eggs and bring nestlings up to fledging. Nests of secondary cavity nesters, like tits, provide a moist, warm and protected habitat for reproduction of blood parasites. Offspring fitness depends on interactions between parental care and environmental constraints. Life-history theory suggests that macro-and micro-parasites may generate selection pressures by affecting host health. In the present study, we replaced natural great tit Parus major nests in two, structurally and floristically contrasting sites (an urban parkland and a rich deciduous forest, located 10 km apart in Łódź, central Poland), with fresh, sterilized, artificial moss-cotton wool nests, twice, on the fifth and tenth day of nestlings life. We then examined haematological condition indicators (haemoglobin and glucose concentrations) of about 14-day-old nestlings. Nestlings that were developing in treated nests improved their health status in comparison with control nestlings. The mean haemoglobin and glucose concentrations (treated and control) also varied between both study areas. Our study confirms that the level of haemoglobin and especially the level of glucose may be treated as reliable indicator of environmental characteristics in great tits.
International Journal of Biometeorology
Long-term and short-term changes in ambient temperature can cause stress in birds, leading to cha... more Long-term and short-term changes in ambient temperature can cause stress in birds, leading to changes in the level of hematological parameters. The H:L ratio (heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) is a hematological index that allows for the assessment of the stress induced by environmental changes, including weather conditions. In this paper, we examined the influence of temperatures and the sum of precipitation on the health of nestling pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) by using the H:L ratio reflecting the body’s response to stress. All examined temperature indicators influenced the H:L ratio, yet the average value of daily minimum temperature during the first 12 days of nestling life had the strongest influence, maximum temperature had the weakest effect, while precipitation had no significant influence. Our research indicates that even a small increase in temperature caused a stress reaction in nestling pied flycatchers, which was reflected by an increase in the H:L ratio. The in...
Journal of Ornithology
Nests of secondary-cavity breeding birds are structures constructed to lay and incubate eggs and ... more Nests of secondary-cavity breeding birds are structures constructed to lay and incubate eggs and raise nestlings to fledging. These nests are characterized by relatively stable conditions, which makes them a suitable habitat for various microorganisms. It has been suggested that bacteria inhabiting nests and nestling skin may affect nestlings both positively and negatively. In this study, nests of Great Tits Parus major were replaced with artificial nests on the fifth day of the nestling phase in two different study sites to create two categories of nests: (i) natural and (ii) artificial with a reduced bacterial load. Four days later, bacterial samples were collected from the nestling skin and from the edge of the nest to assess skin and nest bacterial loads, expressed as colony forming units (CFUs). It was predicted that (i) the previous season occupancy of nest boxes would influence bacterial loads, (ii) the experimental treatment would reduce nest and skin bacterial loads, and (i...
International Journal of Biometeorology
It has been suggested that extreme weather events may be treated as natural experiments that may ... more It has been suggested that extreme weather events may be treated as natural experiments that may unravel the mechanisms by which birds adjust their phenology and breeding parameters to environmental variability. In 2017, a sudden and heavy drop of temperatures for several days affected many European bird populations. This event occurred during the laying–early incubation period in the great tit (Parus major) population in central Poland, causing a large delay in hatching and had sustained reproductive consequences. This cold snap occurring once breeding activity had already started in 2017 was followed by the warm and invariable breeding season of 2018. This natural experiment had an essential influence on great tit reproductive parameters. We found a significant difference in hatching date, number of fledglings, hatching success, and fledging success between 2017 and 2018. In 2017, there were about two fledglings per nest fewer than in 2018. Fledging success was positively associat...
Acta Ornithologica
Abstract. Egg size is a basic species-specific life-history trait in birds which influences offsp... more Abstract. Egg size is a basic species-specific life-history trait in birds which influences offspring performance through the nestling stage and, therefore, fitness. Shells of snails are the principal source of calcium for female parids and some other passerines during egg formation. Shortages in the availability of snail shells may lead to laying smaller eggs with thinner shells. In urban green spaces that require protection against pests, the numbers of snails may become greatly reduced in response to molluscicide treatments. The use of a molluscicide treatment against pest slugs in the Botanic Garden, Łódź, Poland, in 2013 and 2014 provided a unique quasi-experimental setting to study the effect of molluscicide on both non-target snails and Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus eggs. Using a forest study site where no treatment was applied as a control area, we tested for effects of the molluscicide treatment in the Botanic Garden on the density of snails and on the egg volume of Blue Tits. We found that after the molluscicide treatment a dramatic drop in snail numbers occurred, which likely restricted the availability of snail shells for egg laying Blue Tits in the Botanic Garden. Correspondingly, egg sizes significantly decreased in the Garden, while they stayed constant over time in the forest. Eggs in bigger clutches were more strongly affected by the molluscicide treatment than eggs in smaller clutches. Our quasi-experimental study suggests that Blue Tits are sensitive to poor availability of snail shells. This is manifested by laying smaller eggs, which require less calcium to be incorporated in the eggshell, in response to a dramatic drop in the availability of snail shells. This result is expected to raise awareness of potential indirect and inadvertent effects of park pest management on biota other than molluscan pests.
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
The blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is one of a few known passerine birds that incorporate fresh f... more The blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is one of a few known passerine birds that incorporate fresh fragments of aromatic plants in their nest during the nesting period. In this study, we experimentally tested whether aromatic plants in blue tit nests affect physiological condition of nestlings as indicated by hemoglobin and glucose in the blood. Nestlings in nests supplemented with fresh, aromatic plants had elevated blood hemoglobin, and therefore improved physiological condition, as compared with control nestlings. There was no difference between nestlings in two contrasting habitats (urban parkland and forest). Although mean levels of blood glucose did not differ between treatment and control nestlings, the blood of forest nestlings contained more glucose than the blood of parkland nestlings, which indicates poorer health for forest nestlings. In general, knowledge of the effects of incorporating fresh green, aromatic plant material into avian nests on physiological condition of nes...
Frontiers in Zoology
Background: Interspecies variation in avian egg shape and size is understandable in terms of adap... more Background: Interspecies variation in avian egg shape and size is understandable in terms of adaptation, allometry and phylogeny. Within-species variation in egg properties influences offspring fitness and can be explained by differences in allocation of resources into reproductive components of life history in mulidimensionally variable environments. Egg size is inherently traded-off with clutch size, which may also be true of egg shape in some cases. We investigated long-term variation in egg shape and size between two geographically close populations of blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus in relation to clutch size and habitat differences. Results: The main finding is that there exists a persistent long-lasting pattern of spatial variation of egg size and shape between the two study populations of blue tits, 10 km apart, controlling for clutch size. Eggs in the urban park site were on average larger in volume and less spherical in shape than eggs in the forest site over 12 years of this study. Egg sizes were negatively associated with clutch sizes. Egg shape was not correlated with clutch size. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the pattern of variation in egg size and shape results from different trophic richness of the breeding habitats of the study populations, demanding different allocation of resources and, especially, from the contrasting difference in the availability of calcium.
Scientific Reports
In seasonal environments, a temporal decline in breeding performance (e.g. clutch size, nestling ... more In seasonal environments, a temporal decline in breeding performance (e.g. clutch size, nestling condition, and fledging success) of altricial bird species is a well-known phenomenon. In this study, we present the effect of laying phenology on the physiological condition of nestling great tits (Parus major) in 14 consecutive breeding seasons. We used blood haemoglobin and baseline glucose concentrations as indicators of nestling physiological condition. Nestling blood haemoglobin reflects food base quality and availability during the breeding period. Blood glucose concentration can be used as a supplementary reverse index of condition, since it is negatively related to environmental quality. It might be indicative of the stress caused by unfavourable extrinsic factors, though, due to potential confounding factors such as adverse weather conditions, low food quality, or feeding interruptions, glucose levels should be used in this ecological context with caution. Great tit nestlings from earlier broods were characterised by higher mean haemoglobin concentrations, indicating a seasonal decline in food quality and availability. the blood glucose concentration displayed an opposite pattern, with nestlings from earlier broods being characterised by lower mean concentrations than those from later broods. However, very little of the variation in blood glucose concentration can be explained by the variation in laying date, which suggests that blood glucose concentration is of little importance in the context of breeding phenology. our results show that the physiological condition of nestlings of this species decreases as the breeding season progresses, most probably due to environmental factors. Proper timing of breeding is crucial in highly seasonal environments at temperate latitudes, and is primarily determined by the prevailing weather and trophic conditions 1-3. Environmental factors influencing the onset of reproduction have been widely studied across various avian taxa 4-6. Breeding phenology is affected by selective pressures acting on different life history stages 7. In birds, photoperiodic cues together with the rise in temperature in spring appear to be key proximate factors activating breeding behaviour 8-11. The match-mismatch hypothesis suggests that the timing of breeding activity evolved to match the timing of maximum food demands of nestlings with the period of peak food availability, and fitness is lower for birds that breed both earlier and later than the seasonal food peak 12,13. However, in general, selection is thought to favour an earlier onset of reproduction, which might be beneficial for parents, enabling them to access rich food sources and proper feeding conditions for their nestlings; this is caused mainly by seasonally deteriorating external conditions, including predation or intra-and inter-specific competition 14,15. Early-breeders then benefit from access to rich food sources, which is particularly important for resident species in temperate zones, including the European tits Paridae, where there might be inter-and intra-specific competition for nesting sites and good-quality territories 16. Breeding early also allows parents to raise more than one clutch and produce more offspring per season 17,18. The seasonal decline in reproductive performance might be caused by variation in quality between early breeding high-quality birds and
Avian Biology Research
The vegetation structure surrounding nest sites is a crucial component of habitat quality and may... more The vegetation structure surrounding nest sites is a crucial component of habitat quality and may have large effects on avian breeding performance. Habitat quality reflects the extent to which the environmental characteristics of an area correspond to the preferred habitat characteristics of the species. The concentration of haemoglobin is considered a simple biochemical indicator of nestling body condition. We present results concerning the effects of variation in habitat characteristics on the concentration of haemoglobin in the blood of 14-day-old nestlings and breeding success of European Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) in a mature mixed deciduous forest in central Poland. The haemoglobin concentration of nestlings was higher when there were more native oaks and deciduous, native trees on the territory. Breeding success was reduced by the number of alien oak (the Red Oak, Quercus rubra) and other alien deciduous trees, but increased by the number of native oaks in the territory. This study was conducted on only one site so further research is needed to examine the broader applicability of our results. Our data support the idea that haemoglobin concentration may serve as a simple indicator of body condition in nestlings and is useful in field ecophysiology studies of European Pied Flycatchers.
Acta Ornithologica
Abstract. Partial mortality in broods of altricial passerines results from various reasons, inclu... more Abstract. Partial mortality in broods of altricial passerines results from various reasons, including deficiency of resources, inadequate parental care, diseases and other external factors. In this study we test two hypotheses concerning the phenomenon of partial mortality in nestling altricial passerines: (1) non-adaptive starvation hypothesis based on the assumption that partial brood losses are caused by starvation and undernourishment and has no adaptive value, and (2) adaptive starvation hypothesis assuming that losses from starvation might be elements of an adaptive strategy of reducing surplus nestlings in broods that are over-large. To test the above hypotheses we divided broods of two tit species Great Tit Parus major and Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus into two categories: broods with incomplete, less than 100% fledging success and broods with complete 100% fledging success. Subsequently, we compared physiological performance of nestlings between brood categories using blood hemoglobin concentration. We predicted, that if non-adaptive starvation hypothesis was correct, in broods with complete fledging success nestlings should be in better condition. Alternatively, if the adaptive starvation hypothesis was correct, no such difference in nestling condition should occur. In accordance with our prediction, we found that for both species, broods of nestlings that attained 100% fledging success had a higher mean hemoglobin concentration than broods in which fledging success was less than 100%. This result strongly supports non-adaptive starvation hypothesis.
International journal of biometeorology, Jan 17, 2018
Variation in ambient temperature affects various life stages of organisms. It has been suggested ... more Variation in ambient temperature affects various life stages of organisms. It has been suggested that climate change not only implies higher global temperatures but also more unpredictable weather and more frequent extreme weather events. Temperature has a major influence on the optimal laying-incubation-hatching dates of insectivorous passerines, because it poses energetic constraints and affects the timing of food abundance. We have been studying breeding characteristics of great tits Parus major and blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus in two areas, an urban parkland and a deciduous forest, around the city of Łódź since 2002. During the egg-laying period in 2017, both tit species at both study areas faced an unusual cold spell as reflected by a sudden decrease in the mean ambient temperature to ca. 2-3 °C for about 5 days, which caused mean hatching delays of up to 6 days. Since flexibility of behavior plays a major role in adjusting to unpredictable weather conditions, examining its li...
Acta Ornithologica
Abstract. Birds have specific habitat requirements during the breeding period. The Blue Tit Cyani... more Abstract. Birds have specific habitat requirements during the breeding period. The Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus is a species evolutionarily associated with forest areas that prefers deciduous and mixed forests, whilst its breeding in urban areas is a relatively recent phenomenon. Long-term data (2002–2015) on reproductive performance (number of hatchlings, hatching success, number of fledglings and fledging success (fledging success as the number of fledglings in relation to the number of hatchlings)) were quantified for two Blue Tit populations in two, floristically and structurally contrasting areas (a mature deciduous forest and an urban parkland) in central Poland. The principal aim of this study is to see whether the habitat type, year or the food availability affect the breeding success of Blue Tits. Forest Blue Tits produced significantly more hatchlings (9.82 ± 2.64 (SD) in the forest vs.9.17 ± 2.16 in the parkland) and fledglings (9.18 ± 2.84 in the forest vs. 8.14 ± 2.68 in the parkland) than urban Blue Tits. The number of fledglings was positively correlated with the number of hatchlings in both study areas. Both forest and urban Blue Tits shared a similar hatching success (85.9 % in the parkland and 85.5 % in the forest), while the fledging success was significantly higher in the forest (83.4 % in the parkland and 86.1 % in the forest). The amount of caterpillar frassfall was also studied (caterpillars are the optimal food for nestlings) at both study areas and it suggested that caterpillars were more abundant in the forest than in the parkland (the maximum amount of frassfall, averaged 0.21 ± 0.11 g frass/m2/day in the urban parkland and 0.59 ± 0.50 g frass/m2/day in the forest in 2003–2015). In the forest area, the mean number of fledglings tended to be related to the amount of frassfall but in the parkland, this relation was non-significant. The long-term dynamics of fledging success in our study sites seems to be mutually independent. Thus low fledging success in the forest site does not mean similarly low fledging success in the urban parkland site and vice versa. We suggest that food availability is one of key drivers of differences in the tits breeding success between both studied habitats.
Avian Biology Research
Plasma biochemistry values are useful tools for ecophysiological research of birds and other vert... more Plasma biochemistry values are useful tools for ecophysiological research of birds and other vertebrates. They provide data on the physiological and nutritional state of individuals in various life stages. We predicted that blood triglyceride levels correlate with nutritional state of birds and that this trait is temporally variable. Therefore, we studied the effects of year and distinct habitat type (urban parkland vs woodland) on triglyceride concentration in the blood of nestling Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus. We ascertained both seasonal and inter-habitat variation within the trait. Specifically, (1) nestlings from trophic rich forest site were characterised with significantly higher mean triglyceride levels, and (2) mean triglyceride content was significantly higher in one out of three breeding seasons. These results suggest that the studied trait may be used as a robust indicator of habitat trophic abundance and quality.
Polish Journal of Ecology, 2016
Avian Biology Research, 2016
Haematological and blood chemistry variables are widely used in ecophysiological research as phys... more Haematological and blood chemistry variables are widely used in ecophysiological research as physiological indices of body condition in various vertebrate taxa. In this study, we analysed relationships between blood glucose and blood haemoglobin concentrations of adult birds in wild populations of Blue Tits ( Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tits ( Parus major) during the breeding season in central Poland. We found that blood glucose and blood haemoglobin concentrations are negatively correlated. We also show that individual Blue Tits have higher mean haemoglobin levels adjusted for the common value of glucose concentration than individual Great Tits and that females of both species have higher mean haemoglobin concentrations than males. Our results suggest that haematological as well as biochemical variables may be used in tune as complementary indices of body condition in wild bird populations.
International Journal of Biometeorology, 2016
Many avian species in Europe breed earlier as a result of higher temperatures caused by global cl... more Many avian species in Europe breed earlier as a result of higher temperatures caused by global climate changes. Climate change means not only higher temperatures but also more frequent extreme weather events, sometimes contrasting with the long-term trends. It was suggested that we should look closely at every extreme phenomenon and its consequences for the phenology of organisms. Examining the limits of phenotypic plasticity may be an important goal for future research. Extremely low spring temperatures in 2013 (coldest spring in 40 years) resulted in birds laying unusually late, and it was followed in 2014 by the earliest breeding season on record (warmest spring in 40 years). Here, we present results concerning breeding phenology and doublebroodedness in the Great Tit (Parus major) and the Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) in 2013 and 2014 in an urban parkland and a deciduous forest in central Poland. Great Tits started laying eggs 18.2 days later in 2013 than in 2014 in the parkland, whereas the analogous difference was 21.1 days in the forest. Blue Tits started laying eggs in the parkland 18.5 days later in 2013 than in 2014, while the analogous difference was 21.6 days in the forest. The difference in the proportion of second clutches in Great Tits between 2013 (fewer second clutches) and 2014 (more second clutches) was highly significant in the parkland and in the forest. This rather large extent of breeding plasticity has developed in reaction to challenges of irregular inter-annual variability of climatic conditions. Such a buffer of plasticity may be sufficient for Blue Tits and Great Tits to adjust the timing of breeding to the upcoming climate changes. Keywords Parus major. Cyanistes caeruleus. Climate change. Climate warming. Laying date. Second clutch. Extreme weather event. Delayed breeding time. Accelerated breeding time