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The structure and function of nests of Long-Tailed Tits Aegithalos caudatus

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

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The structure and function of nests of Long-Tailed Tits Aegithalos caudatus. / McGowan, A; Sharp, SP; Hatchwell, BJ.
In: Functional Ecology, Vol. 18, No. 4, 08.2004, p. 578-583.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Harvard

McGowan, A, Sharp, SP & Hatchwell, BJ 2004, 'The structure and function of nests of Long-Tailed Tits Aegithalos caudatus', Functional Ecology, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 578-583. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0269-8463.2004.00883.x

APA

McGowan, A., Sharp, SP., & Hatchwell, BJ. (2004). The structure and function of nests of Long-Tailed Tits Aegithalos caudatus. Functional Ecology, 18(4), 578-583. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0269-8463.2004.00883.x

Vancouver

McGowan A, Sharp SP, Hatchwell BJ. The structure and function of nests of Long-Tailed Tits Aegithalos caudatus. Functional Ecology. 2004 Aug;18(4):578-583. doi: 10.1111/j.0269-8463.2004.00883.x

Author

McGowan, A ; Sharp, SP ; Hatchwell, BJ. / The structure and function of nests of Long-Tailed Tits Aegithalos caudatus. In: Functional Ecology. 2004 ; Vol. 18, No. 4. pp. 578-583.

Bibtex

@article{e1a5c4f924794382a9cbf47a05d62805,
title = "The structure and function of nests of Long-Tailed Tits Aegithalos caudatus",
abstract = "1. The aim of this study was to investigate the structure and thermoregulatory function of nests of the Long-Tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus. 2. The feather lining of Long-Tailed Tit nests represents a major portion (41%) of the total nest mass. 3. The mass of feathers varied among nests and declined through the breeding season, but there was no seasonal loss of nest insulation quality because of increasing ambient temperatures. 4. In an experiment to investigate the seasonal decline in the feather mass of nests, feathers were added to nests at an early stage of the lining phase of nest construction. Nest structure and insulating properties were then examined following nest completion. 5. The total mass of feathers in treatment and control nests did not differ significantly and there was no significant difference in their nest insulation quality. 6. Our results demonstrate that Long-Tailed Tits adjust their nest-building behaviour according to the nest's thermal environment. Moreover, nest structure appears to be adjusted to prevailing environmental conditions rather than being a function of feather availability or time constraints.",
keywords = "ORIOLE, SUCCESS, nest construction, BEHAVIOR, SWALLOWS TACHYCINETA-BICOLOR, feathers, INCUBATION, FEATHERS, GEOGRAPHIC-VARIATION, nest insulation",
author = "A McGowan and SP Sharp and BJ Hatchwell",
year = "2004",
month = aug,
doi = "10.1111/j.0269-8463.2004.00883.x",
language = "English",
volume = "18",
pages = "578--583",
journal = "Functional Ecology",
issn = "0269-8463",
publisher = "Blackwell Publishing Ltd",
number = "4",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - The structure and function of nests of Long-Tailed Tits Aegithalos caudatus

AU - McGowan, A

AU - Sharp, SP

AU - Hatchwell, BJ

PY - 2004/8

Y1 - 2004/8

N2 - 1. The aim of this study was to investigate the structure and thermoregulatory function of nests of the Long-Tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus. 2. The feather lining of Long-Tailed Tit nests represents a major portion (41%) of the total nest mass. 3. The mass of feathers varied among nests and declined through the breeding season, but there was no seasonal loss of nest insulation quality because of increasing ambient temperatures. 4. In an experiment to investigate the seasonal decline in the feather mass of nests, feathers were added to nests at an early stage of the lining phase of nest construction. Nest structure and insulating properties were then examined following nest completion. 5. The total mass of feathers in treatment and control nests did not differ significantly and there was no significant difference in their nest insulation quality. 6. Our results demonstrate that Long-Tailed Tits adjust their nest-building behaviour according to the nest's thermal environment. Moreover, nest structure appears to be adjusted to prevailing environmental conditions rather than being a function of feather availability or time constraints.

AB - 1. The aim of this study was to investigate the structure and thermoregulatory function of nests of the Long-Tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus. 2. The feather lining of Long-Tailed Tit nests represents a major portion (41%) of the total nest mass. 3. The mass of feathers varied among nests and declined through the breeding season, but there was no seasonal loss of nest insulation quality because of increasing ambient temperatures. 4. In an experiment to investigate the seasonal decline in the feather mass of nests, feathers were added to nests at an early stage of the lining phase of nest construction. Nest structure and insulating properties were then examined following nest completion. 5. The total mass of feathers in treatment and control nests did not differ significantly and there was no significant difference in their nest insulation quality. 6. Our results demonstrate that Long-Tailed Tits adjust their nest-building behaviour according to the nest's thermal environment. Moreover, nest structure appears to be adjusted to prevailing environmental conditions rather than being a function of feather availability or time constraints.

KW - ORIOLE

KW - SUCCESS

KW - nest construction

KW - BEHAVIOR

KW - SWALLOWS TACHYCINETA-BICOLOR

KW - feathers

KW - INCUBATION

KW - FEATHERS

KW - GEOGRAPHIC-VARIATION

KW - nest insulation

U2 - 10.1111/j.0269-8463.2004.00883.x

DO - 10.1111/j.0269-8463.2004.00883.x

M3 - Journal article

VL - 18

SP - 578

EP - 583

JO - Functional Ecology

JF - Functional Ecology

SN - 0269-8463

IS - 4

ER -