Scholarlink

Abstract <p>The site where an organism settles and first attempts reproduction can have important effects on their survival and reproductive success. The Natal Habitat Preference Induction (NHPI) hypothesis posits that individuals choose breeding habitat similar to their natal habitat, receiving fitness benefits from their familiarity with shared factors such as resource composition or predator risks. To assess whether individuals made settlement decisions based on habitat similarity, we compared natal and breeding sites in a population of cooperatively breeding Brown-headed Nuthatches (<i>Sitta pusilla</i>) using a two-part approach. First, we assessed whether natal and breeding sites were more similar in their habitat characteristics than natal and random sites. Second, because we lacked information on breeding vacancies in the population, we also assessed whether natal and breeding sites were more similar than natal sites were to an alternate breeding site that was settled in the year an individual dispersed. In both cases, we found juveniles’ breeding sites were more similar to their natal sites to random sites. We furthermore compared settlement decisions of cross-fostered offspring to test a key NHPI assumption: that habitat preference is learned rather than innate. Both cross-fostered and non-fostered young settled in breeding sites similar to the sites from which they fledged. We conclude that nuthatches in this population make settlement decisions in accordance with NHPI and that this preference is learned rather than innate.</p> Significance statement <p>As juvenile birds reach independence, they must make important decisions about where to settle and attempt breeding for the first time. Habitat quality in settlement areas may affect survival and reproductive success. However, individuals are often observed settling in apparently low-quality habitat when high-quality habitat is available. One hypothesis for how individuals choose breeding sites is Natal Habitat Preference Induction, which posits that individuals choose breeding sites of similar habitat to their natal sites. We investigated this hypothesis in a population of Brown-headed Nuthatches (<i>Sitta pusilla</i>) and observed juveniles making settlement decisions as predicted by Natal Habitat Preference Induction.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Examining the role of natal habitat preference induction in the settlement decisions of Brown-headed Nuthatches

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年6月25日

查看全文
  • S. L. Dietz,
  • E. H. DuVal,
  • J. A. Cox

摘要

Abstract

The site where an organism settles and first attempts reproduction can have important effects on their survival and reproductive success. The Natal Habitat Preference Induction (NHPI) hypothesis posits that individuals choose breeding habitat similar to their natal habitat, receiving fitness benefits from their familiarity with shared factors such as resource composition or predator risks. To assess whether individuals made settlement decisions based on habitat similarity, we compared natal and breeding sites in a population of cooperatively breeding Brown-headed Nuthatches (Sitta pusilla) using a two-part approach. First, we assessed whether natal and breeding sites were more similar in their habitat characteristics than natal and random sites. Second, because we lacked information on breeding vacancies in the population, we also assessed whether natal and breeding sites were more similar than natal sites were to an alternate breeding site that was settled in the year an individual dispersed. In both cases, we found juveniles’ breeding sites were more similar to their natal sites to random sites. We furthermore compared settlement decisions of cross-fostered offspring to test a key NHPI assumption: that habitat preference is learned rather than innate. Both cross-fostered and non-fostered young settled in breeding sites similar to the sites from which they fledged. We conclude that nuthatches in this population make settlement decisions in accordance with NHPI and that this preference is learned rather than innate.

Significance statement

As juvenile birds reach independence, they must make important decisions about where to settle and attempt breeding for the first time. Habitat quality in settlement areas may affect survival and reproductive success. However, individuals are often observed settling in apparently low-quality habitat when high-quality habitat is available. One hypothesis for how individuals choose breeding sites is Natal Habitat Preference Induction, which posits that individuals choose breeding sites of similar habitat to their natal sites. We investigated this hypothesis in a population of Brown-headed Nuthatches (Sitta pusilla) and observed juveniles making settlement decisions as predicted by Natal Habitat Preference Induction.