Refereed journal article or data article (A1)
The roles of temperature, nest predators and information parasites for geographical variation in egg covering behaviour of tits (Paridae)
List of Authors: Olli J. Loukola, Peter Adamik, Frank Adriaensen, Emilio Barba, Blandine Doligez, Einar Flensted‐Jensen, Tapio Eeva, Sami M. Kivelä, Toni Laaksonen, Chiara Morosinotto, Raivo Mänd, Petri T. Niemelä, Vladimir Remeš, Jelmer M. Samplonius, Manrico Sebastiano, Juan Carlos Senar, Tore Slagsvold, Alberto Sorace, Barbara Tschirren, János Török, Jukka T. Forsman
Publisher: WILEY
Publication year: 2020
Journal: Journal of Biogeography
Journal name in source: JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
Journal acronym: J BIOGEOGR
Volume number: 47
Issue number: 7
Start page: 1482
End page: 1493
Number of pages: 12
ISSN: 0305-0270
eISSN: 1365-2699
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jbi.13830
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/48368521
Aim Nest building is widespread among animals. Nests may provide receptacles for eggs, developing offspring and the parents, and protect them from adverse environmental conditions. Nests may also indicate the quality of the territory and its owner and can be considered as an extended phenotype of its builder(s). Nests may, thus, function as a sexual and social signal. Here, we examined ecological and abiotic factors-temperature, nest predation and interspecific information utilization-shaping geographical variation in a specific nest structure-hair and feather cover of eggs-and its function as an extended phenotype before incubation in great (Parus major) and blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) across Europe. We also tested whether egg covering is associated with reproductive success of great tits. Location Fourteen different study sites and 28 populations across Europe. Taxon Parus major, Cyanistes caeruleus. Methods We recorded clutch coverage estimates and collected egg covering nest material from the tit nests. We also measured nest specific breeding parameters and phenotypic measurements on adults. We tested whether mean spring temperatures, nest predation rates and flycatcher (Ficedulaspp) densities in the study areas explain the large-scale geographical variation of clutch coverage and reproductive success of tits. Results The degree of egg coverage of great tits increased with lower mean spring temperature, higher nest predation rate and higher flycatcher density. We did not find egg covering of blue tits to be associated with any of the ecological or abiotic factors. Moreover, egg covering of great tits was not associated with reproductive success in our cross-sectional data, yet a rigorous assessment of fitness effects would require long-term data. Main conclusions Our findings suggest that, in great tits, egg covering may simultaneously provide thermal insulation against cold temperatures during egg-laying in spring and also represent a counter-adaptation to reduce information parasitism by flycatchers and nest predation. Hence, geographical variation in interspecific interactions, and consequently in co-evolutionary processes, may affect the evolution of nest characteristics besides environmental conditions.
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