Open AccessA comparative study of insect abundance and reproductive success of barn swallows Hirundo rustica in two urban habitats
Author(s) -
Teglhøj Peter Györkös
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of avian biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.022
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1600-048X
pISSN - 0908-8857
DOI - 10.1111/jav.01086
Subject(s) - hirundo , biology , barn , habitat , brood , ecology , reproductive success , avian clutch size , feather , nest (protein structural motif) , seasonal breeder , fledge , abundance (ecology) , reproduction , zoology , predation , population , demography , geography , biochemistry , archaeology , sociology
Few studies have quantified the relative reproductive success of passerines in urban habitats. I studied food availability and reproductive success of barn swallows Hirundo rustica in two urban habitats during 2012–2015. Barn swallows breeding in the town center experienced lower insect densities than those in the town periphery. Lower food availability resulted in reduced feeding rates per capita, lower nestling body mass, longer nestling periods, longer inter‐clutch intervals, fewer first and second brood fledglings and a lower total number of fledglings produced during the breeding season in comparison to barn swallows breeding in the town periphery. I hypothesize that the lower intra‐specific competition for nest sites and fitness advantages linked to the solitary breeding in urban habitats balanced the apparent costs of reproduction in more urbanized habitats.