Miłosława Barkowska

The Effects of Urbanization — Small Mammal Communities in a Gradient of Human Pressure in Warsaw City, Poland

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of human pressure and spatial structure of landscape on the occurrence of populations of small mammals in the environment of a large urban agglomeration. The investigations were carried out in Warsaw, Poland in 17 locations. The study sites were located on both sides of the Vistula River, of different landscape spatial structure, in various distances from the city center, and were subject to different degrees of human pressure. Part of the city located on the left bank of the Vistula River is more strongly transformed by man than the part located on the right bank of the river. A total of 933 specimens of 8 species of small mammals were caught using the live-trapping method (Catch-Mark-Release). The richest species composition was found at the city borders and in rural areas. On the left side of Vistula, the species diversity was lower than on the right side, showing significant negative correlation with the human pressure degree. Such pattern was not confirmed on the right side of the river. The only species to occur in all sites on the left side of Vistula was the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius). On the right side of Vistula, the striped field mouse was accompanied by the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) in all research sites. The results indicate that the degree of human pressure and spatial isolation are crucial for composition of small mammal community. Less advanced urbanization processes in areas on the right bank of Vistula, as compared to districts on the left side, provide better contact between local populations of small mammals, and offer better living conditions to a large number of species, even in areas located in the center of the city

Infestation of sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) resident in the Northeastern Poland by Ixodes ricinus (L.) ticks and their infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato

Sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) were trapped and examined for ticks from May to September in 2002 and 2003 in Northeastern Poland. A total of 233 Ixodes ricinus (L.) ticks (76 larvae and 157 nymphs) was found on 31 of 235 captured lizards (13.2%). The tick infestation is relatively low compared to that of mammals and passerine birds from the same area (Siński et al. 2006, Gryczyńska et al. 2002). Tick infestation depended on the month of capture, being the highest in spring. In autumn no ticks were recorded on any of the captured lizards. The oldest lizards carried the highest number of ticks but no differences related to sex of the host were found. All the collected ticks were analysed by PCR for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the etiological agents of Lyme disease. Spirochetes were detected in 11 out of 233 (4.7%) ticks tested. Genetic analysis confirmed that the spirochetes are members of the Borrelia afzelii, B. garinii and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto genospecies. Mixed infection were not detected. The prevalence of infection was analysed in relation to months of the capture, age and sex of the lizards, but differences were not statistically significant. The obtained results suggest that lizards are probably not B. burgdorferi reservoirs, but further studies are required to confirm this.

The effect of egg size on growth and survival of the tree sparrow Passer montanus nestlings

Abstract. The paper analyses the effect of egg dimensions (volume, breadth, and length) on the growth and development of Tree Sparrow nestlings on successive days of life. Egg size did not influence nestling mortality. It was found that for most days of nestling life, the mean volume and breadth of eggs were positively correlated with the mean mass of nestlings in the nest. Similarly, the deviation of the volume and breadth of a particular egg from the mean egg volume and breadth in the clutch was positively correlated with the deviation of nestling mass from the mean nestling mass in the nest. Nestling growth and development in terms of asymptotic mass (g), maximum growth rate (g/day), tarsus length, and longest remex length were also positively correlated with egg size. The effect of egg size was particularly pronounced in the period of termination of intensive growth rate, development of thermoregulation, and feather development. It is possible that larger eggs contain more microelements, hormones, antioxidants, and vitamins.

Significance of the Breeding Season for Autumnal Nest-Site Selection by Tree Sparrows Passer montanus

Abstract. The Tree Sparrow is one of the species exhibiting classical autumn sexual behaviour. Autumn nest selection by this species was studied in Central Poland, especially with respect to the history of nest-boxes in the previous breeding season. During the autumn display, Tree Sparrows constructed nests significantly more often in boxes that had been occupied in spring by conspecifics, but only rarely in empty boxes, in boxes where House Sparrow Passer domesticus, tits Parus sp., Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca, Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus had nested, or in boxes used by hymenopterans. During the autumn display, Tree Sparrows showed a preference for boxes where nestlings had hatched. Nests with nestlings in the breeding season are a cue used in selecting nest site in the autumn sexual behaviour.

The Effect of Trends in Ambient Temperature on Egg Volume in the Tree Sparrow Passer montanus

Abstract. The effect of ambient temperature before and during laying on egg volume in birds has been studied by many authors. The objective of this paper is to show that trends in daily temperatures changes can also influence egg volume. The study was carried out near Warsaw, Poland in 1994 and 1995. We ascertained the laying sequence, size and volume of 1070 eggs in 211 clutches of the Tree Sparrow. The effect of the trend in temperature on the mean egg volume in a clutch explained 0.4% of its variation (0.03% to 4.2%, depending on the brood-period), and the effect of actual temperature explained 0.9% (0.5% to 1.6% depending on the brood-period). The joint effect of temperature and its trend explained 3.1% (1.7% to 8.9% depending on the brood-period) of variation in the mean egg volume in a clutch. The authors discuss possible mechanisms of the effect of temperature and temperature trend on egg volume.

The Effect of Egg Size on Hatching Rate in the Tree Sparrow Passer montanus (Study in Central Poland)

Abstract. The analysis covered 1332 Tree Sparrow eggs, 1053 of them hatched, in 257 clutches of which 114 were fully successful, 119 partially so, and 24 were deserted. The mean egg mass in deserted clutches was lower than in clutches where hatching success was total or partial but not significantly so. The mean hatching success per clutch increased with the mean egg mass. The individual eggs in fully hatched clutches weighed significantly more (2.21 g) than those in partially hatched clutches (2.17 g), and were also heavier than “infertile” eggs (2.14 g). During nest inspections to ascertain the egg laying sequence, the egg mass in 5-egg clutches with full and partial hatching success was found to be higher than in deserted clutches. The eggs in fully hatched clutches were broader than “infertile” eggs.

Laying Interruption in the Tree Sparrow Passer montanus

Abstract. The work was carried out in the villages of the łomianki commune near Warsaw, Poland (52°20′N, 20°50′E) in 1994 and 1995. From among 315 clutches of Tree Sparrows studied, 20 exhibited one-day interruptions in the laying of first and second broods, while 2 were characterised by two-day interruptions. Amongst third broods, there was just a single one-day interruption noted in each year of the study. Interruptions did not occur immediately prior to the laying of the last egg in a clutch. Only in the case of the first brood in 1995 could a period of cold account for interruptions; in the remaining cases, the phenomenon must have been influenced by non-meteorological factors. The Tree Sparrow resembles the House Sparrow Passer domesticus in having far fewer interruptions to laying than other small hole-nesting birds, such as tits Parus spp. This is probably a reflection of the genus Passer having evolved in dry areas, where the accumulation of body reserves in the female prior to laying is an adaptation reducing the length of the breeding period to match the time associated with the rainy season, when food is abundant.

The role of chemical information in shaping the spatial activity of bank voles in a free-living population

A field experiment was carried out in two types of forest environment — a relatively homogenous mixed coniferous forest with low plant species diversity and a reach and spatially differentiated alder wood. Spatial variation in activity of voles was sampled by placing ink pads and paper inside PVC waterpipes laid in a line on the forest floor. In the first stage of the experiment, use of space by bank volesClethrionomys glareolus (Schreber, 1780) was analysed without any bait in track collection tubes. In the second stage, we used an attractant in the form of scent collected from alien bank vole individuals of different sex (males, females), age (juveniles, adults) and physiological state (sexually active and not active). In the coniferous forest the distribution of number of visits in tracking tubes was of aggregated character both before and after providing odour of alien individuals. In the alder wood the aggregation level that had been initially lower than in the coniferous forest increased after providing scent. As a consequence, placing scent of alien individuals resulted in decreasing differences in animal distribution in both habitats. The results allow also to the supposition that the reaction to scent depends on sex, age, and the physiological state of the donor.

Evaluation of the TOBEC method for calculating fat mass in Tree Sparrows Passer montanus and House Sparrows Passer domesticus

Abstract. Total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC) is the name of a non-invasive method for investigating total body fat (TBF) in vertebrates. The error of measurement depends on body mass (for large animals the relative error is small), body shape and other factors. The ACAN-2 apparatus operating on the basis of the TOBEC method shows integer numbers (readings) correlated with lean body mass (LBM). From the series of these readings (measurements) TOBEC can be calculated in many ways. The error for LBM and TBF measurements in Tree Sparrows (of masses 22.5 ± 1.7 g) and House Sparrows (of masses 29.8 ± 2.0 g) was 1.19 g. This error may be reduced by repeating the TOBEC measurement and calculating the arithmetic mean of readings from the apparatus obtained 1 second after the commencement of measurement. Readings making up a single measurement series showed periodic irregular fluctuations of average amplitude 3 units in the case of Tree Sparrows and 5 units for House Sparrows — corresponding to errors of 0.5 g LBM in both species. Given individuals of both species were characterised by similar differences between the first and second TOBEC measurements. The TOBEC value obtained in a measurement during which a bird defecated in the chamber of the apparatus was significantly higher than that for a bird in a clean chamber. The orientation of the head in the chamber did not influence the repeatability of the TOBEC measurement. In Tree Sparrows, the relationship between TOBEC and LBM differed between those captured and held for one night prior to measurement and those measured for TOBEC immediately after capture.