caa a22 4500 463175166 CHVBK 20180406164823.0 cr unu---uuuuu 170326e20070701xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s10336-007-0134-4 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s10336-007-0134-4 Reproductive success and nestling diet in the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker ( Picoides minor ): the early bird gets the caterpillar [Elektronische Daten] [Eva Rossmanith, Kerstin Höntsch, Niels Blaum, Florian Jeltsch] Populations of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Picoides minor) are decreasing in size, necessitating management strategies. However, data on the reproductive biology of this species are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of timing of breeding and nestling diet on the reproductive success of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and thereby contribute to an understanding of the determinants influencing its reproductive success. During 6 study years between 1996-2003, we investigated various variables of reproductive success in a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker population in the Taunus low mountain range, Germany. We observed nestling feeding at breeding holes to assess the composition of nestling diet and how it changes during the season. Clutch size, number of fledglings as well as body mass of the nestlings declined with the start of egg laying. Pairs composed of individuals that had breed together in previous years started egg laying earlier than newly established pairs. Nestling diet consisted mainly of aphids, caterpillars, craneflies and wood-living larvae. The composition changed considerably within the breeding season in both early and late broods. However, early broods were provided with caterpillars more frequently, whereas late broods received wood-dwelling larvae more often. Our results suggest that Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers time their breeding so as to coincide with the early nestling stage with the highest availability of caterpillars, since this is the time of highest energy demand. Moreover, food availability declines during the breeding season, and the decline in reproductive performance seems to be an effect of this development. Dt. Ornithologen-Gesellschaft e.V., 2007 Clutch size nationallicence Nestling diet nationallicence Picoides minor nationallicence Reproductive success nationallicence Timing of breeding nationallicence Rossmanith Eva Institut für Biologie und Biochemie, Universität Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 3, 14469, Potsdam, Germany aut Höntsch Kerstin Naturstiftung David, Trommsdorffstr. 5, 99084, Erfurt, Germany aut Blaum Niels Institut für Biologie und Biochemie, Universität Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 3, 14469, Potsdam, Germany aut Jeltsch Florian Institut für Biologie und Biochemie, Universität Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 3, 14469, Potsdam, Germany aut Journal of Ornithology Springer-Verlag 148/3(2007-07-01), 323-332 0021-8375 148:3<323 2007 148 10336 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-007-0134-4 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-007-0134-4 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Rossmanith Eva Institut für Biologie und Biochemie, Universität Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 3, 14469, Potsdam, Germany aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Höntsch Kerstin Naturstiftung David, Trommsdorffstr. 5, 99084, Erfurt, Germany aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Blaum Niels Institut für Biologie und Biochemie, Universität Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 3, 14469, Potsdam, Germany aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Jeltsch Florian Institut für Biologie und Biochemie, Universität Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 3, 14469, Potsdam, Germany aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Journal of Ornithology Springer-Verlag 148/3(2007-07-01), 323-332 0021-8375 148:3<323 2007 148 10336 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer