A5063653417- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Plant and animal studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Data Analysis with R
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Mercury impact and mitigation studies
- Heavy metals in environment
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Marine and fisheries research
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
University of Helsinki
2014-2025
HiLIFE – Elämäntieteiden Instituutti
2020
University of Turku
2017
Finnish Museum of Natural History
2016-2017
Novia University of Applied Sciences
2017
American Museum of Natural History
2014
Abstract In conservation, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) carrying various sensors and deep learning are increasing, but they typically used independently each other. Untapping their large potential requires integrating these tools. We combine drone-borne thermal imaging with artificial intelligence to locate ground-nests birds on agricultural land. show, for first time, that this semi-automated system can identify nests a high performance. However, local weather, type arable...
Abstract Animal personality is defined as behavior that consistent across time and context. We here applied a reaction-norm perspective implemented random regression phenotypic model (RRPM) to behaviors measured on blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus. During 3 consecutive breeding winter seasons (2007–2009), total of 508 wild-caught were assayed in standard, artificial setup (a bird cage) for 1) activity, 2) escape, 3) neophobia-related behavior. Activity was found be repeatable both within...
Abstract When several personality traits covary, they form a behavioral syndrome. Understanding the evolutionary dynamics of syndrome requires knowledge its genetic underpinning. At present, our understanding basis syndromes is largely restricted to domestic and laboratory animals. Wild are mostly inferred on phenotypic correlations, thus make “phenotypic gambit” assuming that these correlations capture underlying correlations. On 3 years reciprocal cross‐fostering 2896 nestlings 271...
The direction of covariation in behavioral traits (a syndrome) is typically the same males and females, although intersexual differences life history could lead to heterogeneity syndrome structure. We explored whether a was both sexes. recorded 2 metrics nest defense wild blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus: 1) Nest female around time her eggs hatch (hatching defense), 2) male parent when their offspring 16 days old (nestling 3) handling aggression. used repeated records these behaviors collected...
Many species are currently experiencing range shifts in response to climate change. The colonisation of new regions can have serious genetic consequences for the shifting population, given that repeated founder events and strong drift expected erode variation along expansion axis. Such a loss diversity could reduce adaptive potential, slowing or even halting expansion. These known be particularly acute with low dispersal capabilities therefore levels gene flow. Whether highly mobile...
Predicting coevolutionary outcomes is critical for understanding the consequences of climate change and biodiversity loss. The geographic mosaic theory coevolution posits that interactions vary among populations, facilitating persistence such over evolutionary timescales. Characterisation mosaics difficult, with mobile organisms behavioural adaptations posing temporal spatial challenges. Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) its brood parasite, Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), have been used to...
National bird‐nest record schemes provide a valuable data source to study large‐scale changes in basic breeding biology and effects of climate change on birds. Using nest‐record scheme from 26 common Finnish bird species whole Finland, we estimated the laydate first egg for 129 063 nesting attempts. We then investigated relationship mean spring temperature precipitation sum onset laying over period 1961–2012. In addition, examine differences response these climatic variables grouped...
Abstract Behavioral differences between individuals that are consistent over time characterize animal personality. The existence of such consistency contrasts to the expectation based on classical behavioral theory facultative behavior maximizes individual fitness. Here, we study two personality traits (aggression and breath rate during handling) in a wild population blue tits 2007–2012. Handling aggression were moderately heritable ( h 2 = 0.35 0.20, respectively) not genetically correlated...
A developing organism faces a dilemma: whether to allocate available resources building its body structures (growth) or the development of immune system. The outcome this tradeoff is likely be modified by parasites. We manipulated abundance ectoparasitic Hen Fleas (Ceratophyllus gallinae) on nestling Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) microwaving nests and subsequently adding 200 (15 infested nests) not (16 reduced-infestation nests). In addition, we host nestlings' food supplementary feeding...
In birds and other taxa, nest construction varies considerably between within populations. Such variation is hypothesized to have an adaptive (i.e. genetic) basis, but estimates of heritability in are largely lacking. Here, we demonstrate with data collected over 10 years from 1010 nests built by blue tits nest-boxes that size (height material) composition (proportion feathers the nest) repeatable only weakly (12–13%) heritable female traits. These findings imply may evolve if subjected...
Sensitivity of bird species to environmental metal pollution varies but there is currently no general framework predict species-specific sensitivity. Such information would be valuable from a conservation point-of-view. Calcium (Ca) has antagonistic effects on toxicity and studies with some common model show that low dietary circulating calcium levels indicate higher sensitivity harmful toxic metals. Here we measured fecal Ca five other macroelement (potassium K, magnesium Mg, sodium Na,...
ABSTRACT There is increasing recognition that alien species may be ‘sleepers’, becoming invasive with favourable changes in conditions, yet these remain difficult to predict. As populations of frugivorous birds shift urbanisation and climate change, they could provide dispersal services for introduced fruiting plants have previously been considered benign. This likely especially problematic at higher latitudes where bird migration phenologies are altering rapidly. However, any consequences...
Birds show immense variation in nest sizes within species. At least siz different hypotheses have been forwarded to explain intraspecific size cavity nesting species, but very few of those tested experimentally. In our study, when nestlings were 2 days old, we manipulated the height 182 Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) nests either 5 cm or 11 while standardizing their ectoparasite load and genetic maternal background. line with hypothesis that larger increased growth compared shallow nests,...
Information ecology theory predicts that prior experience influences current behaviour, even if the information is acquired under a different context. However, when individuals are tested to quantify personality, cognition, or stress, we usually assume novelty of test consistent among individuals. Surprisingly, this 'gambit experience' has rarely been explored. Therefore, here make use wild population great tits (Parus major) handling and captivity common measures exploration (open field...
The reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) is a long-distance migrant passerine with wide distribution across Eurasia. This species has fascinated researchers for decades, especially its role as host of brood parasite, and capacity rapid phenotypic change in the face climate change. Currently, it expanding range northwards Europe, altering migratory behavior certain areas. Thus, there great potential to discover signs recent evolution impact on genomic composition warbler. Here, we present...
Abstract Indirect sexual selection arises when reproductive individuals choose their mates based on heritable ornaments that are genetically correlated to fitness. Evidence for genetic associations between ornamental colouration and fitness remains scarce. In this study, we investigate the quantitative relationship different aspects of tail structural (brightness, hue UV chroma) performance (cell‐mediated immunity, body mass wing length) in blue tit ( Cyanistes caeruleus ) nestlings. line...
Hosts of brood parasitic cuckoos often employ mobbing attacks to defend their nests and, when is costly, hosts are predicted adjust match parasitism risk. While evidence exists for fine-tuned plasticity, it remains unclear why does not track larger seasonal changes in Here we test a possible explanation from parental investment theory: parents should current more intensively as the opportunity replace declines (re-nesting potential), and therefore “counteract” any apparent decline We take...
ABSTRACT Social information use by cuckoo-hosts provides an excellent example of how social interactions within species can influence selection on another. Neighbours observe each other’s mobbing behaviour towards cuckoos, and then adjust costly defences back at their own nest in response. This may even allow naïve juveniles to ‘learn’ recognise suggesting that ‘social responsiveness’ must play a key part determining hosts respond changing rates brood parasitism. However, if the ‘cultural...
Sensitivity of bird species to environmental metal pollution varies but there is currently no general framework predict species-specific sensitivity. Such information would be valuable from a conservation point-of-view. Calcium (Ca) has antagonistic effects on toxicity and studies with some common model show that low dietary circulating calcium levels indicate higher sensitivity harmful toxic metals. Here we measured fecal Ca five other macroelement (Potassium K, Magnesium Mg, Sodium Na,...