Publications for Dr Ron Summers
Foraging patterns of common crossbills (Loxia curvirostra) on spruces (Picea spp.) in Scotland
Common crossbills forage on Sitka spruce and Norway spruce when the cones reach full size in late summer until the seeds have shed in the following spring. Sitka spruce start shedding seed in autumn, thereby reducing the food supply for crossbills through...
- Date
- 01 October 2018
- RSPB Authors
- Dr Ron Summers
- Authors
- Summers. R.W.
- Published in
- Forestry 91 (4): 444-450
Higher spring temperatures increase food scarcity and limit the current and future distributions of crossbills
Aim: Understanding how climate affects species distributions remains a major challenge, with the relative importance of direct physiological effects versus biotic interactions still poorly understood. We focus on three species of resource specialists (crossbill Loxia finches) to assess...
- Date
- 02 April 2018
- RSPB Authors
- Dr Ron Summers
- Authors
- Mezquida, E.T., Svenning, J.C., Summers, R.W. & Benkman, C.W.
- Published in
- Diversity and Distributions 24 (4): 473-484
Geolocator tagging reveals Pacific migration of red-necked phalarope Phalaropus lobatus breeding in Scotland
The migration route of Red-necked Phalarope populations breeding on North Atlantic islands has been subject to considerable speculation. Geolocator tags were fitted to nine Red-necked Phalaropes breeding in northern Scotland to assess ...
- Date
- 20 August 2014
- RSPB Authors
- Dr Mark Bolton, Prof Jeremy Wilson, Dr Ron Summers
- Authors
- Smith, M., Bolton, M., Okill, D.J., Summers, R.W., Ellis, P., Liechti, F. & Wilson, J.D.
- Published in
- Ibis
Associations between crossbills and North American conifers in Scotland
Understanding the habitat requirements of the Scottish crossbill Loxia scotica is fundamental to the conservation of this endemic bird which, like other crossbills, specialises in feeding on conifer...
- Date
- 25 February 2012
- RSPB Authors
- Dr Ron Summers
- Authors
- Summers, R.W. & Broome, A.
- Published in
- Forest Ecology and Management
Surveying abundance and stand type associations of Formica aquilonia and F. lugubris (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) nest mounds over an extensive area: Trialing a novel method
Red wood ants are ecologically important members of woodland communities, and some species are of conservation concern. They occur commonly only in certain habitats in Britain, but there is limited ...
- Date
- 03 January 2012
- RSPB Authors
- Dr Ron Summers
- Authors
- Borkin, K.M., Summers, R.W. & Thomas, L.
- Published in
- European Journal of Entomology
Lake characteristics and their selection by breeding Slavonian grebes Podiceps auritus in Scotland
Capsule Slavonian (Horned) Grebes Podiceps auritus bred on moderately sized lakes, preferring those with small fish, clear water, and over-hanging trees. Aim To describe breeding habitat and investigate...
- Date
- 16 June 2011
- RSPB Authors
- Dr Ron Summers
- Authors
- Summers, R.W., Mavor, R.A., Hogg, S. & Harriman, R.
- Published in
- Bird Study
Do multiple herbivores maintain chemical diversity of Scots pine monoterpenes?
A central issue in our understanding of the evolution of the diversity of plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) is whether or not compounds are functional, conferring an advantage to the plant, or nonfunctional...
- Date
- 12 May 2011
- RSPB Authors
- Dr Ron Summers
- Authors
- Iason, G.R., O'Reilly-Wapstra, J.M., Brewer, M.J., Summers, R.W. & Moore, B.D.
- Published in
- Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences
Burning and mowing as habitat management for capercaillie Tetrao urogallus: An experimental test
In Scots pine Pinus sylvestris forests, the important ecological effects of natural fires could be emulated using prescribed fire. Species that may benefit from fire effects include capercaillie...
- Date
- 08 May 2011
- RSPB Authors
- Dr Mark Hancock, Dr Ron Summers
- Authors
- Hancock, M.H., Amphlett, A. Proctor, R., Dugan, D., Willi, J., Harvey, P. & Summers, R.W.
- Published in
- Forest Ecology and Management
Patterns of exploitation of annually varying Pinus sylvestris cone crops by seed-eaters of differing dispersal ability
Food consumption by animals depends on functional and numerical responses, and particularly the latter for food specialists. Some birds and mammals are conifer seed specialists and are likely to exploit...
- Date
- 05 February 2011
- RSPB Authors
- Dr Ron Summers
- Authors
- Summers, R.W.
- Published in
- Ecography
Numbers and breeding success of capercaillies Tetrao urogallus and black grouse T. tetrix at Abernethy Forest, Scotland
In most years, changes in numbers are associated with variations in breeding success. Aims To describe the annual variation in numbers and breeding success of Capercaillies Tetrao urogallus and...
- Date
- 14 December 2010
- RSPB Authors
- Dr Ron Summers
- Authors
- Summers, R.W., Dugan, D. & Proctor, R.
- Published in
- Bird Study