Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Traditional versus non-traditional nest-site choice: alternative decision strategies for nest-site selection

  • Behavioral ecology - Original research paper
  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In order to understand habitat selection, it is important to consider the way individual animals assess the suitability of a future reproductive site. One way of investigating mechanisms (such as those involved in nest site selection) is to examine breeding success and habitat characteristics in terms of animals returning to a place where they have already reproduced and using the same location over successive years or searching for new alternatives. This approach seems especially suitable for testing recent hypotheses suggesting that nest site selection is an integrative process that includes the use of social information (e.g. past breeding success of conspecifics). Determining the factors that elicit conservative or innovative behaviour regarding nest-site selection could be important for improving our understanding of habitat selection decisions in animals. More than half of the nests of the long-distance migratory lesser grey shrike Lanius minor, are built in the same or neighbouring trees. We found no evidence that habitat characteristics influence nest-site tradition. On the contrary, social information in terms of the presence of conspecifics and past reproductive success in terms of complete nest failures due to nest predation (but not detailed information such as variation in fledgling number) influenced nest-site tradition. Hence, social information and past reproductive success may play a role in nest-site choice in this species. Our results further demonstrate that previous experience with a nest site does not appear to be beneficial.

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.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Antczak M, Hromada M, Tryjanowski P (2005) Research activity induces change in nest position of the great grey shrike Lanius excubitor. Ornis Fenn 82:20–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Avital E, Jablonka E (2001) Animal traditions: behavioural inheritance in evolution. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Bateson P (1978) Sexual imprinting and optimal outbreeding. Nature 273:659–660

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boulinier EK, Danchin E (1997) The use of conspecific reproductive success for breeding patch selection in territorial migratory species. Evol Ecol 11:505–517. doi:10.1007/s10682-997-1507-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Danchin E, Wagner RH (1997) The evolution of coloniality: the emergence of new perspectives. Trends Ecol Evol 12:342–347

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Danchin E, Boulinier T, Massot M (1998) Conspecific reproductive success and breeding habitat selection: implications for the study of coloniality. Ecology 79:2415–2428. doi:10.1890/0012-9658(1998)079[2415:CRSABH]2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Danchin E, Giraldeau LA, Valone TJ, Wagner RH (2004) Public information: from nosy neighbours to cultural evolution. Science 305:487–491. doi:10.1126/science.1098254

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Doligez B, Danchin E, Clobert J, Gustafsson L (1999) The use of conspecific reproductive success for breeding habitat selection in a non-colonial, hole-nesting species, the collared flycatcher. J Anim Ecol 68:1193–1206. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2656.1999.00362.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doligez B, Cadet C, Danchin E, Boulinier T (2003) When to use public information for breeding habitat selection? The role of environmental predictability and density dependence. Anim Behav 66:973–988. doi:10.1006/anbe.2002.2270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fahrig L, Merriam G (1994) Conservation of fragmented populations. Conserv Biol 8:50–59. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1739.1994.08010050.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fragaszy DM, Perry S (2003) The biology of traditions: models and evidence. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Freemark KE, Dunning JB, Hejl SJ, Probst JR (1995) A landscape ecology perspective for research, conservation and management. In: Martin TE, Finch DM (eds) Ecology and management of neotropical migratory birds. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 381–427

    Google Scholar 

  • Giralt D, Valera F (2003) Decline of the spanish population of lesser grey shrike: is it a consequence of living off limits? Vogelwarte 42:37

    Google Scholar 

  • Glück E (1984) Habitat selection in birds and the role of early experience. Z Tierpsychol 66:45–54. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.1984.tb01354.x

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenwood PJ (1980) Mating systems, philopatry and dispersal in birds and mammals. Anim Behav 28:1140–1162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenwood PJ (1989) Inbreeding philopatry and optimal outbreeding in birds. In: Cooke F, Buckley PA (eds) Avian genetics. Academic, London, pp 207–223

  • Greig-Smith PW (1982) Dispersal between nest-sites by Stonechats Saxicola torquata in relation to previous breeding success. Ornis Scand 13:232–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haas CA (1998) Effects of prior nestling success on site fidelity and breeding dispersal: an experimental approach. Auk 115:929–936

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoi H, Krištín A, Valera F, Hoi C (2004) Clutch enlargement in Lesser Gray Shrikes (Lanius minor) in Slovakia when food is superabundant: a maladaptive response? Auk 121:557–564. doi:10.1642/0004-8038(2004)121[0557:CEILGS]2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoi-Leitner M, Nechtelberger H, Hoi H (1995) Song rate as a signal for nest site quality in blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 4:399–405. doi:10.1007/BF00170587

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoover JP (2003) Decision rules for site fidelity in a migratory bird, the prothonotary warbler. Ecology 84:416–430. doi:10.1890/0012-9658(2003)084[0416:DRFSFI]2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hromada M, Antczak M, Valone TJ, Tryjanowski P (2008) Settling decisions and heterospecific social information use in shrikes. PLoS ONE 3:e3930. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0003930

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ille R, Hoi H (1995) Factors influencing fledgling survival in the Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris: food and vegetation density. Ibis 137:586–589

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krištín A, Hoi H, Valera F, Hoi C (2000) Breeding biology and breeding success of the Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor in a stable and dense population. Ibis 142:305–311. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.2000.tb04870.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krištín A, Hoi H, Valera F, Hoi C (2007) Philopatry, dispersal patterns and nest-site reuse in Lesser Grey Shrikes (Lanius minor). Biodivers Conserv 16:987–995. doi:10.1007/s10531-006-9019-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LeBas NR (2002) Mate choice, genetic incompatibility, and outbreeding in the ornate dragon lizard, Ctenophorus ornatus. Evolution 56:371–377. doi:10.1111/j.0014-3820.2002.tb01347.x

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lefranc N, Worfolk T (1997) Shrikes. A guide to the shrikes of the world. Pica, Robertsbridge

  • Lovászi P, Bártol I, Moskát C (2000) Nest-site selection and breeding success of the lesser grey shrike (Lanius minor) in Hungary. The Ring 22:157–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Lozano GA, Lemon RE (1999) Effects of prior residence and age on breeding performance in yellow warblers. Wilson Bull 111:381–388

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore J, Ali R (1984) Are dispersal and inbreeding avoidance related? Anim Behav 32:94–112. doi:10.1016/S0003-3472(84)80328-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muller KL, Stamps JA, Krishnan VV, Willits NH (1997) The effects of conspecific attraction and habitat quality on habitat selection in territorial birds (Troglodytes aedon). Am Nat 150:650–661

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ollason JC, Dunnet M (1978) Age, experience and other factors affecting the breeding success of Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis, in Orkney. J Anim Ecol 47:961–976

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orians GH, Wittenberger JF (1991) Spatial and temporal scales in habitat selection. Am Nat 137:29–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Shields WM (1984) Factors affecting nest and site fidelity in Adirondack Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica). Auk 101:780–789

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith RL (1984) Ecology and field biology, 3rd edn. Harper and Row, New York

  • Stamps JA (1988) Conspecific attraction and aggregation in territorial species. Am Nat 131:329–347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stamps JA (1994) Territorial behaviour: testing the assumptions. Adv Stud Behav 23:173–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Switzer PV (1993) Site fidelity in predictible and unpredictible habitats. Evol Ecol 7:533–555. doi:10.1007/BF01237820

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Switzer PV (1997) Past reproductive success affects future habitat selection. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 40:307–312

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teuschl Y, Taborsky B, Taborsky M (1998) How do cuckoos find their hosts? The role of habitat imprinting. Anim Behav 56:1425–1433. doi:10.1006/anbe.1998.0931

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson PS, Baines D, Coulson JC, Longrigg G (1994) Age at first breeding, philopatry and breeding site-fidelity in the Lapwing Vanellus vanellus. Ibis 136:474–484. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1994.tb01124.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tryjanowski P, Golawski A, Kuzniak S, Mokwa T, Antczak M (2007) Disperse or stay? Exceptionally high breeding-site infidelity in the Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio. Ardea 95:316–320

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiens JA (1989) Ecology of bird communities. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wirtitsch M, Hoi H, Valera F, Krištín A (2001) Habitat composition and use in the Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor. Folia Zool 50:137–150

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Renate Hengsberger for improving the manuscript. This study was funded by the Jubiläumsfondsproject (no. 7223), Grant of Slovak Grant Agency no. 2/0110/09.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology (formerly an institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences), University of Veterinary Medicine, Savoyenstr. 1a, 1160, Vienna, Austria

    H. Hoi & C. Hoi

  2. Institute of Forest Ecology of Slovak Academy of Sciences, Štúrova 2, 960 53, Zvolen, Slovakia

    A. Krištín

  3. Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Calle General Segura 1, 04001, Almería, Spain

    F. Valera

Authors
  1. H. Hoi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Krištín
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. F. Valera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. Hoi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. Hoi.

Additional information

Communicated by Markku Orell.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hoi, H., Krištín, A., Valera, F. et al. Traditional versus non-traditional nest-site choice: alternative decision strategies for nest-site selection. Oecologia 169, 117–124 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-011-2193-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-011-2193-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation