<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The Eurasian Jay <italic>(Garrulus glandarius)</italic> is considered as the most important factor in the dispersal and spread of oak species. We conducted studies in oak stands in four countries (Poland, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine) in the autumn of 2015 and 2016. To identify the preferences of Jays for both acorns and trees, we compared the size of acorns and tree characteristics between each selected tree and the closest unused oak. We found that acorns from selected oaks were smaller (narrower) than those from unused trees. We found no differences in the characteristics of selected and unused oaks. These results indicate that the size of acorns can be an important indicator determining the choices of foraging birds. The Jays’ preferences for specific trees may influence the composition of oak populations. Trees with certain phenotypic and genomic characteristics may be favoured and dominate in the ecosystem.</p></abstract>

The Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) is considered as the most important factor in the dispersal and spread of oak species. We conducted studies in oak stands in four countries (Poland, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine) in the autumn of 2015 and 2016. To identify the preferences of Jays for both acorns and trees, we compared the size of acorns and tree characteristics between each selected tree and the closest unused oak. We found that acorns from selected oaks were smaller (narrower) than those from unused trees. We found no differences in the characteristics of selected and unused oaks. These results indicate that the size of acorns can be an important indicator determining the choices of foraging birds. The Jays’ preferences for specific trees may influence the composition of oak populations. Trees with certain phenotypic and genomic characteristics may be favoured and dominate in the ecosystem.

Foraging Eurasian Jays <italic>(Garrulus glandarius)</italic> prefer oaks and acorns in central Europe

Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Paleontology

University of Environmental and Life Sciences

Ornis Hungarica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Foraging Eurasian Jays  prefer oaks and acorns in central Europe

The Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) is considered as the most important factor in the dispersal and spread of oak species. We conducted studies in oak...

Foraging Eurasian Jays (Garrulus glandarius) prefer oaks and acorns in central Europe

Published Online: Jul 09, 2020

Page range: 169 - 175

Received: Dec 14, 2019

Accepted: Feb 18, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2020-0010

Keywords
dispersion, trees, birds, preferences, coevolution

© 2020 Cezary Mitrus et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Foraging Eurasian Jays (Garrulus glandarius) prefer oaks and acorns in central Europe

Published Online: Jul 09, 2020

Page range: 169 - 175

Received: Dec 14, 2019

Accepted: Feb 18, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2020-0010

Keywordsdispersion, trees, birds, preferences, coevolution

© 2020 Cezary Mitrus et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
dispersion, trees, birds, preferences, coevolution