Interspecific attraction between ground-nesting songbirds and ants: the role of nest-site selection.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Interspecific interactions within ecological networks can influence animal fitness and behaviour, including nest-site selection of birds and ants. Previous studies revealed that nesting birds and ants may benefit from cohabitation, with interspecific attraction through their nest-site choice, but mutual interactions have not yet been tested. We explored a previously undescribed ecological link between ground-nesting birds and ants raising their own broods (larvae and pupae) within the birds' nests in a temperate primeval forest of lowland Europe. We tested whether the occurrence of ant broods within bird nests resulted from a mutual or one-sided interspecific attraction that operated through nest-site choice and was modified by weather conditions.

Results

We found

SUBMITTER: Maziarz M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8434696 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature