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Napothera Brevicaudata) in a Tropical Limestone Forest of Southern China Aiwu Jiang* , Demeng Jiang, Fang Zhou and Eben Goodale*

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Napothera Brevicaudata) in a Tropical Limestone Forest of Southern China Aiwu Jiang* , Demeng Jiang, Fang Zhou and Eben Goodale* Jiang et al. Avian Res (2017) 8:28 DOI 10.1186/s40657-017-0086-1 Avian Research RESEARCH Open Access Nest‑site selection and breeding ecology of Streaked Wren‑Babbler (Napothera brevicaudata) in a tropical limestone forest of southern China Aiwu Jiang* , Demeng Jiang, Fang Zhou and Eben Goodale* Abstract Background: The breeding information of most birds in Asian tropical areas, especially in limestone forests, is still poorly known. The Streaked Wren-Babbler (Napothera brevicaudata) is an uncommon tropical limestone bird with a small range. We studied its nest-site selection and breeding ecology, in order to understand the adaptations of birds to the conditions of tropical limestone forest in southern China. Methods: We used methods of systematical searching and parent-following to locate the nests of the Streaked Wren-Babbler. We measured characteristics of nest sites and rock cavities. Data loggers and video cameras were used to monitor the breeding behavior. Results: All the observed nests of the Streaked Wren-Babbler were placed in natural shallow cavities or deep holes in large boulders or limestone clifs. The great majority (96.6%) of Streaked Wren-Babbler nests had three eggs with an average fresh weight of 3.46 0.43 g (n 36, range 2.52‒4.20 g). Most (80.4%) females laid their frst eggs between March and April (n 46). The± average incubation= and nestling period of the Streaked Wren-Babbler was 10.2 0.4 = ± days (n 5, range 10‒11 days) and 10.5 0.8 days (n 6, range 9‒11 days), respectively. Most (87.9%) nests had at least one= nestling fedge between 2011 and± 2013 (n = 33). = Conclusions: Our study suggests that several features of the breeding ecology of the Streaked Wren-Babbler, includ- ing building nests in rocky cavities, commencing breeding earlier than most species, and reducing foraging times during the incubation period, are well-adapted to the unique habitat of tropical limestone forest. Keywords: Breeding season, Breeding strategy, Clutch size, Karst, Incubation rhythm, Nest predation, Nestling development, Parental care, Reproductive output Background et al. 2005) and Afrotropical forests (e.g. Du Plessis et al. Understanding why birds difer in their breeding strate- 1995; Mkongewa et al. 2013). Basic natural history infor- gies is a key question in the study of life history evolu- mation about the breeding ecology of birds of Asian trop- tion. Tropical birds generally lay fewer eggs and sufer ical areas is still very poorly known (Robson 2005). from higher nest predation pressure than temperate spe- Southeast Asia and southern China, which includes a cies (Stutchbury and Morton 2001; Brawn et al. 2011). limestone area of 800,000 km2, and in which more than Yet previous studies and evidence have often focused on 90% of natural vegetation has been destroyed, is one of birds in Neotropical (e.g. Wikelski et al. 2003; Styrsky the most important karst regions in the world (Day and Urich 2000). Recently, these limestone areas have become a focus of research, due to their great endemic biodiver- *Correspondence: [email protected]; [email protected] sity and conservation value (Clements et al. 2006; Luo Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China et al. 2016), as demonstrated by three newly discovered © The Author(s) 2017. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/ publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated. Jiang et al. Avian Res (2017) 8:28 Page 2 of 8 bird species in the last 10 years (Zhou and Jiang 2008; Streaked Wren-Babbler has an incubation strategy of Woxvold et al. 2009; Alström et al. 2010). Unfortunately, reducing the frequency of recess periods (times away basic information about the breeding ecology of birds in from the nest) and prolonging the duration of such these limestone areas is poorly known (Jiang et al. 2014), recesses, like Nonggang Babbler (Jiang et al. 2013a) and although this situation has been improved in the last some pheasants (e.g. Jia et al. 2010). 5 years. New studies have suggested that birds inhabiting In this paper, we present new data on the nest-site limestone forests adopt particular life history traits, such and breeding ecology of the Streaked Wren-Babbler in as preferring to nest in natural rocky holes, and sufering a typical tropical limestone forest, near the northeast- high nest predation (Jiang et al. 2013a, b, 2015). However, ern limit of its distribution. Te main goal of this study it is still necessary to conduct more research to explore was to report information about nest sites, breeding the breeding ecology of birds, especially for species that season, eggs, incubation rhythm, parental care, nest- are endemic to limestone areas. ling development and breeding success of this species. Te Streaked Wren-Babbler (Napothera brevicaudata), We also assessed the importance of nest predation as an including seven subspecies, is a medium-sized bird of important factor of breeding failure in this area. Finally, the genus Napothera, which itself includes eight species we compared and discussed the breeding ecology of the mainly distributed in Southeast and South Asia (Gill and Streaked Wren-Babbler in this limestone forest with Donsker 2017). Te Streaked Wren-Babbler has been that from other areas where it has been studied to better traditionally considered to be an uncommon bird with a understand how the life history of birds has been shaped small range, mainly inhabiting broadleaf evergreen for- by this karst ecosystem. est with rocky outcrops in southern China, northeast- ern India and Southeast Asia (Collar and Robson 2007). Methods In China, there are two subspecies: N. b. venningi has Study site been recorded in the far west of Yunnan Province, and N. Tis study was conducted in the limestone forest of the b. stevensi is a resident in southern Guangxi and south- Nonggang Protected Section (22°28′N, 106°57′E; 5426 ha; eastern Yunnan Province (MacKinnon et al. 2000). In the altitudinal range from 150 to 650 m asl), the largest part limestone forests of southwestern Guangxi, the Streaked of Nonggang National Nature Reserve, southwestern Wren-Babbler is a commonly observed bird (Jiang et al. Guangxi Province, southern China. Nonggang has a trop- 2014). It usually forages on insects from the surfaces of ical monsoon climate, with clear demarcation between rocky outcrops in this area (Lu et al. 2013). Te Streaked the dry and wet season. Based on the data from Long- Wren-Babbler and the newly discovered and vulner- zhou International Exchanging Meteorological Station able Nonggang Babbler (Stachyris nonggangensis) share (22°22.0′N, 106°45.0′E, 129 m asl, about 20 km from the similar ecological niches in limestone forests of southern study site) between 1980 and 2010, the annual rainfall China (Zhou and Jiang 2008; Jiang et al. 2013a; Lu et al. was 1260.2 ± 246.2 mm, of which 73.3% was concen- 2015). Some information about the breeding season, trated between May and September. Te annual average nest and eggs of the Streaked Wren-Babbler has already temperature is 22.4 ± 0.5 °C. Te great majority (96.6%) been recorded in Southeast Asia, but the duration of of Nonggang Protected Section is covered by tropical incubation and the nestling period of the species are limestone hill seasonal rain forest. Although the alti- not well known (Collar and Robson 2007; Wells 2007). tude of Nonggang is low, the vegetation can be roughly Although the Streaked Wren-Babbler is a common bird divided into three ecological series, dominated by hygric, in some areas of China, almost nothing is known about mesic, and xeric plants, respectively, based on the change its breeding ecology there (Zheng et al. 1987; Yang and of humidity and soil from the valley bottom to the peak Yang 2004). Interestingly, although both Streaked Wren- elevations (Shu et al. 1988). Babbler and Nonggang Babbler build their nests in rocky holes in similar positions, they have quite diferent nest Nest searching and monitoring predation rates, and diferent seasonal patterns (Jiang Nest searching was conducted between January and July et al. 2013a). Te Streaked Wren-Babbler has its peak of in the years of 2011–2015. Te nests of the Streaked breeding in March rather than May, which is the peak of Wren-Babbler were located by following individual breeding for the Nonggang Babbler and most other spe- birds carrying nesting material or food to the nests and cies of the forest, and also lower nest predation rates, so systematically searching the potential cavities of lime- we hypothesize that the Streaked Wren-Babbler avoids stone around where we heard calls or songs. Potential nest predation by breeding in a diferent season (Jiang habitat was searched with similar frequency each month. et al. 2017). Moreover, due to the good heat preserva- We noted the following characteristics of the cavity in tion of these rocky holes, we also hypothesize that the which the nest was placed: nest height above ground, Jiang et al. Avian Res (2017) 8:28 Page 3 of 8 width and height of cavity entrance, and depth of cavity. tended to be fairly widely separated. Te others selected Te active nests were checked every day to determine the middle and upper parts of the limestone peaks.
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