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"Nest building"
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Avian architecture : how birds design, engineer & build
\"Describes how birds design, engineer, and build their nests, deconstructing all types of nests found around the world using architectural blueprints and detailed descriptions of the construction processes and engineering techniques birds use. This spectacularly illustrated book features 300 full-color images and more than 35 case studies that profile key species worldwide. Each chapter covers a different type of nest, from tunnel nests and mound nests to floating nests, hanging nests, woven nests, and even multiple-nest avian cities. Other kinds of avian construction--such as bowers and harvest wells--are also featured.\"--Dust jacket.
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A comparison of nest‐site characteristics for two sympatric Estrildid finches (Uraeginthus spp.) in Tanzania
It is well known that birds have great diversity in nesting strategies, but we still have limited knowledge of the variation among species that share the habitat. Here, I will report and compare the nesting strategies between the two sympatric songbirds. Blue‐capped (Uraeginthus cyanocephalus) and red‐cheeked cordon‐bleus (Uraeginthus bengalus) are socially monogamous, biparental songbirds (family Estrildidae) that sympatrically inhabit arid landscapes with trees and bushes in East Africa. Both species build domed nests with grasses that are often located near wasp nests. They also sometimes take over old weaver (family Ploceidae) nests. While these nesting strategies are already described as common behavioral traits in both species in the literature, interspecies variation in these nesting strategies in areas of sympatry is not reported. My initial field observation during their breeding season suggested that whether these nesting strategies were adopted or not varied somewhat between the sympatric cordon‐bleus. Thus, I carried out a more formal investigation to test these differences. I found that red‐cheeked cordon‐bleus built their nests near wasp nests more frequently than blue‐capped cordon‐bleus, while I did not find any other significant differences between the nesting sites of the two species, such as the use of weaver nests, the types of nesting plants, or nest heights. These results suggest that the sympatric cordon‐bleus share several nest‐site characteristics, but that red‐cheeked cordon‐bleus have an affinity for nesting near wasp nests. Further studies will be required to elucidate the costs and benefits of these nesting strategies or the role that adjacency to wasp nests might play in the sympatry of the two species. This study reports variations in the nesting strategies of two sympatric songbirds, blue‐capped cordon‐bleus and red‐cheeked cordon‐bleus. They are known to build nests near wasp nests or take over old weaver nests, which may contribute to predator avoidance and saving energy in nest building. Although the above two species have been considered to have similar nesting strategies, my study found that red‐cheeked cordon‐bleus build nests near wasp nests more frequently than blue‐capped cordon‐bleus.
Journal Article
An experimental increase in female mass during the fertile phase leads to higher levels of extra-pair paternity in pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca
Female mass in most altricial birds reaches its maximum during breeding at egg laying, which coincides temporally with the fertile phase when extra-pair paternity (EPP) is determined. Higher mass at laying may have two different effects on EPP intensity. On the one hand, it would lead to increased wing loading (body mass/wing area), which may impair flight efficiency and thereby reduce female’s capacity to resist unwanted extra-pair male approaches (sexual conflict hypothesis). On the other hand, it would enhance female condition, favouring her capacity to evade mate guarding and to search for extra-pair mates (female choice hypothesis). In both cases, higher female mass at laying may lead to enhanced EPP. To test this prediction, we reduced nest building effort by adding a completely constructed nest in an experimental group of female pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca). Our treatment caused an increase in mass and thereby wing loading and this was translated into a significantly higher EPP in the manipulated group compared with the control group as expected. There was also a significant negative relationship between EPP and laying date and the extent of the white wing patch, an index of female dominance. More body reserves at laying mean not only a higher potential fecundity but a higher level of EPP as well. This interaction had not previously received due attention but should be considered in future studies of avian breeding strategies.
Journal Article
Large litter size increases oxidative stress and adversely affects nest-building behavior and litter characteristics in primiparous sows
The study examined 24 primiparous sows (Landrace × Large white) and their offspring, which were grouped based on litter size: NORMAL ( n = 8, average litter size 11.5 ± 1.2), with litter size between 7 and 14, and LARGE ( n = 16, average litter size 15.9 ± 1.0), with litter size between 15 and 20. Sows were group-housed during gestation, and housed in an adjustable loose housing system (2.4 × 2.3 m) during farrowing and lactation. All the sows were confined in the farrowing crates (0.6 × 2.3 m) for 7 days after the onset of parturition. Saliva samples of sows were collected on days 35, 21, and 7 before farrowing (D-35, D-21 and D7, respectively), and on days 1, 7, and 28 after farrowing (D1, D7, and D28, respectively) to measure the levels of Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Colostrum samples were collected for oxytocin and prolactin assays. Nest-building behavior (NB) for 24 h before parturition and farrowing was observed through video analysis. The results showed that LARGE sows had higher levels of H 2 O 2 on D1 and D7 and AOPP during late gestation ( p < 0.05, for all) and lower TEAC levels during late gestation and on D7 and D28 after farrowing ( p < 0.05, for all) than NORMAL sows. Additionally, LARGE sows tended to have higher levels of TNF-α on D1 and D7 ( p < 0.10, for both). LARGE sows showed shorter duration and lower frequency of NB during 24–12 h before parturition ( p < 0.05, for both), and tended to have lower prolactin levels ( p = 0.10). Furthermore, large sows tended to show longer farrowing duration and higher stillbirth rate ( p = 0.06, p = 0.07, respectively). In conclusion, this study confirmed that large litter size may increase oxidative stress in sows during late gestation and lactation. The data also suggested that this could adversely impact prolactin release, leading to reduced NB.
Journal Article
Possible Traces of Early Modern Human Architectural Heritage: A Comment on Similarities Between Nest-Building Activity of Homo Species and Shelter Forms of Indigenous People in Sub-Saharan Africa
The architectural artefacts, materials, and techniques used for constructing shelters may share some common properties derived from the architectural culture that has evolved within the human species. This article examines the material features and settlement organisations employed in the nest-building activities of early human species and the shelter forms of indigenous peoples residing in sub-Saharan Africa. It questions whether early modern human notions of architectural heritage, which lack substantiation, might have influenced nest construction, typological differentiation, material utilisation, and the transmission of practices to subsequent generations and habitats. The focus is on home-based spatial organisation and the construction of structures. We recognise the need to clarify some fundamental misunderstandings regarding the nature of cultural and archaeological taxonomies, as well as the misuse of analogical reasoning when comparing contemporary hunter–gatherer populations with certain hominin groups. The paper aims to explore whether the early ‘Homo architecture’ in Africa bears any resemblance to that of modern Africans. The central inquiry of this study is whether indigenous architectural artefacts, materials, and techniques have been passed down throughout the evolution of architectural culture. The discussion suggests that the architectural products found in the settlement remains of early Homo species may exhibit characteristics similar to the huts of the indigenous people, who live as hunter–gatherers in sub-Saharan Africa. Discussing the architectural activities of different human species proves fruitful, as early architectural understanding and principles can be adapted to contemporary placemaking scenarios, urban design approaches, and housing models. We believe that, with further evidence, this foundational idea has the potential to be developed further.
Journal Article
Social Nesting, Animal Welfare, and Disease Monitoring
The assessment of welfare and disease progression in animal models is critical. Most tools rely on evaluating individual subjects, whereas social behaviors, also sensitive to acute illness, chronic diseases, or mental health, are scarcely monitored because they are complex and time-consuming. We propose the evaluation of social nesting, a species-typical behavior naturally occurring in standard housing conditions, for such behavioral monitoring. We provide an example of its use to evaluate social deficits and the long-term effects of neonatal tactile-proprioceptive sensorial stimulation from postnatal day 1 to 21, in male and female adult 3xTg-AD mice for Alzheimer’s disease compared to sex- and age-matched non-transgenic (NTg) counterparts with normal aging. Social nesting was sensitive to genotype (worse in 3xTg-AD mice), sex (worse in males), profile, and treatment (distinct time to observe the maximum score and incidence of the perfect nest). Since social nesting can be easily included in housing routines, this neuroethological approach can be useful for animal welfare, monitoring the disease’s progress, and evaluating potential risk factors and effects of preventive/therapeutical strategies. Finally, the noninvasive, painless, simple, short time, and low-cost features of this home-cage monitoring are advantages that make social nesting feasible to be successfully implemented in most animal department settings.
Journal Article
Habitat selection as an antipredator behaviour in a multi-predator landscape: all enemies are not equal
1. Breeding territory choice constitutes a crucial antipredator behaviour for animals that determines reproductive success and survival during the breeding season. On arrival to breeding grounds migrant prey face a multitude of 'waiting' predators already settled within the landscape. 2. We studied territory selection and reproductive investment of migrant pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) relative to breeding pygmy owls (POs) (Glaucidium passerinum) and Tengmalm's owls (TOs) (Aegolius funereus). Diurnal POs present a greater predation threat to adult flycatchers (up to 80% songbirds in diet) compared with nocturnal TOs (up to 36%). 3. During territory selection, pied flycatchers strongly avoided POs (occupation: 42% in presence vs. 92% in absence of owl nest) but not TOs (80% vs. 75%). This suggests that flycatchers are able to distinguish between two potential predators, avoiding dangerous POs but not obviously responding to the less risky TOs. 4. Flycatchers responded to presence of PO nests with c. 4-day delay in the start of egg-laying. A significantly prolonged nest building period contributed to this potentially costly breeding delay. Flycatchers further significantly reduced initial reproductive investment in presence of POs by laying 8·2% smaller clutch sizes, even if laying date was controlled. No breeding delay and clutch size reduction was found relative to TO presence. 5. Our results highlight flexibility in breeding territory selection and reproductive strategies as antipredator responses to perceived risk in a multi-predator environment. This supports the idea that for prey, not all predators are equal.
Journal Article
Nest‐building activity as a reproducible and long‐term stroke deficit test in a mouse model of stroke
Introduction Neuroprotective therapeutics achieved from animal studies have not been able to translate into clinical stroke therapies. A major reason may be that the functional tests and outcomes between animal stroke studies and clinical trials are significantly different. Ultimately, functional recovery is most important for stroke patients, but it remains challenging to identify animal functional tests that reflect human stroke deficits. This study aimed to explore whether the nest‐building activity can be used as a functional test of mouse stroke deficit. Methods Forty‐one C57B6 male mice were randomly assigned into a sham‐operated control group and 20‐, 40‐ and 60‐min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) groups. Mice were perfusion‐fixed at 21 days following sham surgery or MCAO. Infarct volumes were assessed under the light microscopy. The nest‐building activity was characterized and quantitatively evaluated. Results The results show that only a small portion of striatum was damaged after 20‐min MCAO. The brain damage areas were expanded from striatum to the neocortex and hippocampus proportionally after 40‐min and 60‐min MCAO, respectively. Consistently, relative to that of the sham‐operated mice, the nest‐building activity was insignificantly altered after 20‐min MCAO, but dramatically and significantly reduced proportionally following 40‐min and 60‐min MCAO, respectively. The nest‐building deficit was a long‐lasting event and could be seen for as long as 14‐21 days of recovery, the longest endpoint of this study. Conclusions The results suggest that the nest‐building activity may be a novel, objective, easy to use, highly sensitive, and long‐lasting test that may reflect the multifaceted sensorimotor and cognitive deficits after stroke in humans. Our findings may provide a novel multifaceted test for bridging the gap between animal stroke studies and clinical trials. This article reports that the nest‐building activity may be a novel, objective, easy to use, highly sensitive, and long‐lasting test that may reflect the multifaceted sensorimotor and cognitive deficits after stroke in humans. Our findings may provide a novel multifaceted test for bridging the gap between animal stroke studies and clinical trials.
Journal Article