Factors determining the occupancy of nest-boxes by Great Tits (Parus major) in eucalypt plantations
Providing nest-boxes as surrogate tree cavities can be of great importance to increase the breeding populations of cavity-nesting birds in managed forests. However, the exact placement of nest-boxes should be taken into consideration to enhance their occupancy according to species-specific preferenc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Avian Research |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2053716623000245 |
| _version_ | 1797846386234884096 |
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| author | Ricardo S. Ceia Pedro B. Lopes Luís P. da Silva |
| author_facet | Ricardo S. Ceia Pedro B. Lopes Luís P. da Silva |
| author_sort | Ricardo S. Ceia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Providing nest-boxes as surrogate tree cavities can be of great importance to increase the breeding populations of cavity-nesting birds in managed forests. However, the exact placement of nest-boxes should be taken into consideration to enhance their occupancy according to species-specific preferences. In this study, we investigated which factors can better predict nest-box occupancy by the Great Tit (Parus major) in eucalypt plantations. We used generalised linear mixed-effects models to analyse the influence of topography, nest-box positioning, vegetation cover and landscape variables on three-year occupancy records from 80 newly provided nest-boxes. Non-random patterns of nest-box occupancy were found with respect to all categories except topography. Results suggest that Great Tits prefer to occupy high-placed nest-boxes, close to areas that can provide them with supplementary resources either within or in the vicinity of the stand (i.e., trees other than eucalypts, riparian vegetation, and large patches of adjacent habitats). Overall, this study provides important recommendations for nest-box placement and spatial distribution in managed forests and enhances the potential of nest-box interventions as a biodiversity offset and management tool. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:54:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d9da6991530a464b85d47dbab3e0c7fe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2053-7166 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:54:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Avian Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-d9da6991530a464b85d47dbab3e0c7fe2023-04-15T05:52:29ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Avian Research2053-71662023-01-0114100098Factors determining the occupancy of nest-boxes by Great Tits (Parus major) in eucalypt plantationsRicardo S. Ceia0Pedro B. Lopes1Luís P. da Silva2Centre for Functional Ecology – Science for People & the Planet, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal; Corresponding author.Centre for Functional Ecology – Science for People & the Planet, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, PortugalCentre for Functional Ecology – Science for People & the Planet, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal; CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, PortugalProviding nest-boxes as surrogate tree cavities can be of great importance to increase the breeding populations of cavity-nesting birds in managed forests. However, the exact placement of nest-boxes should be taken into consideration to enhance their occupancy according to species-specific preferences. In this study, we investigated which factors can better predict nest-box occupancy by the Great Tit (Parus major) in eucalypt plantations. We used generalised linear mixed-effects models to analyse the influence of topography, nest-box positioning, vegetation cover and landscape variables on three-year occupancy records from 80 newly provided nest-boxes. Non-random patterns of nest-box occupancy were found with respect to all categories except topography. Results suggest that Great Tits prefer to occupy high-placed nest-boxes, close to areas that can provide them with supplementary resources either within or in the vicinity of the stand (i.e., trees other than eucalypts, riparian vegetation, and large patches of adjacent habitats). Overall, this study provides important recommendations for nest-box placement and spatial distribution in managed forests and enhances the potential of nest-box interventions as a biodiversity offset and management tool.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2053716623000245Eucalyptus globulusManaged forestNest-site attributesSecondary cavity-nesterSpecies-specific preferencesTit |
| spellingShingle | Ricardo S. Ceia Pedro B. Lopes Luís P. da Silva Factors determining the occupancy of nest-boxes by Great Tits (Parus major) in eucalypt plantations Avian Research Eucalyptus globulus Managed forest Nest-site attributes Secondary cavity-nester Species-specific preferences Tit |
| title | Factors determining the occupancy of nest-boxes by Great Tits (Parus major) in eucalypt plantations |
| title_full | Factors determining the occupancy of nest-boxes by Great Tits (Parus major) in eucalypt plantations |
| title_fullStr | Factors determining the occupancy of nest-boxes by Great Tits (Parus major) in eucalypt plantations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors determining the occupancy of nest-boxes by Great Tits (Parus major) in eucalypt plantations |
| title_short | Factors determining the occupancy of nest-boxes by Great Tits (Parus major) in eucalypt plantations |
| title_sort | factors determining the occupancy of nest boxes by great tits parus major in eucalypt plantations |
| topic | Eucalyptus globulus Managed forest Nest-site attributes Secondary cavity-nester Species-specific preferences Tit |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2053716623000245 |
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