A5045125003- Avian ecology and behavior
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Plant and animal studies
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Mercury impact and mitigation studies
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Arctic and Antarctic ice dynamics
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Indigenous Studies and Ecology
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Forest ecology and management
- Animal Diversity and Health Studies
Cardiff University
2008-2022
University of Wales
1990-2000
University of Leicester
1970
Summary Ecologists concerned with life‐history strategies of parasitoid wasps have recently focused on interspecific variation in the fraction maximum potential lifetime egg complement that is mature when female emerges into environment. Species all this upon emergence are termed ‘pro‐ovigenic’, while those do not ‘synovigenic’. We document and quantify diversity maturation patterns among 638 species from 28 families. test a series hypotheses concerning ‘ovigeny’ likely correlates by...
Life-history theory proposes that costs must be associated with reproduction. Many direct are incurred during breeding. There is also evidence for indirect costs, after breeding, which decrease survival and future reproductive success. One possible cost identified in birds breeding activity some way compromises plumage quality the subsequent moult. Here we propose a mechanism by this could occur. Breeding delays start of Birds to moult later more rapidly - an effect decreasing daylength....
Abstract. 1. Insects vary considerably between and within orders, even the same genus, in degree to which female's lifetime potential egg complement is mature when she emerges as an adult. 2. The ‘ovigeny index’ (OI) – number of eggs females have ready lay divided by fecundity quantifies variation early life concentration production, also initial reproductive effort. 3. Here, integrated set hypotheses presented, based on a conceptual model resource allocation acquisition, concerning...
Both the ovigeny index (OI) – defined as proportion of potential lifetime complement eggs that is mature upon female emergence, and egg load number carried by a at given moment in her lifetime, have been identified significant fitness variables insects. In discussions maturation strategies initial (IEL) OI are often considered together, they assumed to be strongly correlated. The purpose this review is: (i) summarise what known about variation IEL both relation one another other (notably...
Summary Persistent pesticide residues remain a significant environmental pollutant, reducing breeding success of predatory birds even where such pesticides have been banned for many years. The ability to detect inexpensively without destructive sampling would be valuable tool ecotoxicological monitoring. We suggest that assaying eggshell colour might provide tool. Recent studies revealed two mechanisms affecting pigmentation in, and believed specific to, passerine birds. In the great tit...
The phenology of many species shows strong sensitivity to climate change; however, with few large scale intra-specific studies it is unclear how such varies over a species' range. We document variation in phenological temperature using laying date information from 67 populations two co-familial European songbirds, the great tit (Parus major) and blue (Cyanistes caeruleus), covering part their breeding Populations inhabiting deciduous habitats showed stronger than those evergreen mixed...
Summary 1. The ovigeny index, previously identified as both a significant fitness variable in parasitoid wasps and an important factor parasitoid–host population dynamics, is the proportion of maximum potential lifetime complement eggs that mature when female emerges into environment following pupal development. We tested hypothesis index varies with body size wasps. Body measurements were obtained for 40 species 13 families, representing broad taxonomic morphological diversity There was...
Nests are structures built to support and protect eggs and/or offspring from predators, parasites, adverse weather conditions. mainly constructed prior egg laying, meaning that parent birds must make decisions about nest site choice building behavior before the start of egg-laying. Parent should be selected choose sites build optimally sized nests, yet our current understanding clutch size-nest size relationships is limited small-scale studies performed over short time periods. Here, we...
Abstract The increase in size of human populations urban and agricultural areas has resulted considerable habitat conversion globally. Such anthropogenic have specific environmental characteristics, which influence the physiology, life history, population dynamics plants animals. For example, date bud burst is advanced compared to nearby natural areas. In some birds, breeding success determined by synchrony between timing peak food abundance. Pertinently, caterpillars are an important source...
One of the key predictions general life-history theory is that reproduction incurs a survival cost. Although there convincing body evidence to support this prediction at intraspecific level in insects, interspecific relatively scarce, as case for other animals. By employing two methods phylogenetically controlled analysis, we demonstrate existence negative correlation between life-span and early life investment reproduction, across wide diversity Lepidoptera. The measure initial reproductive...
The relative importance of different feeding sites to gulls in the inner Bristol Channel was determined by an analysis chick regurgitations during breeding season (1973–76), and direct counts birds at winter (1973–77). About 70% local Herring gull population fed refuse tips throughout year. Tips were also considerable Lesser black‐backed summer winter, Great (c. 45% birds). Common Black‐headed mainly on fields (c.90% birds, respectively) these areas used about 50% blackbacked winter....
Summary Secondary hole‐nesting birds that do not construct nest holes themselves and hence regularly breed in boxes constitute important model systems for field studies many biological disciplines with hundreds of scientists amateurs involved. Those research groups are spread over wide geographic areas experience considerable variation environmental conditions, researchers provide varying designs may inadvertently introduce spatial temporal reproductive parameters. We quantified the...
Summary 1. Shellfish of marketable size can be harvested much more quickly and efficiently using mechanical methods such as tractor‐powered harvesters suction dredgers than by traditional methods. The adverse effects machines on non‐target organisms need to considered carefully before licensing activities. 2. A tractor‐towed cockle harvester was used extract cockles from intertidal plots muddy sand clean in order investigate the other benthic invertebrates their predators. 3. Harvesting...
In behavior-based individual-based models (IBMs), demographic functions are emergent properties of the model and not built into structure itself, as is case with more widely used demography-based IBMs. Our IBM represents physiology behavioral decision making individual animals and, from that, predicts how many survive winter nonbreeding season, an important component fitness. This paper provides first test such a by predicting change in mortality charadriid shorebird following removal...
We hypothesized that Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus and Great Parus major from low quality habitat (small woods) would have less yellow ventral plumage than those high (large because they moult faster and/or their diet contains fewer carotenoids. They later in the season are subject to more rapidly shortening daylengths. tested this using a database of coloration (chroma, hue lightness) birds breeding woods different sizes, by manipulating speed captive Tits, counting abundance size...
In attempting to explain the marked interspecific variation evident in many components of life-history parasitoid wasps, biologists have sought identify general predictors suites 'important' traits. Two currently use are: (1) mode larval development relation future host growth and [no further (= idiobiosis) versus continued koinobiosis)]; (2) ovigeny index (the degree which lifetime potential complement eggs is mature at start adult life females). These been postulated share several...
Abstract In order to compile an annual or seasonal energy budget for a small mammal population, it is necessary derive estimates of standing crop, consumption, egestion, digestion, excretion, assimilation, respiration, growth and reproduction. This review gives account the methods available compiling such budgets, uses results obtained from study Microtus agrestis in south west Britain as worked example. population was live–trapped on twenty occasions during course 2 years. Total flow 309...
(1975). Feeding behaviour of autumn passage migrants in north east Portugal. Ringing & Migration: Vol. 1, No. pp. 3-11.
Sandgrouse of the genus Pterocles are good models for studying adaptations to deserts, with 14 species living in different parts a habitat spectrum ranging from semiarid extreme desert. To evaluate possible differences bioenergetic and thermoregulatory ability within group, we studied two species, black-bellied sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) pin-tailed alchata). These partly sympatric, but latter also occurs hotter more arid regions than former. Black-bellied had mean resting metabolic...
Over an 18 month period, grasses constituted on average 67% and mosses 20% of the area microscopically identifiable material in faeces a Microtus agrestis (L.) population inhabiting young larch plantation. Rushes, grass seeds, herbs liverworts accounted for remaining plant tissue. Grasses were more common autumn early winter than summer. Dactylis glomerata L., dominant species, formed over half ground cover but was rare almost completely unpalatable to voles laboratory tests. The most...