Is multiple nest building an adequate strategy to cope with inter-species nest usurpation?

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dc.contributor.authorSumasgutner, Petra
dc.contributor.authorMillán, Juan
dc.contributor.authorCURTIS, ODETTE
dc.contributor.authorKoelsag, Ann
dc.contributor.authorAMAR, ARJUN
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T06:20:21Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T06:20:21Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.description.abstractAbstract Background Black sparrowhawks (Accipiter melanoleucus) recently colonised the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, where the species faces competition for their nest sites from Egyptian geese (Alopochen aegyptiaca) which frequently usurp black sparrowhawk nests. In this paper, we test the hypothesis that multiple nest building by black sparrowhawks is a strategy to cope with this competitor, based on a 14-year long term data set. Results Two main results support the hypothesis: first, the numbers of intact nests per breeding season in black sparrowhawk territories increased as levels of geese interactions increased, specifically when usurpation occurred. Usurpation occurred significantly more often at nests later in the season, and may provide a further explanation for the advancement of the black sparrowhawk breeding season towards earlier breeding attempts which results in an overall extension of the breeding period (over 9 months) that has been found in our study population. Second, nest usurpation had a negative impact on black sparrowhawks’ reproductive performance at the ‘nest’ level, but not at the ‘territory’ level when multiple nests were available within the same breeding season, suggesting that this strategy was effective for dealing with this competitor. However, our results do not rule out long term negative consequences of these interactions, for example, reduced adult survival rates or reduced lifetime reproductive success, due to the higher energy demand required to build several nests each breeding season. Conclusions Our results suggest that black sparrowhawks avoid direct conflict with this large and aggressive competitor and instead choose the passive strategy in allocating more resources to multiple nest building. Our research further highlights the importance of behavioural plasticity, which might be especially important for city-dwelling species in the face of global urbanisation.
dc.identifier.apacitationSumasgutner, P., Millán, J., CURTIS, O., Koelsag, A., & AMAR, A. (2016). Is multiple nest building an adequate strategy to cope with inter-species nest usurpation?. <i>BMC Evolutionary Biology</i>, 16(1), 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34257en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationSumasgutner, Petra, Juan Millán, ODETTE CURTIS, Ann Koelsag, and ARJUN AMAR "Is multiple nest building an adequate strategy to cope with inter-species nest usurpation?." <i>BMC Evolutionary Biology</i> 16, 1. (2016): 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34257en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationSumasgutner, P., Millán, J., CURTIS, O., Koelsag, A. & AMAR, A. 2016. Is multiple nest building an adequate strategy to cope with inter-species nest usurpation?. <i>BMC Evolutionary Biology.</i> 16(1):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34257en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1471-2148
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Sumasgutner, Petra AU - Millán, Juan AU - CURTIS, ODETTE AU - Koelsag, Ann AU - AMAR, ARJUN AB - Abstract Background Black sparrowhawks (Accipiter melanoleucus) recently colonised the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, where the species faces competition for their nest sites from Egyptian geese (Alopochen aegyptiaca) which frequently usurp black sparrowhawk nests. In this paper, we test the hypothesis that multiple nest building by black sparrowhawks is a strategy to cope with this competitor, based on a 14-year long term data set. Results Two main results support the hypothesis: first, the numbers of intact nests per breeding season in black sparrowhawk territories increased as levels of geese interactions increased, specifically when usurpation occurred. Usurpation occurred significantly more often at nests later in the season, and may provide a further explanation for the advancement of the black sparrowhawk breeding season towards earlier breeding attempts which results in an overall extension of the breeding period (over 9 months) that has been found in our study population. Second, nest usurpation had a negative impact on black sparrowhawks’ reproductive performance at the ‘nest’ level, but not at the ‘territory’ level when multiple nests were available within the same breeding season, suggesting that this strategy was effective for dealing with this competitor. However, our results do not rule out long term negative consequences of these interactions, for example, reduced adult survival rates or reduced lifetime reproductive success, due to the higher energy demand required to build several nests each breeding season. Conclusions Our results suggest that black sparrowhawks avoid direct conflict with this large and aggressive competitor and instead choose the passive strategy in allocating more resources to multiple nest building. Our research further highlights the importance of behavioural plasticity, which might be especially important for city-dwelling species in the face of global urbanisation. DA - 2016 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 1 J1 - BMC Evolutionary Biology LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2016 SM - 1471-2148 T1 - Is multiple nest building an adequate strategy to cope with inter-species nest usurpation? TI - Is multiple nest building an adequate strategy to cope with inter-species nest usurpation? UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34257 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34257
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationSumasgutner P, Millán J, CURTIS O, Koelsag A, AMAR A. Is multiple nest building an adequate strategy to cope with inter-species nest usurpation?. BMC Evolutionary Biology. 2016;16(1):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34257.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentFitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.sourceBMC Evolutionary Biology
dc.source.journalissue1
dc.source.journalvolume16
dc.source.pagination174 - 177
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12862-016-0671-7
dc.subject.otherBehavioural plasticity
dc.subject.otherBlack sparrowhawk
dc.subject.otherColonisation
dc.subject.otherColour polymorphism
dc.subject.otherEgyptian goose
dc.subject.otherGame theory
dc.subject.otherInter-species competition
dc.subject.otherPhenotypic trait
dc.subject.otherRaptor
dc.subject.otherUrbanisation
dc.subject.otherAnimals
dc.subject.otherBreeding
dc.subject.otherCompetitive Behavior
dc.subject.otherFemale
dc.subject.otherGeese
dc.subject.otherHawks
dc.subject.otherMale
dc.subject.otherNesting Behavior
dc.subject.otherPhenotype
dc.subject.otherReproduction
dc.subject.otherSeasons
dc.subject.otherSouth Africa
dc.titleIs multiple nest building an adequate strategy to cope with inter-species nest usurpation?
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
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