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Main Authors: Glądalski, Michał, Norte, Ana Cláudia, Bartos, Maciej, Demeško, Iwona, Kaliński, Adam, Markowski, Marcin, Skwarska, Joanna, Wawrzyniak, Jarosław, Zieliński, Piotr, Bańbura, Jerzy
Format: Artículo científico
Language:en
Published: Behavioral ecology : official journal of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology 2025
Online Access:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39734641/
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author Glądalski, Michał
Norte, Ana Cláudia
Bartos, Maciej
Demeško, Iwona
Kaliński, Adam
Markowski, Marcin
Skwarska, Joanna
Wawrzyniak, Jarosław
Zieliński, Piotr
Bańbura, Jerzy
author_facet Glądalski, Michał
Norte, Ana Cláudia
Bartos, Maciej
Demeško, Iwona
Kaliński, Adam
Markowski, Marcin
Skwarska, Joanna
Wawrzyniak, Jarosław
Zieliński, Piotr
Bańbura, Jerzy
Glądalski, Michał
Norte, Ana Cláudia
Bartos, Maciej
Demeško, Iwona
Kaliński, Adam
Markowski, Marcin
Skwarska, Joanna
Wawrzyniak, Jarosław
Zieliński, Piotr
Bańbura, Jerzy
collection PubMed - marine biology
contents Effects of experimental nest treatment with herbs on ectoparasites and body condition of nestlings. Glądalski, Michał Norte, Ana Cláudia Bartos, Maciej Demeško, Iwona Kaliński, Adam Markowski, Marcin Skwarska, Joanna Wawrzyniak, Jarosław Zieliński, Piotr Bańbura, Jerzy Nest fumigation behavior involves the incorporation of fresh green plant fragments that contain ectoparasite-repellent volatile compounds into birds' nests. This behavior is relatively rare among bird species, and there is ongoing debate about whether it benefits parental breeding success. In this study, we experimentally tested whether the inclusion of aromatic-herbal plant fragments in the nests of great tits affects the physiological condition of nestlings, as indicated by blood levels of hematocrit, hemoglobin, glucose, and body condition indices, such as weight and wing length. We divided the nests into 2 groups, adding aromatic herbs to the test group's nests and non-aromatic plants to the control group. After the nestlings fledged, all nest materials were collected to extract, identify, and count arthropod ectoparasites. Nestlings in nests supplemented with aromatic plant fragments had elevated levels of hematocrit and hemoglobin, indicating improved physiological condition compared to the control group. Ectoparasites were present in both groups, although ticks (Ixodidae) occurred less frequently in nests with aromatic plants. The experimental treatment did not affect fledging success. Further experimental studies are needed to explore the effects of incorporating aromatic plant fragments into tit nests within the frameworks of both the nest protection hypothesis and the drug hypothesis.
format Artículo científico
id pubmed_39734641
institution PubMed
language en
publishDate 2025
publisher Behavioral ecology : official journal of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology
record_format pubmed
spellingShingle Effects of experimental nest treatment with herbs on ectoparasites and body condition of nestlings.
Glądalski, Michał
Norte, Ana Cláudia
Bartos, Maciej
Demeško, Iwona
Kaliński, Adam
Markowski, Marcin
Skwarska, Joanna
Wawrzyniak, Jarosław
Zieliński, Piotr
Bańbura, Jerzy
Effects of experimental nest treatment with herbs on ectoparasites and body condition of nestlings. Glądalski, Michał Norte, Ana Cláudia Bartos, Maciej Demeško, Iwona Kaliński, Adam Markowski, Marcin Skwarska, Joanna Wawrzyniak, Jarosław Zieliński, Piotr Bańbura, Jerzy Nest fumigation behavior involves the incorporation of fresh green plant fragments that contain ectoparasite-repellent volatile compounds into birds' nests. This behavior is relatively rare among bird species, and there is ongoing debate about whether it benefits parental breeding success. In this study, we experimentally tested whether the inclusion of aromatic-herbal plant fragments in the nests of great tits affects the physiological condition of nestlings, as indicated by blood levels of hematocrit, hemoglobin, glucose, and body condition indices, such as weight and wing length. We divided the nests into 2 groups, adding aromatic herbs to the test group's nests and non-aromatic plants to the control group. After the nestlings fledged, all nest materials were collected to extract, identify, and count arthropod ectoparasites. Nestlings in nests supplemented with aromatic plant fragments had elevated levels of hematocrit and hemoglobin, indicating improved physiological condition compared to the control group. Ectoparasites were present in both groups, although ticks (Ixodidae) occurred less frequently in nests with aromatic plants. The experimental treatment did not affect fledging success. Further experimental studies are needed to explore the effects of incorporating aromatic plant fragments into tit nests within the frameworks of both the nest protection hypothesis and the drug hypothesis.
title Effects of experimental nest treatment with herbs on ectoparasites and body condition of nestlings.
url https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39734641/