Ecological studies on birds at the Institute of Ecology PAS

Various aspects of the ecology of birdswere investigated at the Institute ( former Department) of Ecology PAS almost since the beginning of its existence (1952). Already in the 1960s, behavioural and evolutionary ecology was developed, and then continued in the 1990s. Also habitat preferences in birds were examined, including density-dependent intrapopulation interactions. During the International Biological Programme (1964-1973), bioenergetics of birds and their chemical body composition were analysed to determine the role of birds in the processes of production, energy flow, and matter flux in various ecosystems. In the 1970s, game birds such as the partridge and ducks were examined, which were of both theoretical and practical importance to game shooting. Within the scope of biocoenotic studies, the effects of interspecific competition on numbers of birds, species composition of bird communities, and distribution of individual species in the habitat were analysed. Also trophic relations in bird communities were investigated, indicating their regulatory effect on the abundance of lower trophic levels. A separate group of subjects, investigated since 1980, concerned the effects of heavy metals, pesticides, and pathogenic microorganisms on the condition and survival of birds. Ornithologists working at the Institute were also involved in the studies conducted in the Antarctica, where they estimated numbers, distribution, and breeding biology of many bird species. Also the evolution of ornithogenic soils was investigated at the rookeries of penguins and long-term monitoring of penguin numbers was carried out in the Admiralty Bay (Southern Shetlands). In 1990, when the Ornithological Station in Gdańsk was affiliated to the Institute, the research covered also birdmigrations and cartographic atlas for breeding birds of Poland. In different periods, from 4 to 28 ornithologists were employed at the Institute. Over the 50-year period they published almost 400 scientific papers and articles, many books edited in Poland and abroad, and they prepared many expertises concerning nature protection and conservation. They organised more than 10 international symposia, and they also performed many important functions in national and international organisations

The design of artificial nestboxes for the study of secondary hole-nesting birds: a review of methodological inconsistencies and potential biases.

26 pagesInternational audienceThe widespread use of artificial nestboxes has led to significant advances in our knowledge of the ecology, behaviour and physiology of cavity nesting birds, especially small passerines. Nestboxes have made it easier to perform routine monitoring and experimental manipulation of eggs or nestlings, and also repeatedly to capture, identify and manipulate the parents. However, when comparing results across study sites the use of nestboxes may also introduce a potentially significant confounding variable in the form of differences in nestbox design amongst studies, such as their physical dimensions, placement height, and the way in which they are constructed and maintained. However, the use of nestboxes may also introduce an unconsidered and potentially significant confounding variable due to differences in nestbox design amongst studies, such as their physical dimensions, placement height, and the way in which they are constructed and maintained. Here we review to what extent the characteristics of artificial nestboxes (e.g. size, shape, construction material, colour) are documented in the ‘methods' sections of publications involving hole-nesting passerine birds using natural or excavated cavities or artificial nestboxes for reproduction and roosting. Despite explicit previous recommendations that authors describe in detail the characteristics of the nestboxes used, we found that the description of nestbox characteristics in most recent publications remains poor and insufficient. We therefore list the types of descriptive data that should be included in the methods sections of relevant manuscripts and justify this by discussing how variation in nestbox characteristics can affect or confound conclusions from nestbox studies. We also propose several recommendations to improve the reliability and usefulness of research based on long-term studies of any secondary hole-nesting species using artificial nestboxes for breeding or roosting