Flexible nest site selection of the endangered Oriental Storks (<i>Ciconia boyciana</i>): Trade-off from adaptive strategies

Lei Cheng; Lizhi Zhou; Chao Yu; Zhenhua Wei; Chunhua Li

doi:10.1016/j.avrs.2023.100088

Avian Research 2023, 14(2): 100088 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avrs.2023.100088

Research Article |

Open Access | Issue | Published: 16 February 2023

Flexible nest site selection of the endangered Oriental Storks (Ciconia boyciana): Trade-off from adaptive strategies

Show Author's Information Hide Author's Information Lei Cheng^{^a^,^b^,^c^,^d}, Lizhi Zhou^{^a^,^c^,^d}(

), Chao Yu^{^a^,^c^,^d^,^e}, Zhenhua Wei^{^a^,^c^,^d}, Chunhua Li^{^a^,^c^,^d}

School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China

School of Biological Engineering, Huainan Normal University, Huainan, 232038, China

Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration (Anhui University), Hefei, 230601, China

Anhui Shengjin Lake Wetland Ecology National Long-term Scientific Research Base, Dongzhi, 247230, China

College of Life and Environment Science, Huangshan University, Huangshan, 245021, China

Keywords:

Nest site selection, Adaptive strategies, Breeding range expansion, Habitat characteristics, Oriental storks

Cite this article:

Cheng L, Zhou L, Yu C, et al. Flexible nest site selection of the endangered Oriental Storks (Ciconia boyciana): Trade-off from adaptive strategies. Avian Research, 2023, 14(2): 100088. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avrs.2023.100088

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Abstract

Nest site selection is a vital component of bird reproduction success, and an adaptive behavior conducted to decrease nest predation risk with avoiding external disturbances. Understanding patterns of nest site selection can provide insights into how species adapt to changes in their habitat and has important conservation implications. In this study, we used microhabitat variables and multi-scale data with a field survey of nest occurrence to determine nest site selection patterns and adaptive strategies of the breeding Oriental Storks (Ciconia boyciana) in different nest areas. Results demonstrate that the nest site microhabitat characteristics of the breeding Oriental Storks significantly differed among the three nesting areas, and nest height was higher in the middle and lower Yangtze River floodplain than in the Northeast China and Bohai Bay nest areas. The food resources and intensity of human disturbance had the greatest effects on the nest site selection of the breeding Oriental Storks. The intensity of human disturbance was positively correlated with the nest height of the breeding Oriental Storks in Bohai Bay and the middle and lower Yangtze River floodplain; however, nest height decreased with the abundance of food resources in the Northeast China nest area. Our findings indicate that the nest site selection patterns of Oriental Storks showed flexible adaptive strategies. In safer environments, nests were lower and closer to food resources, which allows parent storks to invest more in the nestlings. However, in areas where human activity was intense, nests were higher to ensure the safety of their offspring. Some measures that could be taken to improve the breeding habitat of Oriental Storks include increasing the percentage of wetland areas in nesting areas to enhance food resources availability and setting artificial nests at suitable heights in potential nesting grounds to encourage nesting. Finally, the establishment of soft barriers around the nesting areas could increase the safety of nests.

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Flexible nest site selection of the endangered Oriental Storks (Ciconia boyciana): Trade-off from adaptive strategies

Show Author's information Hide Author's Information Lei Cheng^{^a^,^b^,^c^,^d}, Lizhi Zhou^{^a^,^c^,^d}(

), Chao Yu^{^a^,^c^,^d^,^e}, Zhenhua Wei^{^a^,^c^,^d}, Chunhua Li^{^a^,^c^,^d}

School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China

School of Biological Engineering, Huainan Normal University, Huainan, 232038, China

Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration (Anhui University), Hefei, 230601, China

Anhui Shengjin Lake Wetland Ecology National Long-term Scientific Research Base, Dongzhi, 247230, China

College of Life and Environment Science, Huangshan University, Huangshan, 245021, China

Abstract

Keywords: Nest site selection, Adaptive strategies, Breeding range expansion, Habitat characteristics, Oriental storks

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Publication history

Received: 13 October 2022

Revised: 12 February 2023

Accepted: 13 February 2023

Published: 16 February 2023

Issue date: June 2023

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate the staff of the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve Management Bureau, Xianghai National Nature Reserve Management Bureau, Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve Management Bureau, and Honghe National Nature Reserve Management Bureau for their help in the fieldwork. We are grateful to Lianshan Li, Baoguang Zhu, Kai Shan, Lixin Wu, and Guanghai Feng for their assistance at the field site. The manuscript benefited from helpful suggestions by Xi Wang. We especially express appreciation to Zhiwen Yuan, Wanxiang Wu, Weibao Xue, Jiangong Xu, and Yiqun Zhang for helping with the data analyses of the manuscript. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 32171530 and 31472020).

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