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E-Thesis 172 views 34 downloads

The breeding ecology and habitat utilization of some freshwater marsh passerines / Derek Thomas

Swansea University Author: Derek Thomas

DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUthesis.60185

Abstract

The breeding biology of the Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus and the Reed Bunting Emberisa schoeniclus was studied at Oxwich Marsh, Gower, primarily during the summers of 1978 and 1879. Three marshland habitat types were identified, and the utilisation, feeding ecology and breeding success of bo...

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Published: Swansea 1981
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Doctoral
Degree name: Ph.D
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60185
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first_indexed 2022-06-13T10:26:49Z
last_indexed 2022-06-14T03:18:49Z
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spelling 2022-06-13T11:46:05.8505007 v2 60185 2022-06-13 The breeding ecology and habitat utilization of some freshwater marsh passerines 0e4f145bc8252e32a2293d49084a1fa5 Derek Thomas Derek Thomas true false 2022-06-13 FGSEN The breeding biology of the Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus and the Reed Bunting Emberisa schoeniclus was studied at Oxwich Marsh, Gower, primarily during the summers of 1978 and 1879. Three marshland habitat types were identified, and the utilisation, feeding ecology and breeding success of both species in respect of these habitats was considered. In 'pure reed marshes' both species bred earlier, produced heavier young, were predated less and had higher nesting success (i.e. probability of a nest producing young) than those breeding in 'mixed marshes' and other areas. Invertebrates were collected in each habitat. Diptera accounted for a very high proportion of all potential prey items throughout the breeding season. Pure reed marshes produced more invertebrates than elsewhere, and overall peak abundance measured by numbers and biomass ocurred from mid-June to mid-July, coinciding with the time when most young of both species were in the nest. The diet of nestlings based on faecal analysis and hide observations showed Reed Warblers to be generalist feeders, with a similar diet in all habitats. Reed Buntings proved to be more specialist feeders, with a diet varying considerably between habitat types. Adults of both species foraged mostly in carr when nesting in pure reed marshes, whilst those from mixed marsh nests mostly utilized the marsh. Habitat selection in the Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus was studied. A separate habitat classification was used, which indicated a preference for nesting in areas with a mixed dense vegetation matrix, consisting mostly of reed and bramble. These areas contained the highest densities of breeding pairs and were occupied first. Evidence was given to support the view that the plant species content within a breeding territory was less important than its vegetative complexity, which was measured and shown to be negatively correlated with settlement time. E-Thesis Swansea 1 11 1981 1981-11-01 10.23889/SUthesis.60185 COLLEGE NANME Science and Engineering - Faculty COLLEGE CODE FGSEN Swansea University Doctoral Ph.D 2022-06-13T11:46:05.8505007 2022-06-13T11:20:54.7371746 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences Derek Thomas 1 60185__24293__34e63dc437b54da8b38e5e6ff7912ac4.pdf 639181.pdf 2022-06-13T11:36:03.8792998 Output 4716025 application/pdf E-Thesis – open access true true eng
title The breeding ecology and habitat utilization of some freshwater marsh passerines
spellingShingle The breeding ecology and habitat utilization of some freshwater marsh passerines
Derek Thomas
title_short The breeding ecology and habitat utilization of some freshwater marsh passerines
title_full The breeding ecology and habitat utilization of some freshwater marsh passerines
title_fullStr The breeding ecology and habitat utilization of some freshwater marsh passerines
title_full_unstemmed The breeding ecology and habitat utilization of some freshwater marsh passerines
title_sort The breeding ecology and habitat utilization of some freshwater marsh passerines
author_id_str_mv 0e4f145bc8252e32a2293d49084a1fa5
author_id_fullname_str_mv 0e4f145bc8252e32a2293d49084a1fa5_***_Derek Thomas
author Derek Thomas
author2 Derek Thomas
format E-Thesis
publishDate 1981
institution Swansea University
doi_str_mv 10.23889/SUthesis.60185
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description The breeding biology of the Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus and the Reed Bunting Emberisa schoeniclus was studied at Oxwich Marsh, Gower, primarily during the summers of 1978 and 1879. Three marshland habitat types were identified, and the utilisation, feeding ecology and breeding success of both species in respect of these habitats was considered. In 'pure reed marshes' both species bred earlier, produced heavier young, were predated less and had higher nesting success (i.e. probability of a nest producing young) than those breeding in 'mixed marshes' and other areas. Invertebrates were collected in each habitat. Diptera accounted for a very high proportion of all potential prey items throughout the breeding season. Pure reed marshes produced more invertebrates than elsewhere, and overall peak abundance measured by numbers and biomass ocurred from mid-June to mid-July, coinciding with the time when most young of both species were in the nest. The diet of nestlings based on faecal analysis and hide observations showed Reed Warblers to be generalist feeders, with a similar diet in all habitats. Reed Buntings proved to be more specialist feeders, with a diet varying considerably between habitat types. Adults of both species foraged mostly in carr when nesting in pure reed marshes, whilst those from mixed marsh nests mostly utilized the marsh. Habitat selection in the Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus was studied. A separate habitat classification was used, which indicated a preference for nesting in areas with a mixed dense vegetation matrix, consisting mostly of reed and bramble. These areas contained the highest densities of breeding pairs and were occupied first. Evidence was given to support the view that the plant species content within a breeding territory was less important than its vegetative complexity, which was measured and shown to be negatively correlated with settlement time.
published_date 1981-11-01T04:18:05Z
_version_ 1763754204712665088
score 11.016392

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