Effects of interspecific coexistence on laying date and clutch size in two closely related species of hole-nesting birds

Møller, Anders Pape, Balbontín, Javier, Dhondt, André A., Remeš, Vladimir, Adriaensen, Frank, Biard, Clotilde, Camprodon, Jordi, Cichoń, Mariusz, Doligez, Blandine, Dubiec, Anna, Eens, Marcel, Eeva, Tapio, Goodenough, Anne E ORCID: 0000-0002-7662-6670, Gosler, Andrew G., Gustafsson, Lars, Heeb, Philipp, Hinsley, Shelley A., Jacob, Staffan, Juškaitis, Rimvydas, Laaksonen, Toni, Leclercq, Bernard, Massa, Bruno, Mazgajski, Tomasz D., Nager, Ruedi G., Nilsson, Jan-Åke, Nilsson, Sven G., Norte, Ana C., Pinxten, Rianne, Robles, Hugo, Solonen, Tapio, Sorace, Alberto, van Noordwijk, Arie J. and Lambrechts, Marcel M. (2018) Effects of interspecific coexistence on laying date and clutch size in two closely related species of hole-nesting birds. Journal of Animal Ecology, 87 (6). pp. 1738-1748. doi:10.1111/1365-2656.12896

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Abstract

Co-existence between great tits Parus major and blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus, but also other hole nesting taxa, constitutes a classic example of species co-occurrence resulting in potential interference and exploitation competition for food and for breeding and roosting sites. However, the spatial and temporal variation in co-existence and its consequences for competition remain poorly understood. 2.We used an extensive database on reproduction in nest boxes by great and blue tits based on 87 study plots across Europe and Northern Africa during 1957-2012 for a total of 19,075 great tit and 16,729 blue tit clutches to assess correlative evidence for a relationship between laying date and clutch size, respectively, and density consistent with effects of intraspecific and interspecific competition. 3.In an initial set of analyses, we statistically controlled for a suite of site specific variables. We found evidence for an effect of intraspecific competition on blue tit laying date (later laying at higher density) and clutch size (smaller clutch size at higher density), but no evidence of significant effects of intraspecific competition in great tits, nor effects of interspecific competition for either species. 4.To further control for site-specific variation caused by a range of potentially confounding variables, we compared means and variances in laying date and clutch size of great and blue tits among three categories of difference in density between the two species. We exploited the fact that means and variances are generally positively correlated. If interspecific competition occurs, we predicted a reduction in mean and an increase in variance in clutch size in great tit and blue tit when density of heterospecifics is higher than the density of conspecifics and for intraspecific competition this reduction would occur when density of conspecifics is higher than the density of heterospecifics. Such comparisons of temporal patterns of means and variances revealed evidence, for both species, consistent with intraspecific competition and to a smaller extent with interspecific competition. 5.These findings suggest that competition associated with reproductive behaviour between blue and great tits is widespread, but also varies across large spatial and temporal scales. This article is protected by copyright.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Møller, A. P., Balbontín, J. , Dhondt, A. A., Remeš, V. , Adriaensen, F. , Biard, C. , Camprodon, J. , Cichoń, M. , Doligez, B. , Dubiec, A. , Eens, M. , Eeva, T. , Goodenough, A. E., Gosler, A. G., Gustafsson, L. , Heeb, P. , Hinsley, S. A., Jacob, S. , Juškaitis, R. , Laaksonen, T. , Leclercq, B. , Massa, B. , Mazgajski, T. D., Nager, R. G., Nilsson, J. , Nilsson, S. G., Norte, A. C., Pinxten, R. , Robles, H. , Solonen, T. , Sorace, A. , van Noordwijk, A. J. and Lambrechts, M. M. (2018), Effects of interspecific co‐existence on laying date and clutch size in two closely related species of hole‐nesting birds. J Anim Ecol. Accepted Author Manuscript. . doi:10.1111/1365-2656.12896, which has been published in final form at oi:10.1111/1365-2656.12896. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Clutch size; Density; Interspecific competition; Intraspecific competition; Nest boxes; Reaction norm; Spatio‐temporal variation
Subjects:	Q Science > QL Zoology > QL605 Chordates. Vertebrates > QL671-699 Birds
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Place, Environment and Community
Depositing User:	Susan Turner
Date Deposited:	20 Aug 2018 09:49
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2023 08:58
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/5841

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