Brood parasitism is an alternative reproductive strategy adopted by several avian species. The common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is the predominant avian brood parasite in Europe and recently indicated as an important indicator of biodiversity. This parasitic species has been declining over the last years, even though a study using satellite devices showed that individuals migrating across the Italian Peninsula have a higher survival than those migrating across Spain. Our study area is right within the Po Plain (Northern Italy) and therefore ideal to investigate the beneficial features suggested to occur on a stop-over site of the cuckoo. Here we present the results of a pilot study addressing three main questions. (1) Verify whether the cuckoo and its hosts were still abundant as reported from another investigation held approximately 10 years ago. We quantified the abundance of the cuckoo and some of its hosts, such as the reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) and the great reed warbler (A. arundinaceus) by using the IPA census method. (2) Analyze parasitism frequency. We searched for nests and checked them regularly to record any potential parasitism occurrence, recording also micro-environmental features such as water depth, and height and diameter of reeds around the nests. (3) Investigate the difference in prey delivery by adults depending on the chick species to raise. We used cameras placed in front of the nests to verify whether this method could be suitable for our goal and therefore able to detect delivery frequencies and prey size.

Preliminary results on an avian brood parasite system in Mirandola Valley wetlands (Po Plain, Northern Italy) / Borghi, S; Giannella, C; DAL ZOTTO, M; Sala, L; Campobello, D. - (2018). (Intervento presentato al convegno II European Meeting of Young Ornithologists tenutosi a Torino nel ottobre 2018).

Preliminary results on an avian brood parasite system in Mirandola Valley wetlands (Po Plain, Northern Italy)

DAL ZOTTO M;
2018

Abstract

Brood parasitism is an alternative reproductive strategy adopted by several avian species. The common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is the predominant avian brood parasite in Europe and recently indicated as an important indicator of biodiversity. This parasitic species has been declining over the last years, even though a study using satellite devices showed that individuals migrating across the Italian Peninsula have a higher survival than those migrating across Spain. Our study area is right within the Po Plain (Northern Italy) and therefore ideal to investigate the beneficial features suggested to occur on a stop-over site of the cuckoo. Here we present the results of a pilot study addressing three main questions. (1) Verify whether the cuckoo and its hosts were still abundant as reported from another investigation held approximately 10 years ago. We quantified the abundance of the cuckoo and some of its hosts, such as the reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) and the great reed warbler (A. arundinaceus) by using the IPA census method. (2) Analyze parasitism frequency. We searched for nests and checked them regularly to record any potential parasitism occurrence, recording also micro-environmental features such as water depth, and height and diameter of reeds around the nests. (3) Investigate the difference in prey delivery by adults depending on the chick species to raise. We used cameras placed in front of the nests to verify whether this method could be suitable for our goal and therefore able to detect delivery frequencies and prey size.
2018
II European Meeting of Young Ornithologists
Torino
ottobre 2018
Borghi, S; Giannella, C; DAL ZOTTO, M; Sala, L; Campobello, D
Preliminary results on an avian brood parasite system in Mirandola Valley wetlands (Po Plain, Northern Italy) / Borghi, S; Giannella, C; DAL ZOTTO, M; Sala, L; Campobello, D. - (2018). (Intervento presentato al convegno II European Meeting of Young Ornithologists tenutosi a Torino nel ottobre 2018).
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/1253967
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