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Thermal and energetic consequences of nest location and breeding times in Water Pipits (Anthus spinoletta)

Thermische und energetische Konsequenzen von Brutplätzen und Brutzeiten bei Wasserpiepern (Anthus spinoletta)

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Summary

The thermal environment has pronounced effects on the energy costs of thermoregulation and affects an animal's allocation of energy to self-maintenance and parental care. Consequently, the selection of reproductive periods, breeding habitats and nest-sites with a favourable microclimate can be advantageous, especially for birds breeding in harsh environments. In this study on Alpine Water Pipits (Anthus spinoletta), we evaluate the importance of spatial and temporal factors on thermoregulatory costs by combining laboratory measurements of metabolic rates under various temperatures with standard operative temperatures (Tes) recorded in the field in different microhabitats. Using these measurements we estimate the thermal and energetic consequences of nest locality and timing of reproduction. Our results show: (1) In the morning, Tes values were much higher on the east-north-east (ENE) slope of a valley than on the west-south-west (WSW) slope; in the afternoon this pattern was reversed. As a consequence, energy costs (Ehour) for thermoregulation on the ENE slope were up to 0.6 RMR (resting metabolic rate at night) lower than on the WSW slope during morning hours and about 0.8 RMR higher during afternoon hours. (2) During the incubation and nestling phases of first and second broods, total energy expenditure for thermoregulation in the daytime (Edaytime) was 0.2–0.3 RMR higher on the ENE slope than on the WSW slope. (3) Within slopes, Edaytime was lower during second broods than during first broods, with differences of 0.06–0.07 RMR during incubation and of 0.32 RMR during nestling care. These differences correspond to the flying costs of females incubating eggs (0.09 RMR) and rearing nestlings (0.25 RMR). We conclude that nest placement in relation to microclimate can improve the female's energy budget, both in terms of the total daily expenditure and its diurnal pattern. From thermal considerations alone, delaying breeding into mid-summer would be advantageous, but this advantage is probably outweighed by the reduced chances for second and replacement clutches and by the necessity to complete moult before migration.

Zusammenfassung

Die Umgebungstemperatur beeinflusst den Energieaufwand für die Thermoregulation und bestimmt somit, wie viel Energie ein Tier für die Selbsterhaltung benötigt und wie viel es für Brutpflege aufwenden kann. Daher ist es vorteilhaft, für die Fortpflanzung Zeiten und Orte mit besonders günstigen mikroklimatischen Bedingungen zu wählen. Das gilt insbesondere für Vögel, die in unwirtlichen Biotopen wie z. B. alpinen Regionen brüten. Wir untersuchten den Einfluss von Brutzeit und -ort auf die energetischen Kosten der Thermoregulation am Beispiel einer Population des Wasserpiepers (Anthus spinoletta) im Dischmatal bei Davos (Schweiz). Dazu verknüpften wir drei verschiedene Datensätze: a) Ruhestoffwechsel (RMR), gemessen an gefangenen Vögeln unter verschiedenen Temperaturen, b) Umgebungs- und Nesttemperaturen im Freiland während der Brutzeit und c) standardisierte operative Temperaturen (Tes), ermittelt mit Kupfervögeln in verschiedenen Mikrohabitaten.

Die Ergebnisse zeigen: (1) In den Morgenstunden sind Tes-Werte am Ost-Nord-Ost-Hang (ONO) deutlich höher als am West-Süd-West-Hang (WSW); am Nachmittag sind die Verhältnisse umgekehrt. Als Folge davon sind die Energiekosten (Ehour) der Thermoregulation am ONO-Hang in den Morgenstunden bis zu 0.6 RMR niedriger und nachmittags ca. 0.8 RMR höher als am WSW-Hang. (2) In der Bebrütungs- und Nestlingsphase von Erst-und Zweitbruten war der gesamte Energieaufwand für Thermoregulation während der Tagesstunden (Edaytime) am ONO-Hang 0.2–0.3 RMR höher als am WSW-Hang. (3) Innerhalb jedes Hanges war Edaytime bei Zweitbruten niedriger als bei Erstbruten: 0.06–0.07 RMR während der Bebrütung der Eier und 0.32 RMR während der Nestlingsphase. Diese Größenordnungen entsprechen den Flugkosten von Weibchen während der Bebrütungszeit (0.09 RMR) bzw. der Jungenaufzucht (0.25 RMR).

Unsere Ergebnisse belegen, dass die Wahl von klimatisch günstigen Habitaten die Energiebilanz von Brutvögeln verbessern kann, sowohl in Hinblick auf den täglichen Gesamtaufwand als auch bezüglich der Verteilung des Energieverbrauchs über den Tag. Aus thermoregulatorischen Gründen wäre auch eine zeitliche Verlagerung des Brutgeschäfts in die Sommermonate (Juli, August) vorteilhaft. Das würde jedoch die Möglichkeiten für Ersatz-und Zweitbruten verringern und die Zeit für die Mauser vor dem Herbstzug verkürzen. Da in unserem Untersuchungsgebiet diese Faktoren für eine erfolgreiche Fortpflanzung eine größere Bedeutung haben als der Energieaufwand für die Thermoregulation, ist der frühe — energetisch 6–32 % teurere — Brutbeginn der Vögel sinnvoll.

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  1. Claudia Rauter

    Present address: Department of Entomology, S-225 Ag. Sci. Center North, University of Kentucky, 40546-0091, Lexington, KY, USA

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  1. Department of Zoology, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland

    Claudia Rauter & Heinz-Ulrich Reyer

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Rauter, C., Reyer, HU. Thermal and energetic consequences of nest location and breeding times in Water Pipits (Anthus spinoletta). J Ornithol 141, 391–407 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01651569

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