Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Breeding phenology, provisioning behaviour, and unusual patterns of life history variation across an anthropogenic heterogeneous landscape

  • Highlighted Student Research
  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Understanding how resource use and life history variation influence a population's response to modified, fragmented landscapes is a major challenge for ecologists. We investigated the phenology, life history decisions and provisioning behaviour of a generalist passerine—the great tit—across a heavily managed woodland landscape. Contrary to most previous studies on this species, reproductive investment and success were lower in deciduous than in coniferous woodland fragments. This could not be explained by differences in provisioning behaviour; instead population density was considerably higher in deciduous woodlands, suggesting birds did not follow an ideal free distribution. Clutch size declined with lay date amongst populations breeding in coniferous woodland fragments, but these populations also displayed pronounced seasonal declines in the proportion of fledglings produced per egg and fledgling mass. In contrast, and against patterns observed in other similar study systems, clutch size did not change with lay date in mixed-species deciduous woodland fragments. Furthermore, the proportion of young fledged and fledgling condition remained stable throughout the season, even though the quality of food provisioned to nestlings increased over the season. Local recruitment was negligible, suggesting that plasticity rather than natural selection played a key role in driving the patterns observed. The unusual patterns we report are likely explained by the fragmented nature of the landscape, and unreliable phenological cues in a mixed-species tree community coupled with low food availability. They contrast with those reported from most other populations situated in continuous woodland, demonstrating that caution is needed when generalising across different contexts and ecosystems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aulchenko YS, Ripke S, Isaacs A, van Duijn CM (2007) GenABEL: an R package for genome-wide association analysis. Bioinformatics 23:1294–1296

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aurenhammer F (1991) Voronoi diagrams–a survey of fundamental geometric data structure. ACM Comput Surv 23:345–405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benítez-Malvido J, Martínez-Ramos M (2003) Impact of forest fragmentation on understory plant species richness in Amazonia. Conserv Biol 17:389–400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blondel J, Thomas DW, Charmantier A, Perret P, Bourgault P, Lambrechts MM (2006) A thirty-year study of phenotypic and genetic variation of blue tits in Mediterranean habitat mosaics. Bioscience 56:661–673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Both C (1998) Experimental evidence for density dependence of reproduction in great tits. J Anim Ecol 67:667–674

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brockerhoff EG, Jactel H, Parrotta JA, Quine CP, Sayer J (2008) Plantation forests and biodiversity: oxymoron or opportunity? Biodivers Conserv 17:925–951

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown CR, Brown MB (1996) Coloniality in the Cliff swallow. The effect of group size on social behavior. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Bueno-Enciso J, Ferrer ES, Barrientos R, Serrano-Davies E, Sanz JJ (2016) Habitat fragmentation influences nestling growth in Mediterranean blue and great tits. Acta Oecol 70:129–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burger C, Belskii E, Eeva T, Laaksonen T, Mägi M, Mänd R, Qvarnström A, Slagsvold T, Veen T, Visser ME, Wiebe KL, Wiley C, Wright J, Both C (2012) Climate change, breeding date and nestling diet: how temperature differentially affects seasonal changes in pied flycatcher diet depending on habitat variation. J Anim Ecol 81:926–936

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burke DM, Nol E (2000) Landscape and fragment size effects on reproductive success of forest-breeding birds in Ontario. Ecol Appl 10:1749–1761

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charmantier A, McCleery RH, Cole LR, Perrins C, Kruuk LEB, Sheldon BC (2008) Adaptive phenotypic plasticity in response to climate change in a wild bird population. Science 320:800–803

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cholewa M, Wesolowski T (2011) Nestling food of European hole-nesting passerines: do we know enough to test he adaptive hypotheses on breeding seasons? Acta Ornithol 46:105–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christians JK (2002) Avian egg size: variation within species and inflexibility within individuals. Biol Rev 77:1–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark RG, Shutler D (1999) Avian habitat selection: pattern from process in nest-site use by ducks? Ecology 80:272–287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Danchin E, Giraldeau L-A, Valone TJ, Wagner RH (2004) Public information: from Nosy neighbours to cultural evolution. Science 305:487–491

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davis JM, Stamps JA (2004) The effect of natal experience on habitat preferences. Trends Ecol Evol 19:411–416

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeWitt TJ, Sih A, Wilson DS (1998) Costs and limits of phenotypic plasticity. Trends Ecol Evol 13:77–81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Donald FF, Fuller RJ, Evans AD, Gough SJ (1998) Effects of forest management and grazing on breeding bird communities in woodland of broadleaved and coniferous trees in western England. Biol Cons 85:183–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Felton A, Lindbladh M, Brunet J, Fritz O (2010) Replacing coniferous monocultures with mixed-species production stands: an assessment of the potential benefits for forest biodiversity in northern Europe. For Ecol Manag 260:939–947

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghalambor CK, McKay JK, Carroll SP, Reznick DN (2007) Adaptive versus non-adaptive phenotypic plasticity and the potential for contemporary adaptation in new environments. Funct Ecol 21:394–407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibb J, Betts MM (1963) Food and food supply of nestling tits (Paridae) in Breckland pine. J Anim Ecol 32:389–533

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gosler A (1993) The great tit. Hamlyn species guides. Hamlyn, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Grieco F (2002) How different provisioning strategies result in equal rates of food delivery: an experimental study of blue tits Parus caeruleus. J Avian Biol 33:331–341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hinam HL, St. Clair CC (2008) Hihg levels of habitat loss and fragmentation limit reproductive success by reducing home range size and provisioning rates of Northern saw-whet owls. Biol Cons 141:524–535

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hinks AE, Cole EF, Daniels KJ, Wilkin TA, Nakagawa S, Sheldon BC (2015) Scale-dependent phenological synchrony between songbirds and their caterpillar food source. Am Nat 186:84–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hollander FA, Titeux N, van Dyck H (2013) Habitat-dependent prey availability and offspring provisioning explain an ecological trap in a migratory bird. Funct Ecol 27:702–709

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kawecki TJ, Ebert D (2004) Conceptual issues in local adaptation. Ecol Lett 7:1225–1241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kight CR, Swaddle JP (2011) How and why environmental noise impacts animals: an integrative, mechanistic review. Ecol Lett 14:1052–1061

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klomp H (1970) The determination of clutch-size in birds. A review. Ardea 58:1–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Lechowicz MJ (1983) Why do temperate deciduous trees leaf out a different times? Adaptation and ecology of forest communities. Am Nat 124:821–842

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lundberg A, Alatalo RV, Carlson A, Ulfstrand S (1981) Biometry, habitat distribution and breeding success in the Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca. Ornis Scand 12:68–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacArthur RH (1972) Geographical ecology. Harper and Row, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Mägi M, Mänd R (2004) Habitat differences in allocation of eggs between successive breeding attempts in great tits (Parus major). Écoscience 11:361–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mägi M, Mänd R, Tamm H, Sisask E, Kilgas P, Tilgar V (2009) Low reproductive success of great tits in the preferred habitat: a role of food availability. Ecoscience 16:145–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mänd R, Tilgar V, Lõhmus A, Leivits A (2005) Providing nest-boxes for hole-nesting birds—does habitat matter? Biodivers Conserv 14:1823–1840

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mänd R, Leivits A, Leivits M, Rodenhouse NL (2009) Provision of nestboxes raises the breeding density of Great Tits Parus major equally in coniferous and deciduous woodland. Ibis 151:487–492

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin TE (1987) Food as a limit on breeding birds: a life-history perspective. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 18:453–487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mason WL (2007) Changes in the management of British forests between 1945 and 2000 and possible future trends. Ibis 149:41–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Massa B, Lo Valvo F, Margagliotta B, Lo Valvo M (2004) Adaptive plasticity of blue tits (Parus caeruleus) and great tits (Parus major) breeding in natural and semi‐natural insular habitats. Ital J Zool 71(3):209–217. https://doi.org/10.1080/11250000409356574

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matthysen E, Adriaensen F, Dhondt AA (2001) Local recruitment of great and blue tits (Parus major, P. caeruleus) in relation to study size and degree of isolation. Ecography 24:33–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merino S, Potti J (1995) Mites and blowflies decrease growth and survival in nestling pied flycatchers. Oikos 73:95–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merino S, Moller AP, de Lope F (2000) Seasonal changes in cell-mediated immunocompetence and mass gain in nestling barn swallows: a parasite-mediated effect? Oikos 90:327–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naef-Daenzer B, Keller LF (1999) The foraging performance of great and blue tits (Parus major and P. caeruleus) in relation to caterpillar development and its consequences for nestling growth and fledgling weight. J Anim Ecol 68:708–718

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Forest Inventory (2013) Main findings. Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Co. Wexford

    Google Scholar 

  • Nour N, Currie D, Matthysen E, van Damme R, Dhondt AA (1998) Effects of habitat fragmentation on provisioning rates, diet and breeding success in two species of tit (great tit and blue tit). Oecologia 114:522–530

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Halloran J, Irwin S, Kelly DL, Kelly TC, Mitchell FJG, Coote L, Oxbrough A, Wilson MW, Martin RD, Moore K, Sweeney O, Dietzsch AC, Walsh A, Keady S, French V, Fox H, Kopke K, Butler F, Neville P (2011) Management of biodiversity in a range of Irish forest types. Report prepared for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, p 391

  • Pagani-Núñez E, Senar JC (2013) One hour of sampling is enough: great tit Parus major parents feed their nestlings consistently across time. Acta Ornithol 42:194–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patten MA, Kelly JF (2010) Habitat selection and the perceptual trap. Ecol Appl 20:2148–2156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perdeck AC, Visser ME, van Balen JH (2000) Great tit Parus major survival and the beech-crop cycle. Ardea 88:99–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Perrins CM, McCleery RH (1989) Laying dates and clutch size in the great tit. Wilson Bull 101:236–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Przybylo R (1995) Intersexual niche differentiation: field data on the great tit Parus major. J Avian Biol 26:20–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pulliam HR, Danielson BT (1991) Sources, sinks, and habitat selection: a landscape perspective on population dynamics. Am Nat 137:S50–S66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riddington R, Gosler AG (1995) Differences in reproductive success and parental qualities between habitats in the great tit Parus major. Ibis 137(3):371–378. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.1995.tb08035.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rutberg AT (1987) Adaptive hypotheses of birth synchrony in ruminants: an interspecific test. Am Nat 130:692–710

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanz JJ (1997) Geographic variation in breeding parameters of the Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca. Ibis 139:107–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanz JJ (1998) Effects of geographic location and habitat on breeding parameters of great tits. Auk 115:1034–1051

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saunders DA, Hobbs RJ, Margules CR (1991) Biological consequences of ecosystem fragmentation: a review. Conserv Biol 5:18–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schlaepfer MA, Runge MC, Sherman PW (2002) Ecological and evolutionary traps. Trends Ecol Evol 17:474–480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schlicht L, Valcu M, Kempenaers B (2014) Theissen polygons as a model for animal territory estimation. Ibis 156:215–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schluter D (2001) Ecology and the origin of species. Trends Ecol Evol 16:372–380

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sillett TS, Rodenhouse NL, Holmes RT (2004) Experimentally reducing neighbor density affects reproduction and behavior of a migratory songbird. Ecology 85:2467–2477. https://doi.org/10.1890/03-0272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sisask E, Mänd R, Mägi M, Tilgar V (2010) Parental provisioning behaviour in Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca is well adjusted to local conditions in a mosaic of deciduous and coniferous habitat. Bird Stud 57:447–457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith HG, Källander H, Nilsson J-A (1989) The trade-off between offspring number and quality in the great tit Parus major. J Anim Ecol 58:383–401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stamps WT, Linit MJ (1998) Plant diversity and arthropod communities: implications for temperate agroforestry. Agrofor Syst 39:73–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stearns SC (1976) Life-history tactics: a review of the ideas. Q Rev Biol 51:3–47

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sultan SE, Spencer HA (2002) Metapopulation structure favours plasticity over local adaptation. Am Nat 160:271–283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Svensson L (1992) Identification guide to European passerines. BTO Books, Thetford

    Google Scholar 

  • Sweeney OF, Wilson MW, Irwin S, Kelly TC, Gittings T, O’Halloran J (2011) Breeding birds of native woodlands and woodland forests in Ireland. Irish Birds 9:181–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas DW, Blondel J, Perret P, Lambrechts MM, Speakman JR (2001) Energetic and fitness costs of mismatching resource supply and demand in seasonally breeding birds. Science 291:2598–2600

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tremblay I, Thomas D, Blondel J, Perret P, Lambrechts MM (2005) The effect of habitat quality on foraging patterns, provisioning rate and nestling growth in Corsican Blue Tits (Parus caeruleus). Ibis 147:17–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Balen JH (1973) A comparative study of the breeding ecology of the great tit Parus major in different habitats. Ardea 61:2–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Balen JH, Booy CJH, van Franeker JA, Osieck ER (1982) Studies on hole-nesting birds in natural nest sites. Ardea 70:1–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Noordwijk AJ, de Jong G (1986) Acquisition and allocation of resources—their influence on variation in life-history tactics. Am Nat 128:137–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Noordwijk AJ, McCleery RH, Perrins CM (1995) Selection for the timing of great tit breeding in relation to caterpillar growth and temperature. J Anim Ecol 64:451–458

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verhulst S, Nilsson J-A (2008) The timing of birds’ breeding seasons: a review of experiments that manipulated timing of breeding. Philos Trans R Soc Biol 363:399–410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verhulst S, Tinbergen JM (1991) Experimental evidence for a causal relationship between timing and success of reproduction in the great tit Parus m. major. J Anim Ecol 60(1):269–282. https://doi.org/10.2307/5459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walther GR, Post E, Convey P, Menzel A, Parmesan C, Beebee TJC, Fromentin JM, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Bairlein F (2002) Ecological responses to recent climate change. Nature 416:389–395

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkin TA, Garant D, Gosler AG, Sheldon BC (2006) Density effects on life‐history traits in a wild population of the great tit Parus major: analyses of long‐term data with GIS techniques. J Anim Ecol 75:604–615. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2656.2006.01078.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkin TA, Garant D, Gosler AG, Sheldon BC (2007) Edge effects in the great tit: analyses of long-term data with GIS techniques. Conserv Biol 21:1207–1217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkin TA, King LE, Sheldon BC (2009) Habitat quality, nestling diet, and provisioning behaviour in great tits Parus major. J Avian Biol 40:135–345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeh PJ, Price TD (2004) Adaptive phenotypic plasticity and the successful colonization of a novel environment. Am Nat 164:531–542

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zanchi G, Theil D, Green T, Lindner M (2007) Forest area change and afforestation in Europe: critical analysis of available data and the relevance for international environmental policies. EFI Technical Report 27. Joensuu, p 45

  • Zanette L (2000) Fragment size and the demography of an area-sensitive songbird. J Anim Ecol 69:458–470

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by a Thomas Crawford Hayes Scholarship (School of BEES, UCC) to WOS, and two Grants to JLQ (Marie Curie CIG 334383 and UCC Strategic Research Grant). We thank Barry O’Mahony for his assistance with collecting field data, Tom Kelly for useful discussions and Neil Coughlan for comments on an earlier draft. We also thank Coillte Ireland and the Castle Bernard Estate for allowing us to work on their properties.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Distillery Fields, North Mall, Cork, Ireland

    William O’Shea, John O’Halloran & John L. Quinn

Authors
  1. William O’Shea
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John O’Halloran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. John L. Quinn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

JLQ and WOS designed the study with input from JOH. WOS collected the data, and analysed the data with input from JLQ. WOS and JQ wrote the manuscript with input from JOH.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to John L. Quinn.

Additional information

Communicated by Toni Laaksonen.

This study is one of the first to examine how local land management strategies influence functional behaviours and reproductive success of resident communities in two distinct anthropogenic habitats. Our research is timely because recent environmental directives have encouraged planting strategies that promote within patch heterogeneity. Our results indicate that in some cases, this strategy may have negative repercussions for resident populations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 19 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

O’Shea, W., O’Halloran, J. & Quinn, J.L. Breeding phenology, provisioning behaviour, and unusual patterns of life history variation across an anthropogenic heterogeneous landscape. Oecologia 188, 953–964 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-018-4155-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-018-4155-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation