Stick supply to nests by cliff-nesting raptors as an evolutionary load of past tree-nesting
The supply of sticks to cliff nests by many European raptors has been explained only as a functional means of decreasing ectoparasite loads in nests and for signalling nest occupancy. We provide here a historical explanation of this behaviour as we consider it represents an evolutionary load of form...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Queen's University
2019-08-01
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| Series: | Ideas in Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/IEE/article/view/13337 |
| _version_ | 1819180810365829120 |
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| author | Alejandro Martínez Abraín Juan Jiménez |
| author_facet | Alejandro Martínez Abraín Juan Jiménez |
| author_sort | Alejandro Martínez Abraín |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The supply of sticks to cliff nests by many European raptors has been explained only as a functional means of decreasing ectoparasite loads in nests and for signalling nest occupancy. We provide here a historical explanation of this behaviour as we consider it represents an evolutionary load of formerly tree-nesting species. Basically, from this perspective, facultative tree/cliff-nesting species reproduce the nests they used to build originally on top of trees, but on cliffs. Facultative species (likely evolved in forested areas) that supply their cliff nests with sticks include Pandion haliaetus, Haliaetus albicilla, Milvus migrans, Circaetus gallicus, Buteo buteo, Aquila fasciata, A. pennata, A. chrysaetos, A. heliaca, Gypaetus barbatus Gyps fulvus and Neophron percnopterus. On the contrary, the only Falco species that solely nests in cliffs (F. eleonorae)) and does not supply its nests with sticks and should be considered a true cliff-nester, likely evolved in non-forested areas. All other Falco species that do not supply their cliff nests with sticks but can make use of tree nests made by other non-raptorial species, should also be considered as true cliff-nesters, likely evolved in more forested areas or times. Milvus milvus, Elanus caeruleus, Accipiter nisus, A. gentilis, Pernis apivorus, Aquila adalberti, A. clanga, A. pomarina and Aegypius monachus are true tree nesters, likely evolved in forested areas, which did not evolve the plasticity to nest directly on cliffs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T22:20:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-42f757f205de49c0810e38f9a6f755ad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1918-3178 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T22:20:15Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | Queen's University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ideas in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-42f757f205de49c0810e38f9a6f755ad2022-12-21T18:10:41ZengQueen's UniversityIdeas in Ecology and Evolution1918-31782019-08-011210.24908/iee.2019.12.3.nStick supply to nests by cliff-nesting raptors as an evolutionary load of past tree-nestingAlejandro Martínez Abraín0Juan Jiménez1UNIVERSITY OF A CORUÑAGeneralitat Valencia. Wildlife Service. Valencia, Spain.The supply of sticks to cliff nests by many European raptors has been explained only as a functional means of decreasing ectoparasite loads in nests and for signalling nest occupancy. We provide here a historical explanation of this behaviour as we consider it represents an evolutionary load of formerly tree-nesting species. Basically, from this perspective, facultative tree/cliff-nesting species reproduce the nests they used to build originally on top of trees, but on cliffs. Facultative species (likely evolved in forested areas) that supply their cliff nests with sticks include Pandion haliaetus, Haliaetus albicilla, Milvus migrans, Circaetus gallicus, Buteo buteo, Aquila fasciata, A. pennata, A. chrysaetos, A. heliaca, Gypaetus barbatus Gyps fulvus and Neophron percnopterus. On the contrary, the only Falco species that solely nests in cliffs (F. eleonorae)) and does not supply its nests with sticks and should be considered a true cliff-nester, likely evolved in non-forested areas. All other Falco species that do not supply their cliff nests with sticks but can make use of tree nests made by other non-raptorial species, should also be considered as true cliff-nesters, likely evolved in more forested areas or times. Milvus milvus, Elanus caeruleus, Accipiter nisus, A. gentilis, Pernis apivorus, Aquila adalberti, A. clanga, A. pomarina and Aegypius monachus are true tree nesters, likely evolved in forested areas, which did not evolve the plasticity to nest directly on cliffs.https://ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/IEE/article/view/13337cliff nestingtree nestingbirds of preyevolutionary loadstick supply |
| spellingShingle | Alejandro Martínez Abraín Juan Jiménez Stick supply to nests by cliff-nesting raptors as an evolutionary load of past tree-nesting Ideas in Ecology and Evolution cliff nesting tree nesting birds of prey evolutionary load stick supply |
| title | Stick supply to nests by cliff-nesting raptors as an evolutionary load of past tree-nesting |
| title_full | Stick supply to nests by cliff-nesting raptors as an evolutionary load of past tree-nesting |
| title_fullStr | Stick supply to nests by cliff-nesting raptors as an evolutionary load of past tree-nesting |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stick supply to nests by cliff-nesting raptors as an evolutionary load of past tree-nesting |
| title_short | Stick supply to nests by cliff-nesting raptors as an evolutionary load of past tree-nesting |
| title_sort | stick supply to nests by cliff nesting raptors as an evolutionary load of past tree nesting |
| topic | cliff nesting tree nesting birds of prey evolutionary load stick supply |
| url | https://ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/IEE/article/view/13337 |
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