Environmental vicissitudes often demand a considerable degree of behavioral plasticity, and animals demonstrating this characteristic are frequently better equipped for survival. However, the degree to which this characteristic fluctuates across different species is presently not understood. The act of constructing nests is intrinsically linked to the propagation and endurance of species, providing shelter from adverse environmental influences. Bird nests, in their variety of forms, offer a window into the rich complexity of bird behavior, illustrating the close relationship between nest morphology and construction methods. We assess the phylogenetic preservation of nest morphology variations using nest morphology data from 55 passerine species (comprising more than 700 specimens), while quantifying the intraspecific variability within nest structures. Our study showed that phylogenetic relationships are consistent with preserved species averages and within-species variations in nest morphology. Domed-nest species exhibited a higher level of variability in nest morphology compared to cup-nest species. We have also demonstrated that the capability of species to introduce novel actions is unrelated to the variation observed in their nest forms. Our findings also indicate that nests of species with diverse clutch sizes, built by solitary parents, exhibit greater variability. Our research findings advance our knowledge of how behavior and extended phenotypes evolve, drawing attention to the necessity of exploring the phylogenetic history of behavioral plasticity for anticipating species' adaptability to novel circumstances. The special issue, “The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach,” contains this article.
A variety of bird species often use manufactured substances (for example,). Transport sweet wrappers, cigarette butts, and plastic strings to their designated nests. Globally, anthropogenic materials have become prevalent nesting resources in both marine and terrestrial environments. Whilst human-made objects support important benefits for birds through reliable communication with kin and protection against external parasites, these objects can also bring substantial survival and energetic costs through offspring entanglement and reduced insulation qualities. From an ecological lens, various hypotheses have been formulated to understand the application of anthropogenic nest materials (ANMs) by birds; however, no past interspecific research has investigated the fundamental mechanisms prompting this behavior. Comparative analyses, phylogenetically controlled, and a systematic literature search were implemented in this study to analyze interspecific variation in the application of ANM, taking into account several ecological and life-history traits. Bird use of ANMs was found to be significantly correlated with both sexual dimorphism and nest type, providing empirical support for the 'signaling hypothesis,' which maintains that ANMs are an indicator of the quality of the nest's creator. Surprisingly, our research uncovered no support for the 'age' and 'new location' hypotheses, nor for a phylogenetic structure in this avian behavior, implying its wide prevalence throughout the bird population. This article contributes to the broader theme of 'The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach'.
Most dinosaurs' clutches contained a single layer of eggs that were spherical to slightly irregular in shape, extremely porous, and were almost certainly completely buried. The clade of pennaraptoran theropods, which includes birds, displays substantial shifts in egg and clutch morphology. Here, the eggs, less porous and more elongated, are partially buried, and the arrangement shows increased complexity. Partial entombment of eggs, while appearing beneficial in a limited segment of extant bird species, is sufficiently rare as to complicate the task of extrapolating Mesozoic avian behaviors. Pennaraptoran nesting practices, examined through recent experimental investigation of their thermodynamics, suggest that the methodology of partial egg burial and contact incubation might be more efficient than previously understood. Through the application of metabolic heat generated during nest guarding, endothermic archosaurs could have indirectly warmed buried clutches encased within a sediment layer. This process, in turn, could have selected for shallower nest depths to capitalize on the heat transfer and lead to partial egg exposure. Partial exposure's occurrence was likely followed by continued selective pressures prompting a complete move to eggs that were fully terrestrial. Partially buried dinosaurian clutches, this hypothesis suggests, are indicative of an evolutionary transition from the ancestral, crocodile-like style of nesting (relying on adult protection) to the prevailing avian practice of incubating eggs directly and openly. As part of the overarching theme, “The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach,” this piece of writing appears.
Populations of species with wide geographical distributions offer a robust model for studying the impact of various local environments, in particular, variations in climate, on their adaptations. The survival and phenotypic traits of offspring are significantly shaped by maternal effects, exemplified by nest-site choice. generalized intermediate Consequently, maternal actions possess the ability to reduce the consequences of differing climate patterns across the range of a species. We mapped the natural nesting sites of six painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) populations across a wide range of latitudes, examining spatial and temporal differences in nest attributes. Sonidegib Furthermore, to measure the quantity of microhabitats open to females, we precisely located sites within the nesting zone of each location that well-represented the variety of available thermal microhabitats. Non-randomly, across the entire range, females chose microhabitats for nesting, which typically featured less canopy cover and thus warmer nest temperatures. Nest microhabitats exhibited variations dependent on location, but these were not predictably correlated with latitude or the mean historical air temperature during embryonic development. In tandem with other investigations of these populations, our outcomes suggest that nest site choices are leading to a leveling of nest environments, thus providing a buffer for embryos against thermally induced selection and potentially decelerating embryonic evolutionary processes. In summary, notwithstanding the macroclimatic efficacy of nest-site selection, it is improbable that such selection will fully compensate for the novel stressors causing a swift rise in local temperatures. This article contributes to the broader theme of 'The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach'.
The intricate constructions of nests, encompassing the monumental dwellings of eusocial insect societies and the elaborate structures built by some fish, have long held a fascination for scientists. However, our grasp of the evolutionary ecology of nests has trailed behind our understanding of the subsequent stages of reproduction. A considerable amount of interest in nests has developed over the past decade, and this special issue, 'The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach,' provides an overview of our understanding of nest design and purpose across different animal groups. neutrophil biology Papers in the 'The function of nests mechanisms and adaptive benefits' theme investigate the multiple roles of nests, a different aspect from the 'The evolution of nest characteristics' theme's focus on the evolutionary development of nesting behaviors. Within the 'Large communal nests in harsh environments' theme, papers investigate how remarkably large structures created by social insects and birds allow them to inhabit harsh arid regions; in comparison, the 'Nests in the Anthropocene' theme examines how shifts in nest structure enable animals to breed in an era of accelerating human environmental impact. Lastly, the synthesis illustrates how the intermingling of ideas and strategies from researchers focusing on different taxa will further our grasp of this compelling subject in research. 'The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach' is a theme issue in which this article can be found.
Behavioral responses can, in a reciprocal process, both cause and be caused by, morphological shifts. Advances in research methodologies and data availability have permitted wide-ranging studies of animal physical characteristics and behavioral functions across various contexts, but our understanding of the connection between animal morphology and object manipulation, especially in relation to objects involved in construction, remains limited. Utilizing a comprehensive global database of nesting materials employed by 5924 avian species, coupled with phylogenetically informed random forest models, we examine the correlation between beak morphology and the materials selected for nest construction. Beak morphology, along with dietary habits and material availability, accurately predicts nest-building material selection, exceeding random chance by a substantial margin (68-97%). This relationship, though, is largely shaped by phylogenetic signal and sampling biases. In conclusion, we find a correlation between beak shape and nest material choice among bird species, but this relationship is qualified by the ecological context and evolutionary background of each species. Within the framework of 'The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach,' this article is presented.
Differences in behavior, the biotic and abiotic environment, and evolutionary history account for the substantial intra- and interspecific variation seen in animal-constructed and -occupied nests. The colony's collective behavior and the surrounding ecology both affect the diversity of nest structures observed in ants. The depth, number, size, and connectivity of the nest's chambers are all shaped by selective pressures, which dictate their functions, or by the environment or evolutionary history imposing structural limitations. In order to identify the underlying variables contributing to the variability in the structure of subterranean ant nests, a meta-analysis of published nest measurements was carried out, evaluating structural components within and between species.