The winter diet of the great tit (Parus major) was examined in mixed and deciduous forest in central Slovakia during three winters. Using a faecal samples analysis, in 105 sampled roosting individuals (in nestboxes) at least 37 taxa of invertebrates were found. Apart from the invertebrates, plant material was identified in dissected birds’ droppings as well. There were no significant differences in the winter food composition between sexes. Generally, plant material was the most frequent and the most dominant winter food. This component was followed by moths, beetles and dipterans. While comparing the relative volume between two distinct habitats, the most significant difference was found in Lepidoptera adults and plant material. Birds from mixed forest foraged less on Lepidoptera adults in contrast to individuals from deciduous forest. This could be compensated by bigger consumption of seeds and buds there. Regarding seasonal changes, within five winter months (from November to March), the relative volume and frequency of some invertebrate groups (Heteroptera, Homoptera and Lepidoptera) significantly increased with the temperature but no correlations were found with other weather characteristics. Invertebrates exhibited the opposite seasonal pattern compared to the plant material.
Breeding density and breeding synchrony have been reported to influence the intensity of sperm competition although results obtained so far are not conclusive. In this study we examine the investment of male lesser grey shrike (Lanius minor) into paternity guards in relation to breeding synchrony and breeding density. Male shrikes perform a double strategy to ensure paternity. They copulate frequently, mainly after territorial intrusions by other males, and guard their mates throughout the whole fertile phase. Our results indicate that, the two socio- ecological factors investigated, indirectly affect extra-pair behaviour in LGS’s. Males seem to be constrained by the frequency of intrusions by neighbouring males and this risk is associated with laying synchrony. The risk of intrusions depends on the timing and overlap of breeding attempts and males adjust their investment to paternity assurance accordingly. Furthermore, females seem to alter their egg laying patterns to minimise synchrony in situations where they find themselves in dense breeding situations. This is indicated by the negative correlation between breeding density and breeding synchronization. Extra-pair paternity, however, was not detected in our population. Thus the rate of extra-pair paternity is not necessarily an adequate measure to identify the influence of socio-ecological factors on male and female mating strategies.
The bush-cricket Saga pedo, one of the largest predatory insects, has a scattered distribution across 20 countries in Europe. At the northern boundary of its distribution, this species is most commonly found in Slovakia and Hungary. In Slovakia in 2003-2006, 36 known and potentially favourable localities were visited and at seven this species was recorded for the first time. This species has been found in Slovakia in xerothermic forest steppes and limestone grikes (98% of localities) and on slopes (10-45°) with south-westerly or westerly aspects (90%) at altitudes of 220-585 m a.s.l. (mean 433 m, n = 20 localities). Most individuals (66%) were found in grass-herb layers 10-30 cm high and almost 87% within 10 m of a forest edge (oak, beech and hornbeam being prevalent). The maximum density was 12 nymphs (3rd-5th instar) / 1000 m2 (July 4, 510 m a.s.l.). In a comparison of five present and previous S. pedo localities, 43 species of Orthoptera were found in the present and 37 in previous localities. The mean numbers and relative abundance of species in present S. pedo localities were also significantly higher. S. pedo individuals at the northern boundary of their distribution were expected to be smaller and lighter because of suboptimal ecological conditions there. However, the body size of S. pedo individuals from these areas were similar to the average value for the whole area. Based on analyses of present and former localities and the Orthopteran assemblages around S. pedo, the factors endangering this species, and methods for conserving it and its habitat are discussed.
The little owl is the only owl whose pellets were found in extreme desert conditions. Pellets were collected at 34 roosting sites in Egypt, Syria and Iran in 1996–2002. Altogether 5 939 prey items identified in the food in these countries belonged to 4 classes, 14 orders, 42 families, 92 genera and about 180 species of invertebrates. Mammals included 36 species (9.7 %), birds 33 taxa (3.0 %), amphibians only 3 ind., but reptiles (4.3 %, Lacertidae, Agamidae and Gekkonidae) were more abundant than in European studies. Pellets from all countries contained abundant deserticolous species of mammals (genera Gerbillus, Meriones, Cricetulus, Allactaga), eudominant deserticolous tenebrionid beetles (i.e. Pimelia spp., Blaps) (16.4–26.8%, in total 19%), dominant coprophagous and deserticolous species of Scarabeidae (5.9–8.6%, in total 6.8%), grasshoppers and crickets (Orthoptera, 5.7–16.4%, in total 9.7%). Significant and characteristic components of food in these arid countries were poisonous sunspiders (Solifugae 4–11.4%), but also scorpions (Scorpionidea, 0.2–3.3%), neither being found in pellets from Europe, and earwigs (Dermaptera, 1.7–13.4%).
e analyzed the song pattern of the black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) from the Haibei area and compared it to three other recording sites on the Tibet Plateau using the Avisoft-SAS Lab program. Five extracted functions identified individuals from the Haibei population. By comparing populations from the Tibet Plateau (China), Slovakia (Central Europe), Germany and other sites in Europe, we established that the maximum song frequency was lowest in the Haibei population of the Tibet Plateau. On a large geographic scale, song differences increased with geographic distance. Black redstarts sing lengthy songs composed of two parts in both the Tibet Plateau and in Europe. However, while these two sections were totally or partly identical within the Tibet Plateau population, they were totally different in European populations. Redstart songs in the Tibet Plateau share a syllable of scrunching sound, while European individuals have a homologous section composed of repeat elements.
The food composition of noctule bats (Nyctalus noctula) was investigated using droppings analyses methods (29 samples/ 322 pellets) over two winters (2001/2002 and 2002/2003) in ten urban and rural localities in Central Europe (Slovakia, Czech Republic). Two orders of arachnids (Araneida, Acarina) and nine orders of insects (Homoptera, Heteroptera, Psocoptera, Neuroptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Siphonaptera) were identified in the droppings. The most important order in all samples was Lepidoptera (mean F = 53 %, mean V = 35 %), followed by Diptera (F = 38 %, V = 12 %), Coleoptera (F = 21 %, V = 9 %) and Araneida (F = 15 %, V = 3 %). Differences were found in the composition of the most important food components among two urban and one rural locality as well as in the portion of secondary components (hair, slime). Regarding seasonal changes in the food composition, three periods were identified in winter – the beginning (November – January), the middle (February) and the end of the season (March). Some seasonal trends could be identified in the Diptera and Coleoptera, with a decrease in frequency and volume in the middle of the winter. The most important food component (Lepidoptera) showed no seasonal trend over winter. The bats could hunt insects outside or collect them also very probably directly in the shelters.