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Tree hollows are important structural habitat features for secondary cavity‐nesting birds, however, there has been limited research on how fire severity and frequency affect hollow abundance. Following a mega‐fire on Kangaroo Island during the 2019–2020 Australian bushfire season, we conducted an opportunistic post‐fire assessment of the fate of 144 monitored hollows in Eucalyptus cladocalyx and Eucalyptus leucoxylon trees used by endangered glossy black‐cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus lathami halmaturinus) and yellow‐tailed black‐cockatoos (Zanda funerea). We investigated the relationship between burn severity, inter‐fire interval, tree species and landscape position on the likelihood of tree hollow loss. We also compared the occupancy of nest boxes by both cockatoo species in fire‐affected catchments pre‐fire (2015–2017; 59 nest boxes) and post‐fire (2020–2022; 52 nest boxes). Surveys revealed that 64.4% of monitored tree hollows within the burnt area were destroyed, as were the trees that contained them. Most monitored tree hollows (76.9%) were in areas that had not experienced fire in >50 years prior to the 2019–2020 fires. Tree hollow loss in 2020 was 29 times greater than the mean annual loss of 1.6% recorded in the 22 years prior. Burn severity, inter‐fire interval, landscape matrix and tree species were poor predictors of hollow loss. However, increasing distance from forest edge slightly increased the probability of hollow loss. Post‐fire, the proportion of nest boxes used for nesting by glossy black‐cockatoos per annum increased to 0.70 ± 0.09, compared to 0.50 ± 0.03 pre‐fire. However, the proportion of nest boxes used for nesting by yellow‐tailed black‐cockatoos per annum remained similar (post‐fire 0.32 ± 0.12; pre‐fire 0.28 ± 0.05). The mega‐fires on Kangaroo Island in 2019–2020 resulted in tree hollow loss on a much larger scale than recorded in the 22 years prior, and subsequently, nest boxes have become an important resource for the endangered glossy black‐cockatoo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The housing conditions of laboratory mice must be strictly controlled in order to reduce the impact of pathophysiological changes that affect animal health and welfare, possibly resulting in increased variability within experimental results. One way to improve the activity and survival of laboratory mice is to provide nesting material. The objective of this study was to determine if nest-building quality could be used to detect changes in murine mating behaviour in a rodent facility under controlled conditions. Nesting scores of 847 cages with monogamous pairs from three different genetic backgrounds (129, B6 and BALB/c) of both sexes were correlated with 18 predefined variables. The effects on nest quality were evaluated using descriptive data analysis, correspondence analysis and ordinal logistic model fitting. The results showed a strong relationship between nest quality and nest position. Humidity, genetic background, cage change and the number and age of pups in the cage affected the nest-building scores. The most important indicators were cage change and relative humidity, both of which exerted significant negative effects on nest-building quality. Even though the criteria were well defined, the observer could still influence nest score appraisal. However, in a long-term observational study, observers could improve their assessment by training and acquiring greater experience in score assignment. Nest-building scores are easy to assess in the cage, with little discomfort to the animal. Moreover, the nest score is a valid indicator of the health and well-being of laboratory mice and can provide valuable support in the management of animal facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea turtles are critical components of marine ecosystems, and their conservation is important for Ocean Governance and Global Planet Health. However, there is limited knowledge of their ecology in the Gulf of Guinea. To fill this knowledge gap, this study presents the first integrative assessment of green and hawksbill turtles in the region, combining nesting surveys over 9 years and telemetry data, to offer insights into these population dynamics, and behaviours, including nesting preferences, morphological and reproductive parameters, diving patterns and inter‐nesting core‐use areas. Both green and hawksbill turtles are likely making a recovery on São Tomé, potentially driven by sustained conservation efforts. There are preliminary indications of recovery, but we interpret this cautiously. Coupled with satellite tracking, this study estimated that 482 to 736 green turtles and 135 to 217 hawksbills nest on the beaches of São Tomé. Their movements overlap significantly with a proposed Marine Protected Area (MPA), which suggests they may be well placed for conservation if managed appropriately. However, the presence of artisanal fisheries and emerging threats, such as sand mining and unregulated tourism, highlight the urgent need for robust management strategies that align global conservation objectives with local socioeconomic realities. This study significantly enhances our understanding of the ecology and conservation needs of the green and hawksbill turtles in the Gulf of Guinea. The insights gleaned here can contribute to the development of tailored conservation strategies that benefit these populations and the ecosystem services upon which they depend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last 10 years, the interest in nature‐based solutions and ecosystem services like pollination has increased profoundly and with it the need to gather knowledge about wild bees and apoid wasp community dynamics, especially in urban ecosystems. Research on how the urban environment impacts the conditions of nesting sites is relatively scarce. Recent observations in the Brussels‐Capital Region (BCR; Belgium) show that urban pavements can provide alternative nesting opportunities for ground‐nesting Hymenoptera, such as wild bees and apoid wasps.Here, using a citizen science approach, we investigated the richness of ground‐nesting species living under urban pavements, as well as their preferences for sidewalk characteristics.A total of 22 species belonging to 10 families of wild bees, digger wasps and their associated cleptoparasites were identified at 89 sites in the BCR (Belgium). Sandstone setts or concrete slabs, with an unbound joint size of around 10 mm, were found to be the best suitable urban pavements for the ground‐nesting species. The soil texture under the pavement contained mainly sandy particles.We propose management guidelines to support bee and wasp species nesting under urban pavement in highly urbanised areas. Our observations pave the way for further research in the field of urban ecology and highlight the potential of multifunctional pavement designs that promote not only climate adaptation but also biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bird species on islands are strongly impacted by biological invasions, with the Icelandic common eider (Somateria mollissima borealis) being particularly threatened. Down collection by local families in Breiðafjörður, West Iceland, provided long‐term datasets of nests from two archipelagos, covering 95 islands over 123 years and 39 islands over 27 years, respectively. Using these exceptional datasets, we found that the arrival of the invasive semi‐aquatic American mink (Neogale vison) was a more impactful driver of population dynamics than climate. This invasive predator heavily reduced eider nest numbers by ca. 60% in the Brokey archipelago. In contrast, we detected an apparently adaptive response to the return of the native fox in the Purkey archipelago, with dense nests on islands inaccessible to the fox and no apparent impact on eider populations. This difference might be due to the eiders lacking a joint evolutionary history with the mink and therefore lacking appropriate antipredator responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial nest boxes for solitary bees and other cavity-nesting Hymenoptera are increasingly used for a variety of purposes, including ecological research, crop pollination support and public outreach. Their attractivity and colonization success by cavity-nesting solitary bees depend on their design and placement, including hole dimensions, orientation and the neighboring habitats and available resources. While most bee nest boxes are made of wooden materials, we assessed here the suitability of perennial, concrete nest boxes for cavity-nesting bees. We carried out a three-year nesting survey of 52 custom-made nest boxes located in 11 different sites throughout France and totaling 2912 available holes of 6, 8, 10 or 12 mm in diameter. Concrete nest boxes successfully attracted reproductive females of solitary bee species and supported successful larval development until the emergence of new individuals. Preferred cavities were the smallest ones (6-8 mm), located at the lowest tested positions above ground (31-47 cm) and oriented southward. Local bee populations established in nest boxes steadily increased throughout the three successive seasons in nearly all study sites. The cavity-nesting bee communities were mostly composed of rather common and generalist species, but also comprised a foraging specialist. Additionally, two cleptoparasitic bee species were detected. All species belonged to the Megachilidae. We further discuss the effects of neighboring urban and natural habitats as potential source or sink of nesting bees, as well as opportunities of concrete nest boxes as tools for urban agriculture and more generally for the new biomimetic urban designs to restore local ecosystem services in cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Sea turtles are critical components of marine ecosystems, and their conservation is important for Ocean Governance and Global Planet Health. However, there is limited knowledge of their ecology in the Gulf of Guinea. To fill this knowledge gap, this study presents the first integrative assessment of green and hawksbill turtles in the region, combining nesting surveys over 9 years and telemetry data, to offer insights into these population dynamics, and behaviours, including nesting preferences, morphological and reproductive parameters, diving patterns and inter‐nesting core‐use areas. Both green and hawksbill turtles are likely making a recovery on São Tomé, potentially driven by sustained conservation efforts. There are preliminary indications of recovery, but we interpret this cautiously. Coupled with satellite tracking, this study estimated that 482 to 736 green turtles and 135 to 217 hawksbills nest on the beaches of São Tomé. Their movements overlap significantly with a proposed Marine Protected Area (MPA), which suggests they may be well placed for conservation if managed appropriately. However, the presence of artisanal fisheries and emerging threats, such as sand mining and unregulated tourism, highlight the urgent need for robust management strategies that align global conservation objectives with local socioeconomic realities. This study significantly enhances our understanding of the ecology and conservation needs of the green and hawksbill turtles in the Gulf of Guinea. The insights gleaned here can contribute to the development of tailored conservation strategies that benefit these populations and the ecosystem services upon which they depend.

For species without parental care, such as sea turtles, nest site selection is particularly important for embryo development, hatchling survival and, ultimately, reproductive success. We conducted an 8-year (2012–2019) capture–mark–recapture study of the re-nesting behaviour of loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta to identify both inter- and intra-beach patterns of nest site selection. Our study site, Maio Island in the archipelago of Cabo Verde, hosts one of the largest loggerhead turtle nesting colonies globally. Of 1,060 females analysed, 77% laid repeated clutches within 15 km of their previous nesting sites both between and within nesting seasons. This site fidelity was particularly high (64–71%) for turtles nesting on the east coast of Maio Island. In two areas of the island (north-west and south-east) individual nesting zone consistency was extremely low (10–25%). In all cases extra-zone re-nesting events mainly occurred on the east coast. We also found that females avoided re-nesting near the shoreline, which is particularly relevant in the context of rising sea levels. Overall, loggerhead turtles nesting in Maio Island are philopatric but are using a bet-edging strategy to distribute nests amongst several beaches, choosing the safest area within each beach to maximize their reproductive success. This study highlights the priority sites for protection on Maio Island and could help to optimize capture–mark–recapture programmes. The data reveal the potential for adaptive responses to projected sea level rises.

Although biparental care is thought to be rare among insects, it has evolved independently numerous times resulting in diverse forms and varying levels of parental involvement. Several theoretical studies address potential factors promoting biparental care in beetles; however, empirical studies target principally only species of Scarabaeidae and Silphidae families. Here, we investigated the behavioural repertoire of the breeding pairs in two natural populations of a geotrupid beetle Lethrus apterus with parental care. Changes in female care as a response to the male's absence were also investigated by experimentally removing males from pairs. We found that males spend the majority of their time at the nest entrance, while females leave their nest and collect leaves at a significantly higher rate than males. We also showed that males often desert their nests and were usually replaced by new males in a short time. The desertion of males, however, does not seem to influence females' behaviour. These findings indicate that L. apterus may have a dynamic mating system with typically short‐term mate fidelity. Furthermore, our results have advanced our understanding of parental roles and nesting behaviour and contributed to the description of the distinct roles of parents in different phases of nesting events in L. apterus beetles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: How population density varies across animal species in the context of environmental gradients, and associated migratory strategies, remains poorly understood. The recent influx of avian trait data and population density estimates allows these patterns to be described and explored in unprecedented detail. This study aims to identify the main macroecological drivers of population density in birds. Location: Global. Time period: 1970–2021. Major taxa studied: Birds (Aves). Methods: We collated a dataset of 5072 local population density estimates for 1853 species and modelled population density as a function of trait and environmental predictors in a Bayesian framework accounting for phylogenetic and spatial autocorrelation. We explored the influence of body mass, diet, primary lifestyle, mating system, nesting behaviour, territoriality, and migratory behaviour on population density, accounting for a range of environmental variables, including preferred habitat type, primary productivity, precipitation and temperature. Based on this empirical baseline, we then predicted the mean population density for 9089 species of birds and estimated global geographic patterns of bird population density. Results: Population density was lower in species with larger body mass and higher trophic levels, and also declined in territorial species, migratory species, brood parasites and species inhabiting resource‐poor habitat types (e.g., deserts). Conversely, population density increased in cooperative breeders. Environmental drivers were most influential for migratory birds, with precipitation and temperature both associated with higher population density. Overall, bird population densities were higher at lower latitudes. Main conclusions: Our results support previous findings on the role of body mass, diet and environmental gradients, but also reveal novel species‐specific drivers of avian densities related to reproduction, migration and resource‐holding behaviour. Substantial fine‐scale variation remains unexplained. We provide a global dataset of population density predictions for use in macroecological analyses and conservation assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first representative of the genus Cerapus in the Gulf of Thailand, Cerapus rivulus sp. nov., is described from specimens sampled from Mae Klong Estuary, the inner Gulf of Thailand. The main identifying characteristics of this new amphipod species are pereonites 1 and 2 without constriction; male gnathopod propodus palm transverse with long posterior defining tooth and well-developed anterodistal recurved tooth adjacent to propodus articulation; pereopod 6 coxa without fine fringe setae ventrally, basis with setae on posterior margin; and telson with deep cleft. An updated identification key for the 25 known species in the genus is also presented. A discussion on their nesting and types of mating behaviour is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural intensification and abandonment of traditional agricultural practices are main drivers of current insect declines. The resulting loss of feeding and nesting opportunities has led to a decrease in pollinator populations like wild bees. While the restoration of floral resources has been widely implemented in wild bee conservation, nesting resources, particularly for ground‐nesting species, are barely considered.We assessed wild bee diversity in a wine‐growing area in Germany in 15 study sites along a soil gradient and evaluated whether wild bees were distinctly affected by different vineyard types (vertically oriented, terraced, abandoned), local conditions (e.g. shrub and flower cover) and landscape factors in response to divergent nesting needs (above‐ground vs. ground‐nesting).We found that wild bees responded more strongly to the availability of nesting sites than to flower resources. While ground‐nesting bees were determined by the suitability of soil aspects for nesting irrespective of vineyard management types, above‐ground‐nesting bees profited from vineyard abandonment and shrub encroachment in vineyard fallows and were enhanced by the availability of semi‐natural habitats (SNHs) in the surrounding landscape. In contrast, floral resource availability in managed vineyards had only marginal effects on above‐ground‐nesting bees.Synthesis and applications: Life‐history traits like nesting strategies have long been neglected in wild bee conservation approaches, but proved to be highly relevant, especially for ground‐nesting bees. For this, agri‐environmental schemes can no longer solely focus on the restoration of floral resources, but should equally address nesting resources. Therefore, management efforts for enhancing wild bees in vineyard landscapes should aim at complementing nesting resources for ground‐nesting bees (e.g. exposed bare ground patches) and above‐ground‐nesting bees (e.g. woody elements, hedges) in addition to floral resources. At the landscape level, conserving heterogeneous landscapes at a mixture of actively managed vineyards and semi‐natural and woody elements is significant to maintain diverse bee communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For species without parental care, such as sea turtles, nest site selection is particularly important for embryo development, hatchling survival and, ultimately, reproductive success. We conducted an 8-year (2012–2019) capture–mark–recapture study of the re-nesting behaviour of loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta to identify both inter- and intra-beach patterns of nest site selection. Our study site, Maio Island in the archipelago of Cabo Verde, hosts one of the largest loggerhead turtle nesting colonies globally. Of 1,060 females analysed, 77% laid repeated clutches within 15 km of their previous nesting sites both between and within nesting seasons. This site fidelity was particularly high (64–71%) for turtles nesting on the east coast of Maio Island. In two areas of the island (north-west and south-east) individual nesting zone consistency was extremely low (10–25%). In all cases extra-zone re-nesting events mainly occurred on the east coast. We also found that females avoided re-nesting near the shoreline, which is particularly relevant in the context of rising sea levels. Overall, loggerhead turtles nesting in Maio Island are philopatric but are using a bet-edging strategy to distribute nests amongst several beaches, choosing the safest area within each beach to maximize their reproductive success. This study highlights the priority sites for protection on Maio Island and could help to optimize capture–mark–recapture programmes. The data reveal the potential for adaptive responses to projected sea level rises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population estimation implies considering the biology of the species, but also the constraints of logistic aspects such as cost. While common methods based on individual counts can provide precise estimates, they require an extensive sampling effort. An alternative to these methods is using cues linked to the species abundance. In that case, producing absolute estimates requires assessing the relationship between the individuals and these cues. In this paper, we propose a model based on data on spawning behaviour and Approximate Bayesian Computation to estimate the number of sea lamprey spawners using nest counts data. By counting the daily number of occupied nests and using parameters from a behavioural study, we set up a model simulating a spawning season and returning a population estimate by comparison with field data. Our model gives realistic estimates and we discuss the parameters on which to prioritize data collection with a sensitivity analysis, and show that halving the sample size provides a still satisfactory accuracy. We made an easily parametrizable application to run the model for any people interested in sea lamprey population estimation, and believe this framework to be a good way to increase data collection for both endangered and invasive sea lamprey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylocopa is an important genus in Hymenoptera: Apidae because it not only contributes to research on the early stages of insect social evolution but also provides useful information for the pollination of cultivated and native plants. The nesting behaviour of Vietnamese Xylocopa bees has not yet been studied. The present study aims to contribute to the knowledge of the nesting behaviour of X. (Biluna) nasalis and X. (Alloxylocopa) phalothorax from Vietnam. Whereas X. nasalis used dead bamboo culms for its nesting site and excavated the nest entrance usually on lateral sides, X. phalothorax utilized a dead wood branch for its nesting site, dug the nest entrance from the underside, and constructed a longitudinally median burrow in the branch. Xylocopa nasalis nested social, and the nests of both bees were unbranched. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communal nesting is a behaviour exhibited by some oviparous species, the adults of which deposit their eggs over the same time period in a common area and possibly in direct physical contact. While this may occur inadvertently, it is proposed to be an adaptive trait in some species. Herein, we describe both solitary and communal nesting behaviours in the sandpaper frog (Lechriodus fletcheri). Field observations over two consecutive breeding seasons revealed that adults of this species frequently deposit their eggs in frothed nests alongside those of other mating pairs to form floating communal rafts or "masses" on the surface of the water. The presence of communal masses despite; (i) the relatively small number of nests deposited within each breeding episode and (ii) the space available for nests to be deposited separately within a pool, both indicate that some adults are deliberately choosing to lay their nests together. We propose that adults are thus engaging in a form of social behaviour and that communal nesting may be highly advantageous for improving offspring survival by complimenting the anti‐predator properties of the froth nest. This is because the communal mass further isolates embryos from the external environment during development prior to hatching, given a reduction in the surface area relative to volume of each nest that composes the mass. While future research is required to determine why both solitary and communal nesting behaviours are exhibited in this species, it could suggest that there are certain costs associated with communality that occasionally outweigh the benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dung beetles belonging to the subfamily Scarabaeinae are ecologically important organisms that feed primarily on mammalian dung for their nesting and brooding. The paracoprids are characterized for their complex tunnel-making behaviour. The present study revealed the role of neurotransmitters in the nesting behaviour of Digitonthophagus gazella (Fabricius in Mantissa insectorum sistens species nuper detectas adiectis synonymis, observation ibus, descriptionibus, emendationibus, 1787) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) under laboratory conditions. The development period was observed to be 31 days, comprising of four stages- egg, larva (1st instar, 2nd instar, and 3rd instar), pupa, and adult. The nesting pattern of D. gazella showed a time dependent increase in the length (14.7 ± 0.1 cm, 16.9 ± 0.1 cm and 19.8 ± 0.1 cm), and total depth (9.8 ± 0.1 cm, 12.9 ± 0.1 cm and 13.5 ± 0.1 cm) of the tunnel on 10th, 20th, and 30th day. Estimation of the neurotransmitters revealed that acetylcholine esterase (AChE), biogenic amines- 5-hydroxytryptamine serotonin (5-HT); dopamine (DA), and nitric oxide (NO) increased significantly (p < 0.01) in a time dependent manner in both male and female, suggesting their role in parental behaviour. These results provide the first evidence for a potential role of neurotransmitters in the modulation of nesting behaviour of the dung beetle; D. gazella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Increasing temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns threaten the existence of many organisms. It is therefore informative to identify the functional traits that underlie differences in desiccation resistance to understand the response of different species to changes in water availability resulting from climate change. We used adult dung beetles as model species due to their importance to ecosystem services. We investigated: (i) the effect of physiological (water loss rate, water loss tolerance, body water content), morphological (body mass) and ecological (nesting behaviour) traits on desiccation resistance; (ii) the role of phylogenetic relatedness in the above associations; and, (iii) whether relatively large or small individuals within a species have similar desiccation resistance and whether these responses are consistent across species. Results Desiccation resistance decreased with increasing water loss rate and increased with increasing water loss tolerance (i.e. proportion of initial water content lost at the time of death). A lack of consistent correlation between these traits due to phylogenetic relatedness suggests that the relationship is not determined by a shared evolutionary history. The advantage of a large body size in favouring desiccation resistance depended on the nesting behaviour of the dung beetles. In rollers (one species), large body sizes increased desiccation resistance, while in tunnelers and dwellers, desiccation resistance seemed not to be dependent on body mass. The phylogenetic correlation between desiccation resistance and nesting strategies was significant. Within each species, large individuals showed greater resistance to desiccation, and these responses were consistent across species. Conclusions Resistance to desiccation was explained mainly by the dung beetles’ ability to reduce water loss rate (avoidance) and to tolerate water loss (tolerance). A reduction in water availability may impose a selection pressure on body size that varies based on nesting strategies, even though these responses may be phylogenetically constrained. Changes in water availability are more likely to affect dweller species, and hence the ecosystem services they provide.

Grey Gulls (Leucophaeus modestus) are unique among gulls in that they forage in the coast but breed up to 115 km inland in the barren Atacama Desert of northern Chile. By nesting in the desert, adults are limited to a single daily foraging trip to feed their chicks and relieve their incubating/brooding mates. Birds perform long-distance and energetically expensive trips between foraging and breeding grounds. We describe how Grey Gulls modify nest attendance and chick provisioning strategies from an unusual coastal colony established at Playa Brava, northern Chile, during the 2017–2018 season. Contrary to what it is usually observed in desert colonies, incubating, and brooding Grey Gulls at Playa Brava relieved mates at the nest regularly and fed chicks several times throughout the day. Some adults even left their chicks unattended at the nest to forage on the nearby shoreline (<0.15 km) for a variable amount of time (up to 57 min) before returning to resume brooding. These behaviours are likely to ease parental duties by allowing multiple pair changeovers, reduce energy expenditure by avoiding extensive trips between the desert and the coast, increase chick growth rates by allowing multiple meals during the day, among other advantages. Our observations show that, when moving their colonies from the desert to the coast, Grey Gulls accordingly adjust their breeding behaviour to cope with this new habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life-history traits, which are physical traits or behaviours that affect growth, survivorship and reproduction, could play an important role in how well organisms respond to environmental change. By looking for trait-based responses within groups, we can gain a mechanistic understanding of why environmental change might favour or penalize certain species over others. We monitored the abundance of at least 154 bee species for 8 consecutive years in a subalpine region of the Rocky Mountains to ask whether bees respond differently to changes in abiotic conditions based on their life-history traits. We found that comb-building cavity nesters and larger bodied bees declined in relative abundance with increasing temperatures, while smaller, soil-nesting bees increased. Further, bees with narrower diet breadths increased in relative abundance with decreased rainfall. Finally, reduced snowpack was associated with reduced relative abundance of bees that overwintered as prepupae whereas bees that overwintered as adults increased in relative abundance, suggesting that overwintering conditions might affect body size, lipid content and overwintering survival. Taken together, our results show how climate change may reshape bee pollinator communities, with bees with certain traits increasing in abundance and others declining, potentially leading to novel plant–pollinator interactions and changes in plant reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of foraging bears in Arctic breeding bird colonies has been increasingly reported in the literature, and these may constitute disturbance events which cause incubating birds to leave their nest. Avian predators may associate with bears during such events, likely to capitalize on unattended nests in the presence of bears. Here, we estimated changes in daily nest attendance of lesser snow geese Anser caerulescens caerulescens in the presence of foraging bears, and estimated the association between foraging bears and avian predators. We predicted decreased nest attendance by geese on days with bears, and close associations between avian predators and bears. We monitored snow goose nests with cameras from 2013 to 2018 to assess nest attendance behaviours on days when bears were in the colony compared to control days without bears. When bears were present in colonies, we estimated the probability of avian predator occurrence compared to control periods. When controlling for day of incubation and camera placement types, we found no significant effects of bears on daily nest attendance behaviours of snow geese (n = 85). We found a significantly higher probability of observing avian predators when bears were present (0.72) compared to control periods without bears (0.11). We show that snow geese do not alter daily nest attendance in the presence of foraging bears, and suggest this is due to the presence of avian predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of foraging bears in Arctic breeding bird colonies has been increasingly reported in the literature, and these may constitute disturbance events which cause incubating birds to leave their nest. Avian predators may associate with bears during such events, likely to capitalize on unattended nests in the presence of bears. Here, we estimated changes in daily nest attendance of lesser snow geese Anser caerulescens caerulescens in the presence of foraging bears, and estimated the association between foraging bears and avian predators. We predicted decreased nest attendance by geese on days with bears, and close associations between avian predators and bears. We monitored snow goose nests with cameras from 2013 to 2018 to assess nest attendance behaviours on days when bears were in the colony compared to control days without bears. When bears were present in colonies, we estimated the probability of avian predator occurrence compared to control periods. When controlling for day of incubation and camera placement types, we found no significant effects of bears on daily nest attendance behaviours of snow geese (n = 85). We found a significantly higher probability of observing avian predators when bears were present (0.72) compared to control periods without bears (0.11). We show that snow geese do not alter daily nest attendance in the presence of foraging bears, and suggest this is due to the presence of avian predators.

The Australian Lasioglossum Curtis 1833 subgenus Australictus Michener 1965 is revised. Of the 11 available names listed by Michener (1965) for the subgenus Australictus, six are placed in synonymy. A species placed by Michener (1965) in the Lasioglossum subgenus Parasphecodes Smith 1853 is recombined to the subgenus Australictus, and four other species, placed in Parasphecodes by Michener (1965), are synonymised with this valid, recombined taxon, and the species name of the taxon is reverted to its original spelling. In addition, a species placed in Australictus by Michener (1965) is synonymised with a valid species in the Lasioglossum subgenus Chilalictus Michener 1965. These changes provide five valid names for the subgenus Australictus. New synonymies, recombined names and valid species proposed for Lasioglossum (Australictus) are as follows: New synonymies - Lasioglossum (Australictus) kurandense (Cockerell 1914) syn. nov., Lasioglossum (Australictus) nigroscopaceum (Friese 1917) syn. by Cockerell 1929 but listed by Michener (1965: 165) as valid = Lasioglossum (Australictus) davide (Cockerell 1910a); Lasioglossum (Australictus) insculptum (Cockerell 1918) syn. nov., Lasioglossum (Australictus) rufitarsum (Rayment 1929) syn. nov. and Lasioglossum (Australictus) fulvofasciae Michener 1965 syn. nov. = Lasioglossum (Australictus) tertium (Dalla Torre 1896); Lasioglossum (Australictus) franki (Friese 1924) syn. nov. = Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) orbatum (Smith 1853). New combination and new synonymies - Lasioglossum (Parasphecodes) lithuscum (Smith 1853) comb. nov. moved to Lasioglossum (Australictus) lithusca; Lasioglossum (Parasphecodes) adelaidae (Cockerell 1905) syn. nov., Lasioglossum (Parasphecodes) griseipenne (Cockerell 1929) syn. nov., Lasioglossum (Parasphecodes) stuchilum (Smith 1853) syn. nov., Lasioglossum (Parasphecodes) wellingstoni (Cockerell 1914) syn. nov. = Lasioglossum (Australictus) lithusca. Valid is Lasioglossum (Australictus) plorator (Cockerell 1910b). New female subgeneric mandibular characters are added to Michener's (1965) diagnostics for Australictus - mandible with elongated and enlarged preapical tooth, reduction in width of basal tooth at apical end and in dorsal view, broadening of width at base of mandible. The mandibular modifications, widening of the head basally and enlarged gena are associated with Australictus behaviour to nest in wood rather than ground nesting in soil as is usual for Halictidae bees. The shape of the female mandible, especially in dorsal view, resembles a wood-splitting axe - hence the common name coined here, "Wood-Splitting Axe Bees". Australictus is the first record of wood-nesting bees for Australian Halictidae. All valid species are redescribed; keys to both sexes, montage diagnostic images and distribution maps are provided to assist with species identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study was aimed to document the breeding behaviour of the Eurasian Magpie Pica pica bactriana from Ladakh. Information is scanty on the nesting and reproductive biology of this species in Ladakh. Field work was carried out from March 2019 to May 2021 at two study locations in the Kargil area of Ladakh. Breeding season of Eurasian Magpie is started from early March to May. Pairing in adult individuals occur during winter flocking, which begins with heavy snowfall and lasts till the end of February. The average pre-nesting period was around four weeks (mean: 24.87±0.83 days). The courtship displays and mate acquisition rituals of the Eurasian Magpie are comprised of both vocalizations and physical displays. Analysis of the data revealed that shrub fragments, leaves, grasses, clay and occasionally electric wire trash were used to construct the nest. In a clutch, the female lays 4-5 eggs (mean: 3.89±0.85 eggs). The eggs were incubated by the female individual, and the nest was guarded by the male. Average incubation period was 20.50±0.73 days. Both sexes took part in parental chores. The fledgling period was around four weeks (mean: 26.8±0.74 days). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population of Gentoo Penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in the maritime Antarctic is rapidly increasing. Due to regional climate changes, they colonise previously inaccessible territories southwards. For more than a century, the southernmost colony of Gentoo Penguins was located on Petermann Island (Wilhelm Archipelago). Since 2002, several colonies were established nearby, including on Cape Tuxen (Graham Land), which is currently the southernmost breeding colony documented for this species on the Antarctic Peninsula. It increased from 100 nests in 2007 to 592 nests in 2020. Since a colony is located on the cliffs and there is a lack of pebbles, some breeding pairs started building their nests predominantly out of the nearby living mosses or moss banks. P. papua are known for using mosses as nesting material in the sub-Antarctic, but such nesting behaviour is new for southernmost colonies in the Antarctic. In this short note, we report such nests on the Cape Tuxen, provide photographs and discuss the possible impact on the terrestrial ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study attempted to provide basic knowledge on population status, breeding success and general behaviours of Black kites in the Pokhara Valley of Nepal. Nesting and roosting sites were directly observed to count the bird in the fields during the study period from December 2019 to May 2020. A total of 308 individuals of Black kites were recorded. The highest and least number was recorded in February (n=67) and May (n=31) respectively. The breeding success was found to be 47.22%. The average height, girth and canopy cover of the nesting tree were found at 16.59m, 2.23m and 63.30% respectively. About 67% of nests observed were found active during the breeding season. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient showed a perfect positive relationship between the number of chicks and the number of the nest (r = 1). Bombax ceiba and Dalbergia sissoo were the trees on which the maximum number of nests were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increasing temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns threaten the existence of many organisms. It is therefore informative to identify the functional traits that underlie differences in desiccation resistance to understand the response of different species to changes in water availability resulting from climate change. We used adult dung beetles as model species due to their importance to ecosystem services. We investigated: (i) the effect of physiological (water loss rate, water loss tolerance, body water content), morphological (body mass) and ecological (nesting behaviour) traits on desiccation resistance; (ii) the role of phylogenetic relatedness in the above associations; and, (iii) whether relatively large or small individuals within a species have similar desiccation resistance and whether these responses are consistent across species. Results: Desiccation resistance decreased with increasing water loss rate and increased with increasing water loss tolerance (i.e. proportion of initial water content lost at the time of death). A lack of consistent correlation between these traits due to phylogenetic relatedness suggests that the relationship is not determined by a shared evolutionary history. The advantage of a large body size in favouring desiccation resistance depended on the nesting behaviour of the dung beetles. In rollers (one species), large body sizes increased desiccation resistance, while in tunnelers and dwellers, desiccation resistance seemed not to be dependent on body mass. The phylogenetic correlation between desiccation resistance and nesting strategies was significant. Within each species, large individuals showed greater resistance to desiccation, and these responses were consistent across species. Conclusions: Resistance to desiccation was explained mainly by the dung beetles' ability to reduce water loss rate (avoidance) and to tolerate water loss (tolerance). A reduction in water availability may impose a selection pressure on body size that varies based on nesting strategies, even though these responses may be phylogenetically constrained. Changes in water availability are more likely to affect dweller species, and hence the ecosystem services they provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Dung beetles are an important group of insects that use excrement for feeding and reproductive purposes. The interest of the scientific community in dung beetles is highlighted by the increasing number of investigations that use them as the focal group. 2. In the last few years, several studies have used dung beetles as bioindicators and to study 'biodiversity‐ecosystem functioning relationships' using functional traits. One of the most widely used functional traits in dung beetle studies is their reproductive behaviour. 3. In order to evaluate the use of relevant terminology regarding dung beetle nesting behaviour I analysed 1143 articles published between 1969 and 2020. 4. The analysis brought to light the following four broad issues regarding dung beetle functional groups: (i) the interchangeable use of terms; (ii) overgeneralizations; (iii) the equating of nesting and trophic behaviour and (iv) misspellings. After reviewing these issues, I propose a solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parental care is a rather common reproductive strategy in fishes, particularly in species with low fecundity and large eggs as the Antarctic icefish (Channichthyidae). The infrequent use of underwater devices to record fish behaviour and the logistic limitations of operating in the Antarctic marine environment have prevented, so far, the collection of data about rare species. Integrating results from benthic trawling and underwater photographic images, we provide the first demographic and reproductive behavioural data for the channichthyid Neopagetopsis ionah, describing the nesting and parental care behaviour of a spawning population in the south-eastern Weddell Sea. The population sampled by the Agassiz trawl was dominated by females, and consisted of several post-spawning as well as a few mature females spread over a narrow size range. Based on otolith reading, the population included two cohorts estimated as four- and five-year-old fish. Following common trade-off between fecundity and egg size, females of N. ionah spawned few large eggs (733–1810 eggs/female, 4.9–6.5 mm in diameter). The nesting site was characterized by fine sediments with sparse gravel and the accompanying benthic invertebrate community showed low densities and was relatively poor. A total of 93 nests were counted along the video transect, most of them with a single guarding male or left unattended. Fish remains or whole dead specimens were frequently observed in the proximity of the nest. This observation represents the first record of post-spawning mortality associated with parental care which has never been documented before in Antarctic fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

About 3/4 of all wild bee species nest in the soil and spend much of their life cycle underground. These insects require suitable environmental conditions for nest construction and for the development and survival of their offspring. However, there is little quantitative information on the nesting habitat requirements and preferences of ground‐nesting bees. Moreover, there are almost no data on the effects of nesting conditions on these bees' fitness.Here, to better understand the factors that influence nest‐site selection in ground‐nesting bees, we synthesise the literature on the nesting‐habitat associations of these important pollinators. We also review techniques that can be used to study the nesting preferences of ground‐nesting bees.Our review reveals enormous variation among bee species in their associations with such nesting‐habitat attributes as soil texture, compaction, moisture, temperature, ground surface features, and proximity to conspecifics or floral resources. However, more studies—particularly experimental ones—are needed to segregate the influence of each factor on bees' choices of nesting location, since multiple factors are often correlated. It is also unclear whether nesting‐habitat associations vary geographically or seasonally within species, or phylogenetically among ground‐nesting bee species, partly because we lack information on nesting habitat for many species.We argue that studies using established habitat‐selection methods are essential to properly identify nesting‐habitat preferences of ground‐nesting species. Finally, more research on nesting ecology is needed (especially in agroecosystems) to determine how best to support this diverse group of bees and the vital ecosystem service they provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of parental care behaviours is the distinctive reproductive characteristic associated with the diversification and divergence of notothenioid fishes into an array of habitats in the subzero shelf and upper slope waters around Antarctica and sub‐Antarctic environments. These include a variety of pre‐ and post‐fertilization activities, including courtship behaviour and mate choice, linked to the development of sexually dimorphic traits, nest construction and egg guarding until hatch. Using published literature and new data, this review synthesizes and evaluates, in a phylogenetic context, information related to parental care, specifically sex‐specific morphological adaptations, nest location and structure, sexual differences in egg guarding and post‐spawning mortality, duration of egg incubation times and larval size at hatch. The existence of parental care in phylogenetically basal notothenioids is not documented and unlikely; however, the derived lineages of the Antarctic clade (cryonotothenioids), especially bathydraconids and channichthyids, clearly exhibit a trend towards larger egg size and reduced fecundity that are considered proxies for parental care behaviours. In addition, the reproductive strategies of cryonotothenioids exhibiting parental care show latitudinal patterns at intra‐ and inter‐specific levels. Antarctic species spawn in spring‐summer and have low fecundity, large egg size at spawning and large larvae at hatching. Sub‐Antarctic species spawn in autumn‐winter and have moderate to high fecundity, moderate egg size and larval size at hatching, whereas non‐Antarctic species spawn in winter and possess high fecundity, small egg size at spawning and small larvae at hatching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many wild bee species are declining globally. To design efficient mitigation strategies to slow down or reverse these trends, we urgently need to better understand their basic ecological requirements. In this context, we studied two specialist species for which ecological data are scarce: Dasypoda visnaga and Dasypoda maura. We provide for the first-time detailed information on their phenologies, morphological traits, floral preferences, and nesting behaviours based on historical data and new samples from Morocco. The flight season of both species extends from late spring to late summer but D. maura emerges earlier than D. visnaga. Though the two species show different morphological traits, palynological analyses show that D. visnaga and D. maura females collect almost exclusively pollen from Scolymus sp. (Asteraceae). Concerning their nesting behaviour, D. visnaga seems to be more gregarious than D. maura. Both species build nests in sandy soil that can reach a depth of 80 cm. These ecological observations show that the differences between D. visnaga and D. maura are minor with regards to habitat requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations made over several months by one of the authors (MT) revealed a close association between the kleptoparasitic bee Nomada australensis Perkins, 1912 and a communal ground-nesting bee, Homalictus behri (Cockerell, 1910). This constitutes the first host record for Nomada Scopoli, 1770 in Australia. A review of the two putative Australian species of Nomada revealed they are conspecific: Neoceratina rubinii Rayment, 1930 syn. n. is a junior synonym of Nomada australensis. Nomada australensis is redescribed and mapped resolving confusion over the distribution of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Austral Opossum is one of the most unique vertebrates in Patagonian forests. It is not only endemic to this habitat; it also plays a key role acting as a seed disperser, nest predator, and is prey to species of conservation concern. However, specific information about its nesting behaviour is scattered and rudimentary at best. Here, we: (i) use personal observations along with published data to group information about nest site choice and (ii) investigate how flexible this behaviour is, examining the relative frequency of both cavity (natural and artificial) and non‐cavity nests. We found that Opossums placed their nests inside cavities 50% of the time in old‐growth forests but only 25% of the time inside cavities in second‐growth forests. We suggest that our naturalist records, along with the previous published literature, might reflect a flexible response of the species to cavity availability. In forests suffering continuous degradation, such as Patagonian ecosystems, this flexible behaviour may increase the likelihood of population persistence in the future. This study leads to the following further questions: is Austral Opossum nesting behaviour phenotypic flexibility or plasticity? Are cavities a limiting resource for this species? Would it be more efficient for a conservation program to install nest boxes or to take actions to encourage the understory vegetation where they can nest? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biology, nesting behaviour, and the factors favouring the high abundance of prominent dung beetle species, Onthophagus cervus (Fabricius, 1798) in an open agricultural field in North Kerala were studied. Short life cycle with high fecundity, low egg mortality, shorter larval duration, shorter developmental period, short generation time, female-biased sex ratio, and longer survivability of females were recorded. Female-biased sex ratio in O. cervus indicates that mating competition takes place between male offsprings and the high cost of producing males led to their reduction. Broad categorization of Onthophagus species is provided based on the comparison of data of brood mass production, fecundity, duration of egg, larval, pupal, adult stages, adult mortality and life span of various Onthophagus species. Higher abundance of O. cervus in the region is attributed to traits that are characterize of r-selection such as high fecundity, small body size, low egg mortality, shorter larval duration, early onset of maturity, and shorter developmental period. Short generation time which enables attaining maturity earlier together with female biased sex ratio, longer duration of females favouring high egg production and shallow tunnels which enable easy and fast tunnelling process and development in thin soil top soil layer are the other factors that contributed to the higher abundance of O. cervus. Present study showed that geographic region wise knowledge on the life history traits of prominent dung beetles are necessary for interpretation of the exact mechanism behind their seasonality and abundance in specific regions and the generated data will be useful for the conservation of species in natural habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After laying their eggs and refilling the egg chamber, sea turtles scatter sand extensively around the nest site. This is presumed to camouflage the nest, or optimize local conditions for egg development, but a consensus on its function is lacking. We quantified activity and mapped the movements of hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) turtles during sand-scattering. For leatherbacks, we also recorded activity at each sand-scattering position. For hawksbills, we recorded breathing rates during nesting as an indicator of metabolic investment and compared with published values for leatherbacks. Temporal and inferred metabolic investment in sand-scattering was substantial for both species. Neither species remained near the nest while sand-scattering, instead moving to several other positions to scatter sand, changing direction each time, progressively displacing themselves from the nest site. Movement patterns were highly diverse between individuals, but activity at each sand-scattering position changed little between completion of egg chamber refilling and return to the sea. Our findings are inconsistent with sand-scattering being to directly camouflage the nest, or primarily for modifying the nest-proximal environment. Instead, they are consistent with the construction of a series of dispersed decoy nests that may reduce the discovery of nests by predators.

Sea kraits forage in water and return to land to digest their prey, mate, slough, and lay their eggs. The temporal terrestrial patterns in encounter rate and behaviour of two species of sea kraits Laticauda colubrina and L. laticaudata were studied over four years at the New Wandoor beach in the southern Andaman Islands. The encounter rate of L. colubrina was found to be 20 times higher than L. laticaudata, and sea kraits were observed to prefer the natural refuge that the microhabitat of uprooted trees provide. Additionally, nesting observations are presented that emphasize the need to promote the conservation of these crucial terrestrial habitats.

In many brood-rearing species, suitable nesting resources are needed for nest construction. Here, we used males of a small marine fish, the sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus , to study the associations between the nest owner's phenotype (i.e. body size), the characteristics of the nesting resource used for nest construction (i.e. resource size and shape) and nest-building behaviour (i.e. eagerness to build a nest and extent of nest elaboration). We found that male body size was associated with nesting resource size and resource architecture in the field, with the smallest males occupying small flat resources and the biggest males occupying large arched resources. In the laboratory, the type of resource occupied in the field had a limited effect on the level of nest elaboration, but not on other nesting behaviours. Large body size, in turn, was associated with preference for larger resources and, in some circumstances, also the level of nest elaboration. Body size did not affect the eagerness to initiate nest building. Furthermore, males chose arched nesting resources more often than those that were flat, and this preference was also reflected under a 'no-choice' scenario, based on the time taken for males to initiate nest building. Overall, the results indicate that the importance of male size in nest building is context dependent, while nesting behaviours can also be affected by resource size, resource architecture and, under some circumstances, the nest builder's experience with resource use. • Choice of nesting resources can have important fitness consequences. • In a marine fish, male size, resource characteristics and nesting behaviour were linked. • Effect of body size on choice decisions and nesting behaviours was context dependent. • Nest architecture also matters: arched resources were more popular than flat ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communal nesting is a behaviour that involves multiple females laying eggs in the same nest or nesting site. This behaviour may be a consequence of a shortage of preferable nest sites (constraint hypothesis) or an adaptation generated by fitness benefits associated with egg aggregation (adaptive hypothesis). Experimental tests of these hypotheses require information about maternal nest site choice and its fitness consequences. To address these, we studied a lizard (brown anole; Anolis sagrei) that produces single‐egg clutches, but often aggregates eggs in nest sites. In a lab study, females were given the option of nesting in (a) soil previously used as nest substrate vs. fresh soil and (b) soil with eggshells vs. without eggshells. We also experimentally examined the effects of egg aggregation by incubating eggs singly, in groups of four, and in groups of nine. We recorded egg surface temperature, water uptake, and hatchling morphology. Females were more likely to nest in pots with used soil and with eggshells than in pots with fresh soil or without eggshells. We observed no effects of egg aggregation on egg survival, egg temperature, or most measures of hatchling morphology. However, singly‐incubated eggs absorbed more water than eggs incubated in the four and nine egg aggregations and this resulted in offspring with greater body condition (i.e. heavier for their length) at hatching. The behavioural experiment demonstrates that females actively choose nest sites that have been used previously (as expected under the adaptive hypothesis), but the egg‐aggregation experiment shows no benefits to offspring based on the variables measured. Thus, results of the behaviour study support the adaptive hypothesis; however, results from our egg‐incubation study do not. Likely, the adaptive and constraint hypotheses are not mutually exclusive, and a diversity of factors influence the evolution of communal nesting behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thraupis is a genus of the American endemic Thraupidae (subfamily Thraupinae), comprising seven species that inhabit tropical forests to urban centres. The Sayaca Tanager (Thraupis sayaca) is a disturbance-tolerant species of high representativeness in plant-frugivore networks, but information on its breeding biology is scarce and often restricted to non-systematic surveys. We studied the breeding biology of the T. sayaca, following 39 active nests in a periurban area of southeast Brazil during two breeding seasons (2017/2018, 2018/2019). The breeding season ranged from early September to middle December, and the nests were placed in native and exotic plants and human buildings (nest height above ground: 3.35 ± 1.73 m, mean ± SD). Only females incubated and brooded, but both adults built the nests, fed the nestlings, and removed their faecal sacs. Clutch size was 2.86 ± 0.38 eggs and nest attentiveness was 71.2%. The incubation and nestling periods were, respectively, 13.4 and 17.4 days. Males and females did not differ on nestling provisioning and nest sanitation rates. Nestling provisioning (13.35 ± 6.25 trips/hour) increased with nestling age, while mean brooding time was 37.2% and decreased with nestling age. Apparent nest success was 38.7%, and nest survival according to the Mayfield method was 27.2%. Five nests (20.8%) were parasitised by the Shiny cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis), and we recorded five events of nest-site reuse. We concluded that the most remarkable breeding traits of T. sayaca in comparison with close-related tanagers are the use of anthropogenic nest sites, the higher clutch size and number of feeding trips, and the longer nestling period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its fortuitous arrival in the south of France, the sphecid wasp Isodontia mexicana has spread through much of central Europe. In the last twenty years it has penetrated southern Germany and is spreading in a northwesterly direction down the Rhine Valley towards Belgium and Holland. In 2016 it was reported for the first time in England, at the Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park, southeast London (Notton, 2016). The purpose of this paper is to alert British entomologists to the possibility that this strong-flying sphecid may gain a firm foothold in England, after which it would probably spread rapidly. Details are given here of the chronology and extent of its colonisation of Europe and of its breeding behaviour on JFB's house balcony at Leimen-St. Ilgen, near Heidelberg, North Baden, Germany in 2016-2018, where it used artificial sites such as an 'insect hotel' containing bundles of short bamboo canes. The nests constructed in these hollow sites are made from lengths of dead grass and are readily noticed because of the tufts of grass protruding from the end. A female wasp flying in with a length of dead grass makes a conspicuous and noteworthy sight. The larval cells are supplied with adults and nymphs of bush-crickets; those observed by the authors in North Baden were exclusively the Southern oak bush-cricket Meconema meridionale and the Oak bush-cricket M. thalassinum (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae). Our observations of mexicana support those made elsewhere in Europe and also in its native North America, except that other species of Orthoptera were utilised as prey there. Some of these other prey species and their close allies are also present in North Baden, but have not so far been recorded as prey there or indeed elsewhere in southern Germany. Male mexicana feed on the nectar of a variety of wild and cultivated flowers and do not attack bushcrickets. We conclude that in view of its wide distribution through the temperate and warmer zones of North America and aided by the current warming climate in Europe, mexicana is well adapted to European conditions and may well continue its range expansion northwards and eastwards into areas so far unoccupied, including Britain. However, we believe that its arrival in Europe was brought about through human agency, such as ships, other freight transport and the horticultural trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embryos of many oviparous organisms are sensitive to conditions within their nest, and maternal nesting behaviours could potentially buffer embryos from suboptimal developmental environments. Thus, maternal behaviour could influence how organisms respond to novel environments. We studied an invasive population of red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) in Oregon, USA to determine if maternal choice of nest microhabitat facilitates development in environments outside the native range. We show that females nested on relatively shallow slopes and used open microhabitats compared to random sites. However, by splitting eggs from clutches between maternally-chosen nests and randomly-selected "nest sites", we show that egg hatching success was low overall (32.8%) and was not influenced by maternal nest-site choice. Our study highlights the importance of understanding how maternal nesting behaviour and survival during early life stages (e.g., embryos) might contribute to the long-term persistence of invasive populations, which is important for their proper management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cipo Canastero (Asthenes luizae) is a bird endemic to Brazilian mountaintops, inhabiting rock outcrop habitats of the campos rupestres in the southern Espinhaço Range. Available data about Cipo Canastero's breeding biology are scarce, incomplete or inconsistent. All nests found to date were built in the plant Vellozia nivea. Based on 84 nests found from 2009 to 2017 in four sites at Serra do Cipó, we described in detail their nesting habits focusing on three groups of characters: nest architecture, composition, and placement. Also, we described nest building. Our major new findings on the nesting habits of A. luizae were: three nest layers distinguishable, inner lining covering the entire nest interior, tunnels and tubes are absent, and the nest sites are not restricted to V. nivea. We recorded a wide range of nest sites, from ground, grasses and rupicolous bromeliads to shrubs and trees, including at least 30 supporting-plant species. Nest supports varied among study sites. Nest building lasted 22 days (one nest) and was done by both members of the pair. Our data can be useful for species conservation and contribute to the knowledge of the natural history of the genus Asthenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential for animals to respond to changing climates has sparked interest in intraspecific variation in avian nest structure since this may influence nest microclimate and protect eggs and offspring from inclement weather. However, there have been relatively few large-scale attempts to examine variation in nests or the determinates of individual variation in nest structure within populations. Using a set of mostly pre-registered analyses, we studied potential predictors of variation in the size of a large sample (803) of blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) nests across three breeding seasons at Wytham Woods, UK. While our pre-registered analyses found that individual females built very similar nests across years, there was no evidence in follow-up (post hoc) analyses that their nest size correlated to that of their genetic mother or, in a cross-fostering experiment, to the nest where they were reared. In further pre-registered analyses, spatial environmental variability explained nest size variability at relatively broad spatial scales, and especially strongly at the scale of individual nest boxes. Our study indicates that nest structure is a characteristic of individuals, but is not strongly heritable, indicating that it will not respond rapidly to selection. Explaining the within-individual and within-location repeatability we observed requires further study.

Sea kraits forage in water and return to land to digest their prey, mate, slough, and lay their eggs. The temporal terrestrial patterns in encounter rate and behaviour of two species of sea kraits Laticauda colubrina and L. laticaudata were studied over four years at the New Wandoor beach in the southern Andaman Islands. The encounter rate of L. colubrina was found to be 20 times higher than L. laticaudata, and sea kraits were observed to prefer the natural refuge that the microhabitat of uprooted trees provide. Additionally, nesting observations are presented that emphasize the need to promote the conservation of these crucial terrestrial habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wainia, a species-poor genus of osmiine bees, contains two Palaearctic species, whose biologies are unknown. In the present publication, we describe the nesting site and nest architecture of W. sexsignata and analyse the pollen host spectra of W. sexsignata and W. eremoplana by microscopical analysis of larval faeces and female scopal contents. W. sexsignata nests in empty snail shells. It uses large petal pieces of yellow flowered Asteroideae to separate the linearly arranged brood cells and to construct a series of partitions between the outermost cell and the final nest closure, which consists of masticated green leaves. W. sexsignata is recorded as a new host of the meloid beetle Sitarobrachys thoracica. Both Palaearctic Wainia species have a strong preference for Asteraceae as pollen hosts, but occasionally also collect pollen on other plant taxa. A literature survey revealed that nesting in empty snail shells is widespread among osmiine bees: obligate snail shell nesting is assumed to have independently evolved at least twelve times in their evolutionary history and to occur in at least 56 species belonging to 4 genera and 14 subgenera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forty‐two remains of fossil nests of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), which were recorded in four formations of the Cenozoic of South America, are described herein for the first time. Most of them are represented by nesting chambers containing a fossil brood ball (Coprinisphaera). However, in the most remarkable cases, parts of the burrows constructed by the parents and/or the vertical emergence burrows constructed by the offspring are preserved too. The preservation of the dung beetle nests is very unusual but more recurrent in younger formations probably because of the short‐term action of the diagenetic processes. Considering that the construction of brood balls always involves the construction of nests, the ichnotaxonomical proposal is that the remains of fossil nests should be considered as ‘structures associated with Coprinisphaera’ and added to the diagnosis to avoid the proliferation of names. The study of the fossil nests provides new palaeoetological inferences for dung beetles, such as the Nesting Pattern of the trace makers of Coprinisphaera tonnii and Coprinisphaera akatanka, and how phylogenetically related were they with the extant necrophagous species of the genera Coprophanaeus and Canthon, respectively. Additionally, the fossil evidence suggests that simple nests of dung beetles predate compound nests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Structures such as nests and burrows are an essential component of many organisms’ life‐cycle and require a complex sequence of behaviours. Because behaviours can vary consistently among individuals and be correlated with one another, we hypothesized that these structures would (1) show evidence of among‐individual variation, (2) be organized into distinct functional modules and (3) show evidence of trade‐offs among functional modules due to limits on energy budgets. We tested these hypotheses using the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata, a solitary bee and important crop pollinator. Megachile rotundata constructs complex nests by gathering leaf materials to form a linear series of cells in pre‐existing cavities. In this study, we examined variation in the following nest construction traits: reproduction (number of cells per nest and nest length), nest protection (cap length and number of leaves per cap), cell construction (cell size and number of leaves per cell) and cell provisioning (cell mass) from 60 nests. We found a general decline in investment in cell construction and provisioning with each new cell built. In addition, we found evidence for both repeatability and plasticity in cell provisioning with little evidence for trade‐offs among traits. Instead, most traits were positively, albeit weakly, correlated (r ~ 0.15), and traits were loosely organized into covarying modules. Our results show that individual differences in nest construction are detectable at a level similar to that of other behavioural traits and that these traits are only weakly integrated. This suggests that nest components are capable of independent evolutionary trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]