Treffer: Native trees are related to advanced bird breeding phenology and increased reproductive success along an urban gradient.
Title:
Native trees are related to advanced bird breeding phenology and increased reproductive success along an urban gradient.
Authors:
Branston CJ; School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.; School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Lanarkshire, UK.; Centre for Conservation and Restoration Science, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK., Capilla-Lasheras P; School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.; Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland.; Doñana Biological Station, Spanish National Research Council (EBD-CSIC), Sevilla, Spain., Haugh C; School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK., Baker PJ; School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK., Reid R; School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK., Griffiths K; School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK., White S; School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK., Dominoni DM; School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Source:
Ecology [Ecology] 2026 Jan; Vol. 107 (1), pp. e70294.
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: Ecological Society of America Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0043541 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1939-9170 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00129658 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Ecology Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Publication: Washington, DC : Ecological Society of America
Original Publication: Brooklyn, NY : Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Original Publication: Brooklyn, NY : Brooklyn Botanical Garden
MeSH Terms:
References:
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Daniels, B., B. S. Zaunbrecher, B. Paas, R. Ottermanns, M. Ziefle, and M. Roß‐Nickoll. 2018. “Assessment of Urban Green Space Structures and their Quality from a Multidimensional Perspective.” Science of the Total Environment 615: 1364–1378.
de Sánchez Miguel, A., J. Bennie, E. Rosenfeld, S. Dzurjak, and K. J. Gaston. 2021. “First Estimation of Global Trends in Nocturnal Power Emissions Reveals Acceleration of Light Pollution.” Remote Sensing 13: 3311.
de Satgé, J., D. Strubbe, J. Elst, J. De Laet, F. Adriaensen, and E. Matthysen. 2019. “Urbanisation Lowers Great Tit Parus major Breeding Success at Multiple Spatial Scales.” Journal of Avian Biology 50: jav.02108.
Dominoni, D. M., J. K. Jensen, M. Jong, M. E. Visser, and K. Spoelstra. 2020. “Artificial Light at Night, in Interaction with Spring Temperature, Modulates Timing of Reproduction in a Passerine Bird.” Ecological Applications 30: e02062.
Foley, J. A., R. DeFries, G. P. Asner, C. Barford, G. Bonan, S. R. Carpenter, F. S. Chapin, et al. 2005. “Global Consequences of Land Use.” Science 309: 570–574.
García‐Navas, V., and J. J. Sanz. 2011. “The Importance of a Main Dish: Nestling Diet and Foraging Behaviour in Mediterranean Blue Tits in Relation to Prey Phenology.” Oecologia 165: 639–649.
Gil, D., and H. Brumm. 2014. Avian Urban Ecology: Behavioural and Physiological Adaptations. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Grames, E. M., G. A. Montgomery, C. Youngflesh, M. W. Tingley, and C. S. Elphick. 2023. “The Effect of Insect Food Availability on Songbird Reproductive Success and Chick Body Condition: Evidence from a Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis.” Ecology Letters 26: 658–673.
Grimm, N. B., S. H. Faeth, N. E. Golubiewski, C. L. Redman, J. Wu, X. Bai, and J. M. Briggs. 2008. “Global Change and the Ecology of Cities.” Science 319: 756–760.
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Hopkins, J. J., and K. J. Kirby. 2007. “Ecological Change in British Broadleaved Woodland since 1947.” Ibis 149: 29–40.
Jarrett, C., L. L. Powell, H. McDevitt, B. Helm, and A. J. Welch. 2020. “Bitter Fruits of Hard Labour: Diet Metabarcoding and Telemetry Reveal that Urban Songbirds Travel Further for Lower‐Quality Food.” Oecologia 193: 377–388.
Jensen, J. K., J. Ekroos, H. Watson, P. Salmón, P. Olsson, and C. Isaksson. 2023. “Urban Tree Composition Is Associated with Breeding Success of a Passerine Bird, but Effects Vary within and between Years.” Oecologia 201: 585–597.
Jensen, J. K., S. Jayousi, M. von Post, C. Isaksson, and A. S. Persson. 2022. “Contrasting Effects of Tree Origin and Urbanization on Invertebrate Abundance and Tree Phenology.” Ecological Applications 32: e2491.
Kennedy, C. E. J., and T. R. E. Southwood. 1984. “The Number of Species of Insects Associated with British Trees: A re‐Analysis.” The Journal of Animal Ecology 53: 455–478.
Kim, H. H. 1992. “Urban Heat Island.” International Journal of Remote Sensing 13: 2319–2336.
Longcore, T., and C. Rich. 2004. “Ecological Light Pollution.” Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 2: 191–198.
Mackenzie, J. A., S. A. Hinsley, and N. M. Harrison. 2014. “Parid Foraging Choices in Urban Habitat and their Consequences for Fitness.” Ibis 156: 591–605.
Macphie, K. H., J. M. Samplonius, J. L. Pick, J. D. Hadfield, and A. B. Phillimore. 2023. “Modelling Thermal Sensitivity in the Full Phenological Distribution: A New Approach Applied to the Spring Arboreal Caterpillar Peak.” Functional Ecology 37: 3015–3026.
Marciniak, B., J. Nadolski, M. Nowakowska, B. Loga, and J. Bańbura. 2007. “Habitat and Annual Variation in Arthropod Abundance Affects Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Reproduction.” Acta Ornithologica 42: 53–62.
Marzluff, J. M. 2016. “A Decadal Review of Urban Ornithology and a Prospectus for the Future.” Ibis 159: 1–13.
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Grant Information:
NE/S005773/1 NERC; University of Glasgow
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: breeding success; environmental change; native trees; phenology; reproduction; urban gradient; urbanization
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20260116 Date Completed: 20260116 Latest Revision: 20260119
Update Code:
20260119
PubMed Central ID:
PMC12811069
DOI:
10.1002/ecy.70294
PMID:
41545193
Database:
MEDLINE
Weitere Informationen
Urban areas are altered from natural landscapes in several ways that can impact wildlife. Birds are widespread in urban areas, and it is well documented that there are phenotypic differences between urban and non-urban conspecifics. However, little is known about which characteristics of the urban environment are driving differences. We used 9 years of data from nest boxes spread across 20 sites along a 40-km urban-non-urban gradient in Scotland to test whether characteristics of the urban environment (native, non-native, native oak (Quercus spp.), birch (Betula spp.) foliage availability, temperature and human population density, and the interaction between foliage and temperature) influenced phenology and reproductive success in blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). We found that higher foliage availability of native foliage, and specifically of the most common native genus, oak, was associated at the territory level with earlier first egg laying date. Higher non-native foliage availability at both a site and territory level was negatively related to clutch size. The number of fledglings produced was reduced at sites with higher levels of non-native foliage and increased at sites with greater amounts of native oak foliage present. We also found territories with a higher human population density had reduced fledging success. Temperature was negatively related to first egg laying date, clutch size and the number of fledglings produced. Moreover, the number of Lepidopteran larvae, blue tits' preferred prey, that were collected over the breeding season was positively related to native oak foliage availability. Our results strongly indicate that the presence of native trees, such as oak, are beneficial to breeding insectivores by increasing the number of fledglings they can successfully raise, likely due to the increased availability of invertebrate prey. We suggest that urban planting regimes should be carefully considered, selecting tree species that are native or non-native congeneric species, and most importantly that will host Lepidoptera larvae. This will not only help to support complete food chains, but also to maximize biodiversity and ecosystem services of urban green spaces.
(© 2026 The Author(s). Ecology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Ecological Society of America.)