Fourty-two nest casts of two closely related species provided supplementary data to our survey. Quantifying nest characteristics potentially affecting ant foraging behaviors, we examined if phylogenetic relationships or foraging strategies were more effective at explaining the observed variability. Nest design was better understood through an examination of foraging strategies than by studying evolutionary lineages. Our study underscores the profound influence of ecology on the formation of nest structures, establishing a solid foundation for future investigations into the selective pressures underlying the evolution of ant nest architecture. This piece is included in the thematic issue dedicated to the evolutionary ecology of nests across different taxa.

The successful propagation of most bird species is dependent upon their ability to build robust nests. The considerable range of nest structures seen in approximately 10,000 bird species illustrates a profound connection between successful nest building and a species' microhabitat, life cycle, and behaviors. Analyzing the critical factors contributing to the diversity of bird nest construction is a significant research undertaking, invigorated by a growing appreciation for historical nest collections and a substantial increase in correlational field and laboratory experimentation. tumour biomarkers Phylogenetic analyses, combined with extensive nest trait data, are progressively unveiling the evolution of nest form, while leaving certain functional aspects unresolved. For birds, the next substantial hurdle in the study of nest building transcends the metrics of nest morphology, demanding a more profound examination of the developmental processes, mechanistic underpinnings (including hormones and neuroscience), and associated behaviors. In pursuit of a complete picture, Tinbergen's four levels of explanation – evolution, function, development, and mechanism – are being used to dissect nest design variations and convergences, hopefully revealing birds' innate capacity for creating 'efficient' nests. This article is included in the issue 'The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach' addressing the broader theme.

Amphibians exhibit an impressive diversity in reproductive and life-history strategies, encompassing a wide array of nest-constructing methods and nesting behaviours. Although anuran amphibians (frogs and toads) are not generally known for nest-building, nesting behavior—involving the location and/or creation of a site for eggs and young—is fundamentally tied to the amphibious nature of this group. Reproductive diversity in anurans, including the repeated, independent evolution of nests and nesting, has resulted from the transition to a more terrestrial existence. In fact, a fundamental characteristic of many significant anuran adaptations, including reproductive strategies such as nesting, is the upholding of an aquatic environment for rearing young. The profound influence of increasingly terrestrial breeding strategies on the morphological, physiological, and behavioral diversification of anurans provides crucial data for understanding the evolutionary ecology of nests, their architects, and the creatures found inside them. This review examines anuran nests and nesting behaviors, identifying potential avenues for future research. To facilitate comparative study across anurans and vertebrates, I take an inclusive view of nesting behaviours. This article is one part of the broader theme issue, 'The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach'.

To enable reproduction and/or food production, social species meticulously design and construct large, iconic nests to create a controlled interior environment protected from the extreme fluctuations of the exterior climate. Within their nests, the eusocial Macrotermitinae termites (Blattodea Isoptera) stand out as remarkable palaeo-tropical ecosystem engineers. These termites developed fungus cultivation to break down plant material roughly 62 million years ago. The termites then feed on the resulting fungus and the initial plant matter. Constant food provision is achieved through fungus cultivation, yet the fungi demand temperature-stabilized, high humidity environments within architecturally sophisticated, frequently towering, nest-structures (mounds). To determine if the constant and similar internal nest environments required for fungi cultured by different Macrotermes species are reflected in the current distributions of six African Macrotermes species, we investigated whether this correlation predicts anticipated species range shifts in response to future climate change. The primary variables underpinning species' distributions were not uniform across different species types. Based on their distributional patterns, three of the six species are anticipated to decline in habitats with optimal climates. persistent congenital infection In the case of two species, range increases are predicted to be limited, less than 9%; for the single species M. vitrialatus, the area categorized as 'very suitable' climate could grow by a considerable 64%. Discrepancies in vegetation necessities and human-made habitat transformations might prevent range expansion, thereby triggering ecological process disturbances that affect both local landscapes and the whole continent. Part of the thematic issue, 'The evolutionary ecology of nests a cross-taxon approach', is this article.

The comprehension of nest-site utilization and architectural development in the avian-precursor non-avian lineages is limited due to the poor fossilization of nest structures. Although the evidence points to early dinosaurs burying eggs underground, using the heat of the soil to nurture developing embryos, later dinosaurs sometimes laid eggs in less sheltered locations, requiring adult incubation and vigilance against predators and parasites. The euornithine birds, the forerunners to modern birds, likely built partially open nests, whereas the neornithine birds, representing modern bird species, may have been the innovators of completely open nests. The phenomenon of smaller, open-cup nests has been mirrored by alterations in reproductive characteristics, including a single functional ovary in female birds, differing from the two ovaries typical of crocodilians and many non-avian dinosaurs. The evolutionary history of extant birds and their progenitors reveals a consistent trend toward improved cognitive skills to build nests in a wider array of habitats, and a greater dedication to the care of fewer, rapidly developing offspring. The highly advanced passerine family showcases this pattern, with numerous species building small, architecturally complex nests in exposed settings, and giving substantial attention to raising their altricial young. Part of the collection 'The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach,' this article delves into the subject.

Animal nests primarily serve to shield developing offspring from the harsh and variable conditions of their surroundings. Nest-building strategies of animal constructors are demonstrably responsive to modifications in their environment. Even so, the level of this plasticity, and its reliance upon an evolutionary background of environmental fluctuations, is not fully understood. To determine the influence of a history of water flow on how male three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) adapt their nests, we collected specimens from three lakes and three rivers and subsequently brought them to reproductive maturity in controlled laboratory aquaria. In flowing and static settings, males were permitted the act of nesting. Detailed records were kept of nest-construction procedures, nest configuration, and nest components. While male birds constructing nests in stationary environments exhibited a quicker nest-building process and less elaborate nesting behavior, their counterparts in flowing water environments required a significantly longer duration and greater investment in the nesting process. Additionally, nests placed in flowing water had a reduced quantity of material, a smaller size, greater compactness, were more neat in construction, and possessed a more elongated form than nests located in static environments. The source of male birds—be it rivers or lakes—exercised minimal influence on their nesting activities or their ability to adjust behavior in response to managed water flow. Animals residing in stable aquatic habitats for extended periods of time exhibit a remarkable plasticity in nest-building behaviors, allowing them to respond to changing water flow patterns. selleck chemicals The capacity to adapt to these conditions will likely be essential for managing the unpredictable water patterns arising from human activities and global climate change. The theme issue 'The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach' comprises this article.

Nests are critical components for the reproductive triumph of numerous animal species. Nesting individuals are confronted with a range of potentially challenging tasks: the identification of an appropriate site, the gathering of suitable materials, the construction of the nest, and the subsequent defense against competitors, parasites, and predators. Recognizing the significant influence of fitness and the varied effects of both the physical and social environments on the likelihood of successful nesting, one could expect cognitive functions to aid in nesting endeavors. Variable environmental conditions, including those altered by human activities, should especially necessitate this. We analyze, across a wide spectrum of species, the evidence correlating cognitive abilities with nesting behaviors. This encompasses the selection of nesting sites and materials, the construction of the nest, and the protection of the nest. We also examine the correlation between various cognitive abilities and the success rate of nesting. Finally, a synthesis of experimental and comparative research illuminates the interplay among cognitive capacities, nesting behaviors, and the evolutionary trajectories that likely contributed to their interdependence.