2023 Ecosystem Transformation 6 (1), 51–71
Ecology and reproductive biology of the European Roller Coracias garrulus L., 1758 in Stavropol Region
Liubov’ V. Malovichko , Nadezhda Ya. Poddubnaya , Dmitry V. Kulakov
DOI: https://doi.org/10.23859/estr-220719Volume: 6
Number: 1
Pages: 51–71
Received: 19.07.2022
Accepted: 24.08.2022
Available online: 22.02.2023
ISSN 2619-094X Print
ISSN 2619-0931 Online
The results of study of the ecology and biology of the European Roller in the Stavropol Region during the period of agricultural transformation of the environment in 1984–2019 are presented. Favorable conditions for this bird species are found in steppe areas used for grazing animals and on non-irrigated arable land. Rollers nest mainly in holes in natural cliffs (46.9% of the total number of nests) and cliffs of anthropogenic origin (37.4%), as well as in tree hollows (15.7%). The nesting period of the population (the time of pairing, nest building, egg laying, development, and growth of nestlings, and feeding of nestlings) has characteristics that are associated with traditional agriculture. At the same time, the largest clutch size known for European populations, of seven eggs was found, and the eggs were somewhat smaller than in most of the range. The average clutch size (4.43 ± 0.17 eggs) and brood size (3.43 ± 0.13 chicks) correspond to the range optimum. The breeding success is 77.5%. A cautious assumption is made that the increase in clutch size and decrease in egg size may be an adaptive response of the species to changes in habitat in the last 30–50 years.
Liubov’ V. Malovichko
Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy
ul. Timiryazevskaya 49, Moscow, 127550 Russia
l-malovichko@yandex.ru
Nadezhda Ya. Poddubnaya
Cherepovets State University
pr. Lunacharskogo 5, Cherepovets, Vologda Region, 162600 Russia
poddoubnaia@mail.ru
Dmitry V. Kulakov
St. Petersburg branch, Sergeev Institute of Environmental Geoscience, Russian Academy of Sciences
Sredny prospekt V.O. 41, St. Petersburg, 199004 Russia
St. Petersburg State University
Universitetskaya emb. 7/9, St. Petersburg, 199034 Russia
dvkulakov@mail.ru
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Keywords: adaptation, behavior, problems of biodiversity conservation, rare and endangered species, rate of environmental change
For citation: Malovichko, L.V. et al., 2023. Ecology and reproductive biology of the European Roller Coracias garrulus L., 1758 in Stavropol Region. Ecosystem Transformation 6 (1), 51–71. https://doi.org/10.23859/estr-220719