Original scientific paper

The role of the morphological features of plants in the location of the Marsh Warbler's nest (Acrocephalus palustris)

Gordan Lukač ; Paklenica National Park, 23244 Starigrad-Paklenica, Croatia
Snježana Vujčić-Karlo ; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Zagreb, Roosevelt's square 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ivana Maguire ; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Zagreb, Roosevelt's square 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris) nests in the plant communities of indigenous European species such as: Urtica dioica, Filipendula ulmaria, F. vulgaris and Phragmites communis. The biotopes that are colonized in Central Europe by the nettle (Urtica dioica) are covered with neophytes in Croatia (Solidago gigantea, S. canadensis, Helianthus tuberosus, Artemisia verlotiorum, etc.). The aim of this study was to establish to what extent these new plant species are appropriate for the settlement of the Acrocephalus palustris. The importance and role of plant species and the way the Marsh Warbler constructs its nest in vegetation structures with different shares of neophyta were studied. In the laboratory, the morphological features of plants relevant to nest building were measured.

Keywords

Marsh Warbler; nest building; plant morphology; neophytes; morphology-vegetational complex

Hrčak ID:

52440

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/52440

Publication date:

31.12.1999.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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