Jakub Z. Kosicki

Do White Storks Ciconia ciconia always profit from an early return to their breeding grounds

Capsule Arrival date strongly influenced date of breeding and breeding success. Aim To check our hypothesis that in years with low April temperatures, i.e. when storks started to breed, the relationship between timing of breeding and success would be absent, meaning that migrants would have no advantage by returning early to their breeding area. Methods We collected data in Poznań province, western Poland during the period 1983–2002. Based on local climatological data we selected eight cold spring years and compared them with the 12 ‘normal’ years. We analysed how weather affected the timing and arrival pattern of White Stork. Results The two groups of years did not differ significantly in population size, but in normal years the arrival date of both parents was earlier. Arrival date strongly influenced (was positively correlated with) date of breeding and (negatively correlated with) breeding success. Conclusion The slopes describing the above relationships did not differ significantly between the two groups of years. Therefore, we speculate that natural selection strongly favours birds that return early from the wintering grounds.

Long-Term Changes and Breeding Success in Relation to Nesting Structures used by the White Stork, Ciconia ciconia

Anthropogenic changes have strongly influenced the European landscape. In the last 50 years electric power-line networks have become a conspicuous part of that landscape. From the outset it was known that these lines and their support structures would cause fatalities in the white stork, Ciconia ciconia. From a long-term (1983–2006) study in Poland, we analysed breeding performance in stork nests on four types of structure (chimneys, roofs, trees and electricity poles). Whilst the numbers of nests on both electricity poles and chimneys have increased, there was no significant difference among the four structures in terms of breeding success. Since 1998, over 100 electricity poles in this white-stork breeding area have been modified to include a platform designed to accommodate a stork nest. A comparison between the annual means of nests on electricity poles with and without platforms did not reveal any significant differences in breeding success. However, closer examination of the nests transferred to platforms revealed a slight drop in chick productivity in the year following platform addition, which, however, became significantly higher in the subsequent year. Thus the transfer of nests to platforms appears to have only a short-term adverse effect and may be beneficial in the long run.

Changes in the timing and pattern of arrival of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) in western Poland@@@Änderungen im Ankunftsmuster beim Weißstorch (Ciconia ciconia) in Westpolen

Changes in the spring arrival dates of migrant birds, particularly passerines, have been reported from a range of locations. In this paper we take the opportunity provided by a detailed monitoring scheme to examine several features of the timing and arrival pattern of White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) in Poznań province, western Poland during the period 1983–2002. In doing so, we address several criticisms associated with the use of first arrival dates. We found no evidence of a weekend bias to phenological recording and, unlike in some other species, found no effect of population size on recorded arrival date. Some aspects of the arrival pattern got earlier over time and first arrival appears to have been about 10 days earlier in the last 20 years than in the previous century. Earlier arrival was associated with warmer spring weather and with a protracted arrival period. From our experience with this study, we suggest how the general public can be used to collect high quality phenological data. Änderungen im Zeitpunkt der Frühjahrsankunft bei Zugvögeln, vor allem bei Singvögeln, wurden von verschiedenen Orten berichtet. In dieser Arbeit nutzen wir die Möglichkeiten eines detaillierten Monitoring-Programmes, um die verschiedenen Merkmale des Ankunftsmusters des Weißstorchs (Ciconia ciconia) in der Provinz Posen (Poznań, Westpolen) im Zeitraum 1983–2002 zu untersuchen. Wir betrachten hierbei vier Aspekte: 1) Gibt es einen Wochenend-Effekt in den erhobenen Daten? 2) Beeinflusst die Populationsgröße den festgestellten Ankunftszeitpunkt? 3) Gab es über die Jahre Änderungen in den Ankunftszeiten? und 4) welche Ursachen liegen den Änderungen in Ankunftszeiten zu Grande? In diesem Zusammenhang formulieren wir einige Kritikpunkte zur Verwendung von Erstankunftsdaten. Wir fanden keinen Hinweis auf einen Wochenend-Effekt auf die phänologische Datenerfassung und, im Gegensatz zur Situation bei einigen anderen Arten, keinen Effekt der Populationsgröße auf das registrierte Ankunftsdatum. Einige Merkmale des Ankunftsmusters verfrühten sich im Laufe der Zeit und die Erstankunft liegt nach 20 Jahren offenbar über 10 Tage früher als im vorigen Jahrhundert. Frühere Ankunft stand in Verbindung mit wärmerem Frühlingswetter und mit einer verlängerten Ankunftsphase. Aus unseren Erfahrungen mit dieser Untersuchung schlagen wir vor, wie die breite Öffentlichkeit zur Sammlung hochqualitativer phänologischer Daten genutzt werden kann.

The relationship between population means and variances of reproductive success differs between local populations of white stork (Ciconia ciconia)

We studied the size and productivity of white stork (Ciconia ciconia) populations in eight study sites in Poland. The number of nesting pairs and the average number of chicks fledged per pair fluctuated over time, and the studied populations differed in the variance of both breeding success and number of breeding pairs. The variance of breeding success (both for the mean number of chicks and the proportion of successful nests) and the variance of the number of breeding pairs was not correlated with the extent of stable habitats (pastures, meadows, wetlands), other habitats (farmland), or with local population trends over time. We found a non-linear symmetrical relationship between annual mean reproductive success and its variance but only when considered as the proportion of successful nests (i.e., when individual nests are coded as a binary value: 0, no success; 1, success). No such relationship existed when success was expressed as the number of fledged chicks. Although a positive significant correlation occurred between fledgling numbers (discrete data) and the proportion of successful nests (binary data), we believe that the use of only binary data will be inadequate in more detailed analyses, such as population viability analysis.

Effects of breeding date and weather on nestling development in White Storks Ciconia ciconia

Capsule Chick growth rate was affected by air temperature and precipitation independent of the time of breeding. Aim To investigate how the time of breeding, sibling competition and weather conditions influence White Stork nestlings’ growth rate. Methods Chick development was determined by data on the length of bill, tarsus, wing, primary flight-feathers and body mass. Data were gained from 446 inspections of 50 nests during five breeding seasons at a site in Western Poland. Results The growth rate of chicks was different in particular years of the study and was affected by air temperature and precipitation. There was no effect of sibling competition, hatching asynchrony and time of breeding on chick development. Conclusions Birds that start breeding later have fewer offspring. However, chicks from early and later nests grow at the same rate. This similarity of growth rate is important because storks leave for wintering grounds in flocks which means that the development of chicks in the population has to be synchronized.

Habitat selection of the Ortolan bunting Emberiza hortulana in Poland: predictions from large-scale habitat elements

The Ortolan bunting Emberiza hortulana was censused in Poland during the Common Breeding Birds Monitoring Project in 2003–2009. Data from 683 monitoring polygons, covering in total more than 0.23% of the country, were used in the analysis. Based on the data and environmental information gathered in GIS databases (Corine land cover “CLC2000 and 2006” database, digital elevation model “GTOPO30” dataset, “Wordclim” dataset, and NDVI dataset), we modeled a habitat- and spatial-related variation of the Ortolan bunting’s presence. Birds were recorded in 13.2% grid cells. The mean density was 0.5 individual/km2. We modeled the spatial presence of birds using multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS). Then models were cross-validated to check their consistency. The environment-use model shows that the Ortolan bunting prefers extensively cultivated farmland dominated by non-irrigated arable fields, small coniferous and mixed forests, complex cultivation patterns, and meadows. The preferred areas are located on lowlands in western and central parts of the country where the climate is the driest and warmest. Such a repeatable spatial pattern model of the population helped to create a predictive map of the Ortolan bunting’s presence in Poland. The general rule is that the probability gradient of its presence increases from the northeastern part of the country to the central and southwestern parts of Poland. Additionally, the Ortolan bunting avoids severe continental climate and regions with dense ground-level vegetation.The Ortolan bunting Emberiza hortulana was censused in Poland during the Common Breeding Birds Monitoring Project in 2003–2009. Data from 683 monitoring polygons, covering in total more than 0.23% of the country, were used in the analysis. Based on the data and environmental information gathered in GIS databases (Corine land cover “CLC2000 and 2006” database, digital elevation model “GTOPO30” dataset, “Wordclim” dataset, and NDVI dataset), we modeled a habitat- and spatial-related variation of the Ortolan bunting’s presence. Birds were recorded in 13.2% grid cells. The mean density was 0.5 individual/km2. We modeled the spatial presence of birds using multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS). Then models were cross-validated to check their consistency. The environment-use model shows that the Ortolan bunting prefers extensively cultivated farmland dominated by non-irrigated arable fields, small coniferous and mixed forests, complex cultivation patterns, and meadows. The preferred areas are located on lowlands in western and central parts of the country where the climate is the driest and warmest. Such a repeatable spatial pattern model of the population helped to create a predictive map of the Ortolan bunting’s presence in Poland. The general rule is that the probability gradient of its presence increases from the northeastern part of the country to the central and southwestern parts of Poland. Additionally, the Ortolan bunting avoids severe continental climate and regions with dense ground-level vegetation.

Ancient DNA Reveals Matrilineal Continuity in Present- Day Poland over the Last Two Millennia

While numerous ancient human DNA datasets from across Europe have been published till date, modern-day Poland in particular, remains uninvestigated. Besides application in the reconstruction of continent-wide human history, data from this region would also contribute towards our understanding of the history of the Slavs, whose origin is hypothesized to be in East or Central Europe. Here, we present the first population-scale ancient human DNA study from the region of modern-day Poland by establishing mitochondrial DNA profiles for 23 samples dated to 200 BC – 500 AD (Roman Iron Age) and for 20 samples dated to 1000–1400 AD (Medieval Age). Our results show that mitochondrial DNA sequences from both periods belong to haplogroups that are characteristic of contemporary West Eurasia. Haplotype sharing analysis indicates that majority of the ancient haplotypes are widespread in some modern Europeans, including Poles. Notably, the Roman Iron Age samples share more rare haplotypes with Central and Northeast Europeans, whereas the Medieval Age samples share more rare haplotypes with East-Central and South-East Europeans, primarily Slavic populations. Our data demonstrates genetic continuity of certain matrilineages (H5a1 and N1a1a2) in the area of present-day Poland from at least the Roman Iron Age until present. As such, the maternal gene pool of present-day Poles, Czechs and Slovaks, categorized as Western Slavs, is likely to have descended from inhabitants of East-Central Europe during the Roman Iron Age.

House sparrows benefit from the conservation of white storks

As with many farmland bird species, the house sparrow Passer domesticus is declining in Europe, mainly due to intensification of agriculture reducing nest sites and food supplies. During 2002–2005, we studied the population size and nest site characteristics of house sparrows breeding within white stork Ciconia ciconia nests in a large area of agricultural landscape within western Poland. To explain sparrow density within stork nests, we examined characteristics of white stork nests (position, age, productivity) and the farm type around the nest. House sparrow density was greatest in the longest established (and hence larger) white stork nests located on traditionally managed farms. Two recent changes appear to have adverse effects on house sparrows. The first is the intensification of farming and the second is active management of white stork nests on electric poles to reduce nest size and thus avoid both disruption to the electrical supply and electrocution of white storks. Because the white stork has such a high profile in Poland, there are numerous schemes to conserve and enhance this species. In conclusion, we clearly show that protecting one species can have valuable, although unplanned, benefits to another species of conservation interest, the house sparrow.

Seabird guano boosts body size of water bears (Tardigrada) inhabiting the arctic tundra

Abstract(1) During the Arctic summer, little auks (Alle alle) deposit considerable amounts of guano on land. Ecosystems subsidised in nutrients are known to hold greater biodiversity and to produce grander biomass of plants and animals compared with areas where seabirds do not nest. (2) The aim of this study was to look into the relationship between guano fertilisation and body size of invertebrates inhabiting tundra. (3) The specimens of Macrobiotus islandicus islandicus Richters, 1904, a tardigrade dwelling in mosses and lichens of the Arctic, from six different populations from Spitsbergen (Hornsund fjord) were measured. Tardigrades were collected from areas different in terms of seabird guano effects on the tundra ecosystem. An overall body size index for tardigrades was calculated using a principal component analysis. (4) Here, we show that the body size of M. i. islandicus is larger in vicinities of the little auk colonies than in areas devoid of bird nesting sites. (5) Given that fitness of many invertebrates is positively correlated with their condition, our study underlines the ecological importance of a side effect of seabirds biology—the transfer of nutrients from the sea to the land.

Predictive mapping of Meadow Pipit density using integrated remote sensing data and an atlas of vascular plants dataset

Capsule The highest densities of Meadow Pipits in Central Europe are found in lowland and upland wet meadows. Aims To create a large-scale predictive model of Meadow Pipit density. Methods We analysed factors affecting the density of the Meadows Pipit in Poland using data from 777 × 1 km study plots and a set of 22 environmental variables, including agriculture intensification and habitat-specific plant species as classifiers of meadow types. Predictors were selected using variation inflation factor, then related to species density data using generalized additive models. Results The best-supported model included 11 variables and was clearly better (Akaike information criterion weight = 0.47) than other models. The density of the Meadow Pipit reaches its highest levels on large areas of extensively used wet meadows as well as pastures where livestock graze and which show high photosynthetic activity in April. Conclusion Some aspects of the environment that were not identified from remote sensing data were vital for determining relatively high density. Conservation efforts for preserving Meadow Pipit populations should focus on maintaining wet meadows and extensively grazed pastures. Given the results, the Meadows Pipit may be classified as a good indicator of traditional agriculture.