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Variation in the Timing of Reproduction and Clutch Size of Afrocanarian Blue Tits Cyanistes teneriffae ultramarinus in the Saharan Atlas of Algeria

Adamou A.-L., Kouidri M., Bańbura A., Ouakid M. L., Chabi Y., Bańbura J.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2015

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Vol. 63, nr 4

599--607

EN

We examined the variation in the date of the onset of egg laying and clutch size in three peripheral populations of the Afrocanarian Blue Tits Cyanistes teneriffae ultramarinus at the edge of the species and subspecies geographic range. This study was carried out in three study sites, 130–290 km apart, in similar geographic conditions of the South Border Range of the Saharan Atlas in Algeria. Mean altitudes of nesting territories were between 1327 and 1437 m a.s.l. Habitats of the study sites were covered by the secondary, human-modified vegetation, ranging from a maquis shrubland, with the Holm oak Quercus ilex shrubs to woodlands dominated by the Atlas cedar Cedrus atlantica or by the Aleppo pine Pinus halepensis. 169 wooden nest-boxes were monitored for breeding parameters (laying dates and clutch sizes) during the breeding seasons 2007–2009 and 2011–2013. The timing of egg laying was relatively late for the latitude of the study sites, with overall mean laying dates varying between the study sites from 4 to 13 May. The laying date was influenced by the altitude of nesting sites, with the dates being delayed with increasing altitude. Overall mean clutch size differed between the study sites from 5.91 at Djelfa to 8.43 at Aflou. Clutch size tended to decrease with the advance of the breeding season. Because the study populations inhabit areas of similar physical conditions (climate and altitude), the main inter-population source of variation in the breeding parameters studied was probably variation in habitat quality.

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The impact of disturbance gradient on recruitment of clonal plant species in Molinietum caeruleae meadows

Kostrakiewicz-Gierałt K.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2013

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Vol. 61, nr 3

519--531

EN

The investigations of the impact of disturbance severity on recruitment of clonal plant species were preformed in three Molinietum caeruleae patches dominated by small meadow species (MC), or prevailed by tall grasses (GR) or overgrown by willows (SA). The meadows were located in Vistula valley close to Kraków agglomeration, southern Poland. In above menntionned patches ten permanent experimental plots were randomly arranged. Each plot was divided in four subplots measured 900 cm2 represented undisturbed control, low level of disturbance (the litter and the moss layer removal), intermediate level of disturbance (the litter, moss and above-ground vegetation removal), high level of disturbance (the litter, moss and the plants removal as well as top soil raking). The colonization of gaps was observed in the years 2008–2010. Irrespective of patch character, the greatest species richness and seedling abundance were observed in gaps, which occurred in result of intermediate disturbances. Weaker recruitment rates were recorded in openings left after disturbances of low- and high severity, while in fully compact herb layer no seedlings were found. In MC patch, regardless of treatment in all openings similar spectra of life history traits were observed. In seedling pool of all subplots appeared taxa creating below ground organs of clonal growth. In all subplots dominated species with intermediate values of lateral spread, numerous vegetative descendants, short-lasting stems and no persistent genet integration. In sites GR and SA in openings left after weak disturbances appeared species with below- and aboveground organs of clonal growth. The majority of them characterized by slight lateral spread, low number of vegetative offsprings, long lifespan of shoots and persistent genet integration. The abundance of taxa creating underground clonal growth organs, with considerable vegetative spread, high production of daughter ramets, short lifespan of shoots and not enduring genet integration increased gradually and significantly with disturbance gradient. Although the greatest recruitment rates were found in gaps left after removal of litter, moss and above-ground parts of plants, the most effective way for conservation of Molinietum caeruleae meadows appeared to be creation of different severity disturbances. Such treatment contributes to maintenance of heterogeneity of clonal species composition, especially in patches in advanced successional stages

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Road-side herbaceous vegetation : life history groups and habitat preferences

Sera B.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2010

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Vol. 58, nr 1

69-79

EN

The study examine s the vegetation diversity (235 herbaceous species) in variable road-site types in terms of life history components (life traits) like life form, type of pollination, seed dispersal, spreading ability, life strategy according to Grime's classification, and in terms of habitat preferences using Ellenberg's indicator value (in relation to light, temperature, moisture, nitrogen, soil pH and soil salinity). Plants registered as alien species were evaluated also according to invasive status, level of abundance, introduction mode and land use habitat. Study localities (9 sites) were situated in the Ceskomoravska highlands and the South Bohemian regions (Czech Republic). The plant species were recorded in the bands (width in range of 1.5-3.0 m) along the verge of two types of roads (motorways with median stripes) and secondary roads (II and III classes). In total - road length of about 15 km and the total area of roadside vegetation of about 8 ha were surveyed. The annual/therophyte species with a tendency to seed dispersed by wind, preferring a light and dry habitat, and having the RC (competitiveruderal) life strategy were mainly found along the motorways. It means that road verges along motorways are quite insolated and constitute the dry habitats, probably suitable for ruderal, weedy, non-native, and invasive species. On the contrary, species with a tendency to vegetative reproduction and the C (competitive) strategy occur mainly along the secondary roads. It seems that the secondary roads are alternative habitats for grassland flora. Species occurred on the verges of the secondary roads do not belong to the particular group of the life traits. The salt tolerant species Puccinellia distans (Jacq.) Parl. was found along all types of roads. Almost 24% of all recorded herbaceous species growing in road-sites were alien species.

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Patterns of genetic diversity in populations of Filipendula ulmaria (L.) at different stages of succession on a meadow abandoned for 30 years

Falińska K., Lembicz M., Jarmołowski A., Borkowska L.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2010

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Vol. 58, nr 1

27-40

EN

Genetic diversity and spatial variation of two populations of Filipendula ulmaria (L.) were analysed at the initial stage (macroforbs) and the late succession stage (forest community) during a 30-year succession on the abandoned meadows in Białowieża National Park. The study demonstrated a high level of genetic diversity in both populations (D = 0.86 and D = 0.79 in the population at the initial and late succession stage, respectively). Significant genetic differentiation was observed at the cross-population level (FST = 0.008, P <0.001). Among 303 ramets in the population at the initial stage 261 genotypes were detected, of which 24 were clonal, and the remaining (237) were unique (91%). In the population at the late succession stage 92 genotypes were detected among 116 ramets of which 10 were clonal, and 82 unique (89%). The results did not confirm a hypothesis that the low level of the population.s genetic diversity should be expected at the late succession stage. Additionally, the study demonstrates that the prolonged clonal spreading does not always result in genetic monotony of a population. It has been demonstrated that the high level of genetic diversity in the population of clonal species F. ulmaria could be the result of temporal changes in life history traits of long-lived genets. The formation of gaps caused by the disintegration of senile genets and the permanent recruitment of seedlings over 30 years of population development reinforce the appearance of new genets. This process was reflected in both populations by the domination of unique genets and spatial pattern of genotypic diversity.

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Parental provisioning in response to natural variation of brood size in the Black-billed magpie (Pica pica L.) : video analysis of behaviors in the nests

Lee S., Jabłoński P., Choe J., Choi J.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2010

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Vol. 58, nr 3

553-562

EN

Natural selection will favor parents who adjust their effort in relation to the fitness costs and benefits from the current brood. In this study, we investigated how magpie parents adjust provisioning effort based on the number of nestlings in the brood, by analyzing video recordings of begging and feeding behaviors of birds. The number of visits per hour increased with brood size, but the number of feeding events per visit did not. Because of the latter, parental provisioning that a nestling is receiving on average decreased in larger broods. This may be viewed either as an evidence for the limitation of parental provisioning in larger broods, or as an evidence of parental strategy optimizing the brood-size-specific provisioning effort for the current reproductive event as a tradeoff between current and future reproduction. With other aspects of parental provisioning behavior, we did not find clear indication that parent confronts upper limitation in provisioning large broods. Pervisit number of feeding and nestlings. body condition around the time of fledging did not depend on brood size, which implies that parental effort is not at its limit in larger broods. Based on the results, we suggest that the provisioning effort of black-billed magpie parents is better explained by the life-history trade-off model for provisioning.

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Colonization capacity of herb woodland species in fertile, recent alder woods adjacent to ancient forest sites

Orczewska A.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2010

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Vol. 58, nr 2

297-310

EN

The herb layer recovery in post-agricultural woods adjacent to ancient forests has not yet been studied for the wettest European woodlands, like those with black alders (Alnus glutinosa L. (Gaertn.)). Therefore, the studies aimed at: I. checking which herbs from the Polish list of ancient woodland species that are present in the alder woods show an association with these woods (AAWS=Ancient Alder Woodland Species); II. presenting their ecological profile (spectra of life forms, life strategies, dispersal modes, phytosociological affinity, and Ellenberg indicator values), and III. comparing the dispersal potential and other traits of species recorded more often in ancient woods (AAWS) vs the Polish ancient woodland indicators frequently present in ancient and recent alder woods (OAWS = Other Ancient Woodland Species). The survey was carried out in Alnus glutinosadominated woodlands, located in south-western Poland. The study sites are located within large forest complexes, where they occupy either periodically waterlogged sites or other places with a high level of groundwater. In the case of ancient woods, wet types of an oak-hornbeam community (Tilio-Carpinetum Tracz. 1962 or Galio-Carpinetum Oberd. 1957) (11 sites), alder-ash carrs (Fraxino-Alnetum W. Mat. 1952) (12 sites) and typical wet alder woods (Ribeso nigri-Alnetum Sol.-Górn. (1975) 1987) (10 sites) were investigated. The ancient woodland sites varied in size from 0.73 ha to 15.54 ha. Recent woods, adjacent to these sites, included black alder stands planted on former meadows. The area of their patches ranged from 0.72 ha to 8.6 ha. Post-agricultural woods represented the following age classes: up to 10 years, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, and 41-50 years. The process of colonization of recent woods by woodland flora was investigated in 33 transects, approximately 80 m in length by 4 m in width, consisting of 10-12 quadrates, 16 m2 each, laid out at intervals of 4 m, perpendicularly across the ancient-recent border. In total 131 quadrates in the ancient wood, 198 in the recent woodland, and 34 in the ecotone zone were investigated. The migration rates (m yr[^-1]) based on the occurrence of the farthest individuals, were calculated for over 50 woodland species. The original lists of species obtained from the transects were completed after detailed inspections of the whole area of adjacent forest sectors where the studies on the colonization process were undertaken. Then, the frequency of herb layer species in ancient and recent woods was compared (Fisher exact probability test). The mean migration rates of species from the AAWS and OAWS groups were calculated. Although 62 herbs from the group of ancient woodland indicators for Poland were recorded in the course of the studies, only 21 of them occurred significantly more often in alder woods. The mean migration rate for herbs from AAWS was significantly lower (0.68 m yr[^-1]) than in the case of the OAWS group (1.54 m yr[^-1]). This indicates that true woodland herbs differ distinctively in their dispersal potential. Species from those two sets also showed some differences in their ecological requirements. Such results allow a conclusion to be reached that in wet and fertile recent forests adjacent to ancient source woods, recolonization of the herbaceous layer by typical woodland flora proceeds faster than in other, less fertile and drier habitats. This in turn explains why many true woodland species do not occur in ancient woodland sites exclusively. They are often recorded in recent woods, as they are able to colonize such sites reasonably fast.