Breeding Performances of the European Blackbird (Turdus merula) in Morocco: Habitat Selection, Breeding Phenology, and Breeding Success
The European Blackbird (Turdus merula) is a widespread species. In Morocco, available knowledge on this species is limited to a few descriptive pieces of information with no detailed data provided. With climate change and the intensification of agricultural activities, the study of the breeding perf...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Zoology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/7742894 |
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| author | Abderahim El Hassani Ismail Mansouri Wafae Squalli Abdelbari El Agy Amine Assouguem Kenza Bouayad Abdellah Markou Mohamed Mounir Hamid Achiban Mohamed Dakki Lahsen El Ghadraoui |
| author_facet | Abderahim El Hassani Ismail Mansouri Wafae Squalli Abdelbari El Agy Amine Assouguem Kenza Bouayad Abdellah Markou Mohamed Mounir Hamid Achiban Mohamed Dakki Lahsen El Ghadraoui |
| author_sort | Abderahim El Hassani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The European Blackbird (Turdus merula) is a widespread species. In Morocco, available knowledge on this species is limited to a few descriptive pieces of information with no detailed data provided. With climate change and the intensification of agricultural activities, the study of the breeding performances of this species is indispensable for management purposes. This study investigates breeding biology, nesting habitats, breeding chronology, and reproductive success of the European Blackbird in both apple orchards and surrounding woody vegetation at Ait Ayach (Morocco) between March and August 2016. We monitored weekly nest status, nesting sites, breeding dates, and failure factors. Results showed that the European Blackbird nests mainly in apple orchards, on Golden Delicious and Starkrimson Delicious trees. Nest height above the ground was 214.15 ± 0.09 cm. Blackbird nests were cup-shaped with medium size dimensions and built from twigs, including dry leaves, stems, and roots walled by the mud. Breeding activities started firstly by nest construction during the last week of April, secondly by egg laying during the first week of May, and thirdly by hatching during the second week of May. Among the 74 surveyed nests, 100% were active during the nesting phase and 88.38% of eggs have succeeded during the incubation phase. In total, 69.03% of chicks have been emancipated. In short, 15.9% of clutches were attacked by predators, 14.35% of clutches were failed due to nest desertion, and 8.75% of chicks were dead. Our study provides the first and only detailed data on reproductive parameters of the European Blackbird in Moroccan ecosystems. Data collected from this study provide valuable information for long-term monitoring of the Moroccan Blackbird population. Additionally, our data offer a possibility of large-scale comparative studies of the reproductive ecology of the Blackbird species. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f0bbb1a4de9046a0834323fd8f1c9986 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-8477 1687-8485 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Zoology |
| spelling | doaj-art-f0bbb1a4de9046a0834323fd8f1c99862025-02-03T01:25:12ZengWileyInternational Journal of Zoology1687-84771687-84852021-01-01202110.1155/2021/77428947742894Breeding Performances of the European Blackbird (Turdus merula) in Morocco: Habitat Selection, Breeding Phenology, and Breeding SuccessAbderahim El Hassani0Ismail Mansouri1Wafae Squalli2Abdelbari El Agy3Amine Assouguem4Kenza Bouayad5Abdellah Markou6Mohamed Mounir7Hamid Achiban8Mohamed Dakki9Lahsen El Ghadraoui10Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Genie of Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, USMBA, Fez, MoroccoLaboratory of Functional Ecology and Genie of Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, USMBA, Fez, MoroccoLaboratory of Functional Ecology and Genie of Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, USMBA, Fez, MoroccoLaboratory of Functional Ecology and Genie of Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, USMBA, Fez, MoroccoLaboratory of Functional Ecology and Genie of Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, USMBA, Fez, MoroccoLaboratory of Functional Ecology and Genie of Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, USMBA, Fez, MoroccoLaboratory of Bio-Geosciences and Materials Engineering, Hassan II University, Casablanca BP 50069, MoroccoLaboratory of Biotechnology and Valorisation of Phytogénétics Resources, Faculty of Sciences and Technics, Sultan Moulay Sliman University, Beni Mellal, MoroccoLaboratory of Geo-environmental, Analysis Planing-Sustainable Development, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, USMBA, Fez, MoroccoLaboratory of Geo-biodiversity and Natural Heritage, Scientific Institute, Mohammed V University, Av. Ibn Battota, Rabat 10 BP 703, MoroccoLaboratory of Functional Ecology and Genie of Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, USMBA, Fez, MoroccoThe European Blackbird (Turdus merula) is a widespread species. In Morocco, available knowledge on this species is limited to a few descriptive pieces of information with no detailed data provided. With climate change and the intensification of agricultural activities, the study of the breeding performances of this species is indispensable for management purposes. This study investigates breeding biology, nesting habitats, breeding chronology, and reproductive success of the European Blackbird in both apple orchards and surrounding woody vegetation at Ait Ayach (Morocco) between March and August 2016. We monitored weekly nest status, nesting sites, breeding dates, and failure factors. Results showed that the European Blackbird nests mainly in apple orchards, on Golden Delicious and Starkrimson Delicious trees. Nest height above the ground was 214.15 ± 0.09 cm. Blackbird nests were cup-shaped with medium size dimensions and built from twigs, including dry leaves, stems, and roots walled by the mud. Breeding activities started firstly by nest construction during the last week of April, secondly by egg laying during the first week of May, and thirdly by hatching during the second week of May. Among the 74 surveyed nests, 100% were active during the nesting phase and 88.38% of eggs have succeeded during the incubation phase. In total, 69.03% of chicks have been emancipated. In short, 15.9% of clutches were attacked by predators, 14.35% of clutches were failed due to nest desertion, and 8.75% of chicks were dead. Our study provides the first and only detailed data on reproductive parameters of the European Blackbird in Moroccan ecosystems. Data collected from this study provide valuable information for long-term monitoring of the Moroccan Blackbird population. Additionally, our data offer a possibility of large-scale comparative studies of the reproductive ecology of the Blackbird species.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/7742894 |
| spellingShingle | Abderahim El Hassani Ismail Mansouri Wafae Squalli Abdelbari El Agy Amine Assouguem Kenza Bouayad Abdellah Markou Mohamed Mounir Hamid Achiban Mohamed Dakki Lahsen El Ghadraoui Breeding Performances of the European Blackbird (Turdus merula) in Morocco: Habitat Selection, Breeding Phenology, and Breeding Success International Journal of Zoology |
| title | Breeding Performances of the European Blackbird (Turdus merula) in Morocco: Habitat Selection, Breeding Phenology, and Breeding Success |
| title_full | Breeding Performances of the European Blackbird (Turdus merula) in Morocco: Habitat Selection, Breeding Phenology, and Breeding Success |
| title_fullStr | Breeding Performances of the European Blackbird (Turdus merula) in Morocco: Habitat Selection, Breeding Phenology, and Breeding Success |
| title_full_unstemmed | Breeding Performances of the European Blackbird (Turdus merula) in Morocco: Habitat Selection, Breeding Phenology, and Breeding Success |
| title_short | Breeding Performances of the European Blackbird (Turdus merula) in Morocco: Habitat Selection, Breeding Phenology, and Breeding Success |
| title_sort | breeding performances of the european blackbird turdus merula in morocco habitat selection breeding phenology and breeding success |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/7742894 |
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