The largest nests among birds are built. The biggest nest

In Spain, on the island of La Gomera in the small town of San Sebastian de la Gomera (San Sebastián de la Gomera), the largest wasp nest was found, which was included in the Guinness Book of Records. Millions of insects managed to create a structure with a height of about 7 m.

The largest hornet's nest was in an abandoned house and was very disturbing to the neighbors. People did not like the breeding insects and in order to open the doors of an abandoned building, they called the police. So the epicenter of wasp distribution was discovered.

Presumably, this nest was made not by ordinary, but by African wasps, which usually live a hundred kilometers from the Canary Islands. Experts will have to find out whether the insects were able to fly such a distance or whether they reached the island of La Gomera while still in the larval stage.

It was not possible to photograph the giant nest from different angles - aggressive wasps did not allow the photographer to approach their dwelling.

The previous record in this category was set in New Zealand. in 1963, in the city of Waimaukau, a wasp dwelling with dimensions of 3.7x1.5 m was found, and its perimeter was 5.5 m. This structure first hung on a tree, but due to its own weight it fell and broke.

There are other achievements of insects in the Guinness Book of Records, for example, on Earth and

Most animals find their homes in secluded places, caves in trees, underground or in burrows. Some of them occupy someone else's home. But birds, ants, bees and other representatives of the fauna build their nests, hives or colonies for rest, for breeding and raising offspring. There are animals that are incredibly meticulous about the process of building, arranging housing, like real architects. We offer an overview of the best architects of the animal world and their impeccable buildings.

There are other animals on planet Earth that deserve to be on the list of the most talented architects. For example, beavers are excellent dam builders who are able to block the riverbed and create a pond for themselves. In his dwelling of branches and mud, the beaver is warm and safe. Ants are excellent builders, able to quickly build housing for their colonies underground. Gophers are talented in building burrows with a system of passages that create entire cities on several hundred hectares of land, where hundreds of individuals live. Bees are great craftsmen in building wax combs to store honey and raise offspring. Cunning spiders with a secret door, which is attached to silk threads and opens instantly, are also capable of building a whole system of tunnels.

10. Ordinary weaver

The bird lives in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. Common weavers build their communal nests from twigs and grass on trees or other objects such as telephone poles. Their nests are considered the largest among those built by birds, they can accommodate several generations, hundreds of pairs of birds. Nests are considered communal, since one large nest consists of many individual nests. It is very warm in the center of the structure, where the birds gather at night, and in the outer nests the temperature during the day is 7-80C, if it is 16-330C outside. Outwardly, the structure resembles a haystack, the entrance to the nests is located at the bottom of the structure.

9. Tailor Ants / Leaf Spinner

Everyone knows that ants live in colonies in an anthill on the ground or in a tree, like the red European ant. The weaver ant in Central Africa and Southeast Asia builds nests from living leaves, which are attached to each other with silk threads. A whole colony lives in such a cocoon. The design is waterproof. A very similar dwelling is found in the leaf-spinning spider from Australia. The only difference is that the spider uses an already dead leaf, twists it and lines it with silk threads. The leaf is located in the center of the web.

8. Barbecue from the Chendravasih Peninsula

The bowerbird lives on the Chendrawasih peninsula in Indonesia. When building a nest, the male uses grass and twigs. He builds it in the form of a hut on the ground in order to attract a potential female to create a family. Building a hut is not the ultimate goal of the male. He also does interior and exterior design, decorating everything with berries, flowers, bugs, and other colorful objects for added appeal. The female visits the nest, assesses the situation and the level of responsibility of the male, and makes a decision to create a family.

7. Termites

Termites in the wild of northern Australia show unsurpassed architectural talent, constructing termite mounds up to 10 m high from mud, processed clay, saliva and excrement. These structures are equipped with tunnels, an elaborate air conditioning system and are located from north to south for proper temperature regulation. Their structures cover acres of land. In addition, there is a mold in which they breed offspring.

6. Spider house with a secret door

Spiders are known to weave webs, but some have gone even further, such as the leaf spinner or certain species of Texas and Canadian spiders that weave a web several hectares in size. But the spider, which has a secret door in the house, has surpassed everyone. He lives underground in a mink that he digs himself. Using soil, vegetation and silky threads, he builds a door for his mink. It can open and close, and the spider can ambush its prey with lightning speed. When the door is closed, it is well camouflaged.

5. Indian weaver / Oropendula Montezuma

The Indian weaver lives in India and southeast Asia. The bird is known for building elegant hanging nests. But these houses are not unusual.

Far away in the Caribbean, another bird, the Oropendula Montezuma, builds similar hanging nests of grass and vines for a colony of 30 individuals. They build their nests in tall trees in the forest, in plantations or on plantations, which distinguishes them from the Indian weavers, who place their nests in thorny trees above the water.

4. Paper wasp

While most wasps do not build nests and prefer to take over, paper wasps build elegant homes from chewed plants, wood, or stems that are held together with resin, saliva, and silky threads. Some species use mud. The nest has honeycombs with cells, just like the bees in the hive. Outside, the honeycombs are in a cocoon of a kind of paper. The nest by the leg is attached to a tree branch. Wasps spread a special smell around the nest, which repels ants that are not averse to stealing eggs. The nest is built in a secluded place.

3. Red stove / Swallows

The thrush songbird or red stove keeper uses mud or manure to build bowls on the upper parts of the crown of trees, pillars, where the finished nest is dried in the sun. The result is a solid home and a place to raise offspring. The nest is not subject to the wind and is habitable in any weather. Many species of swallows also use mud and saliva to build nests. They build their nests in colonies near human dwellings. Nest size is associated with the number of eggs laid by swallow species.

2. Sfecida

The sfecida builds its elegant cylindrical tube-shaped nests, similar to organ pipes or panflutes, out of mud and vomit on bridge foundations, walls, rocks, and other surfaces. In a wasp, the nest is obtained in a simple form, in the form of an amphora, then the nests are connected together with the help of mud. In the nest of the sfecida there are many cells not for placing eggs, but for "prisoners", for example, spiders, so that they cannot escape, the sfecida paralyzes them. The larvae then eat the prey.

The Mayfly is an underwater architect of its kind. In the state of the larva, the fly moves with difficulty in streams, ponds and other fresh water bodies, where it lives in sand, underwater plants, where it can hide. Everything that it finds, the fly attaches to its cocoon with the help of silky threads produced by its glands. In such a camouflaged shelter, the larva grows, feeds and breathes. Around herself she puts "nets" for catching prey.

Every living being has its own home. Houses are different - some have a hole, others have a tree hut, and still others carry a house on their backs. But no matter how different the houses are, they perform the same functions: to keep it warm and cozy, as well as protection from the environment and predators. Also, when choosing a home, animals resort to different methods: someone is content with a rotten stump, and someone diligently and painstakingly digs a hole. Perhaps the most scrupulous house builders among the animal world are birds.

The most skillful builder among birds -. The male is in charge of building the nest. He chooses a branch - the basis for the future nest, the thinnest and sometimes above the water - so that it would be difficult for predators to get it, and begins to twist.

He wraps green blades of grass around a branch and, with the help of paws and beak, ties knots on the fly. Here is the base for the nest ready. The weaver selects the material in the most careful way. He does not pick up torn and dry branches, but finds and tears off the leaf he needs. The main criterion for building material is a green narrow leaf 25-30 cm long. After all, a green fresh leaf is stronger and very well braided. The nest turns out to be an oval elongated shape. It is very durable, and it is not afraid of rain or wind. Nest building is an unusual form of female attraction. The female chooses the highest quality and well-designed work. After the nest is inhabited, the weaver leaves it and begins to make a new one.

Another representative of the feathered family who attracts and achieves the heart of a lady with the help of her building abilities is. In construction, he uses all his design and creative abilities. After all, the female is very capricious, and if she doesn’t like something, the male will be rejected, and all his efforts are in vain.

To begin with, the builder male cleans the selected territory from debris, unnecessary twigs and leaves. Then he collects and weaves twigs and blades of grass in the form of a beautiful tunnel. But the bowerer spends the main efforts on decorating and decorating the nest. Interesting and unusual is that female bowerbirds prefer blue and blue colors. Males all over the area are looking for little things of such shades. Everything can serve as decoration, even garbage: caps, pieces of paper, ropes. Sometimes pebbles, flowers, shells and other details are used that can successfully fit into the design of the built hut.

The strongest nests twist red stove-makers. Both the female and the male are engaged in construction, since it is very difficult to build such a fortress alone. Several months of painstaking work bear fruit - the nest keeps warm, protects from rain, cold and predators. The main building material is soaked soft clay. During the construction of the nest, it is transferred and used 3.5 - 5.5 kg clay mass. A porridge made of softened clay and plant fibers, drying out, forms strong and heavy walls.

The stove-maker never uses the same nest twice, next year he makes a new nest for a new masonry, and other birds can populate the old one.

They make an unusual nest swifts-salangana. More precisely, the building nesting material is unusual - the saliva of a swift. The swift puts a drop of saliva on the selected nesting site and begins, smearing it, to draw the contours of the future nest. Viscous saliva hardens, and then the next layer is applied - this is how the walls of the nest grow. After 40 days, the nest is ready.

Also, the nest of the swift salangan is known for its edibility. Many gourmets are willing to pay good money to taste the famous swallow's nest soup. According to lovers of exotic food, a well-cooked "swallow's nest" resembles sturgeon caviar.

Such a peculiar "edible" feature of the nest had a detrimental effect on the population of swifts-salangans. Nest pickers ignore prey seasons and tear down nests, destroying chicks and eggs. The number of some species of swifts has decreased by 80-90%, and some have disappeared completely.

The most "harsh" place nesting - at palm swifts. They collect nesting litter from down and feathers, and with the help of saliva stick it on the inside of a palm leaf in an upright position. The palm swift also sticks eggs on the finished nest-litter. In such a hanging position, eggs hatch. Like all swifts, the chicks hatch completely naked, but soon it is covered with down. The hatched chick clings to the litter with its claws so as not to fall. And in this position - chest to the bedding and head up, hangs until it grows up and is completely covered with a feather.

At kinglet -the lightest nest. Weighing only 20 grams. The nest winds high above the ground in spruce or pine branches. It is made of moss, cobwebs, fluff, feathers, hairs. In appearance, the nest seems very fragile and unsuitable for hatching eggs, but this is not so. The nest of the beetle keeps heat for a long time, so the female can safely leave the clutch for 1.5 hours. During rain, the nest is able to absorb 60 ml of water, and at the same time be completely dry inside. Another feature of the nest is that it can expand as the chicks grow. The nest of the beetle is very difficult to notice, because. it looks like a small ball of wool stuck among spruce needles.

The biggest nest belongs Australian eyed chicken. In winter, during the rainy season, the male and female begin to dig a hole 1 meter deep and 3 meters wide. The pit is then filled with leaves, grass, and other plant material. As soon as the greenery is slightly covered with precipitation, the pile is covered with sand. A recess is made at the top, where eggs are later laid. This is how an incubator nest is built.

Since as a result of rotting wet leaves, heat is generated - 33 degrees Celsius, which is necessary for incubation of eggs. The male controls the temperature of the incubator for 10 months by adding or removing soil. The dimensions of the nest of the eyed chicken are impressive: it reaches a height of 1.5 meters, and in width reaches almost 4 meters.

That's the nest!

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Australian chicken nest

The largest and most unusual incubator nests are built by Australian eyed hens (Leipoa ocellata). The size of the nest of this bird reaches 4.6 meters in height and about 10.5 meters in width. The rooster builds a nest all year alone. The female does not take any part in the construction of the incubator. In spring, the male digs a huge hole about 5 meters wide and up to 1 meter deep. The rooster fills this hole with leaves and branches that he collected throughout the summer.

nest incubator

During the rainy season, the contents of the pit get wet, and then the male fills the decaying heap with sand and earth. Foliage under a layer of sand begins to rot, heat is generated inside. The female begins to lay eggs. The rooster does not leave the nest for a single step during the entire period of incubation. He sleeps and eats next to the incubator, monitors the temperature in the nest with his sensitive beak. After the chicks hatch, having rested a little, the rooster begins to build an incubator nest for the next offspring.

Bald Eagle Nest

Of the usual nests, the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) builds the largest nest, because this bird is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Bald eagles build cup-shaped nests from 2.5-3 m wide and 4-6 m high. The weight of this design is also not small, it reaches 2-3 tons. On the construction of the nest, unlike the Australian eyed hen, the female and male sea eagles work together. They build a nest from large branches, connecting them together with grass.

Nest for the whole family

Bald eagles usually change nests after 5-7 years, but there is a case recorded in history when several generations of birds lived in one nest for more than 60 years.

Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) also build huge nests. In diameter, the golden eagle's nest can reach 1-2 meters in height and 0.5 to 2 meters in width. In Europe in 1954 a nest of a golden eagle with a depth of more than 4.5 meters was found.

TasksII(municipal) stage of the All-Russian Olympiad for schoolchildren in biology in the Lipetsk region.

20 1 0-2011 academic year

8th grade

Exercise 1. The task includes 30 questions, each of which has 4 possible answers. For each question, choose only one answer that you think is the most complete and correct. Enter the index of the selected answer in the answer matrix.

The main difference between a bacterial cell and cells of other organisms: a) the presence of one or more flagella; b) the absence of a formalized core; + c) the presence of a cell membrane (wall); d) permanent form.

To prevent food spoilage due to bacteria, you must: a) to exclude spores from getting on the products; b) provide unfavorable conditions for the life of these organisms; + c) prevent direct sunlight from reaching the products; d) restrict air access to products.

Spores on the plates of the fruiting body are formed in: a) white fungus; b) mucor; c) camelina; + d) tinder fungus.

The lichen fungus receives from the algae: a) water; b) mineral salts; c) organic substances; + d) air.

The deepest seaweeds include: a) red + b) brown; c) green; d) diatoms.

In the bulb, reserve nutrients are deposited in: a) bottom; b) kidneys; c) juicy scales; + d) dry scales.

Cork refers to fabric: a) conductive; b) integumentary; + c) educational; d) storage.

Conductive bundles in leaves: a) conduct water and mineral salts; b) carry out solutions of sugars from the leaves to other parts of the plant; c) perform a musculoskeletal function; d) perform all of the above functions. +

The potato tuber, at the earliest stage of its development, is: a) a fetus b) escape; + c) a root crop; d) the top of the lateral root.

Dioecious plants include: a) poplar and hazel; b) hazel and birch; c) birch and sea buckthorn; d) sea buckthorn and poplar. +

The process is characteristic only for animals: a) the formation of organic substances from inorganic substances in the light; b) perception of stimuli from the environment and their transformation into nerve impulses; + c) the intake of substances into the body, their transformation and removal of end products of vital activity; d) the absorption of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide during respiration.

The correct alternation of sexual and asexual reproduction is observed in: a) testate amoebae; b) radiolarians; c) foraminifera; + d) sunflowers.

Unlike roundworms, annelids have: a) the digestive system; b) excretory system; c) circulatory system; + d) nervous system.

The external skeleton of arthropods is represented by: a) skin-muscular sac; b) chitinous cover; + c) calcareous shell; d) striated muscles.

The respiratory organ of the river lamprey is: a) pharynx pierced by gill slits; b) swim bladder; c) gill petals; d) gill sacs. +

Vertically raising the front of the body and inflating the hood, the Indian cobra (Naja naja ) demonstrates the behavior: a) food; b) indicative; c) marriage; d) defensive.+

The largest nests among birds are built: a) eagles b) pelicans; c) ostriches; d) African weavers. +

Nests in tree hollows: a) kingfisher; b) nightjar; c) gogol; + d) chaffinch.

The complication of the circulatory system corresponds to the evolution of chordates in the series of the following animals: a) toad - rabbit - crocodile - shark; b) shark - frog - crocodile - rabbit; + c) shark - crocodile - frog - rabbit; d) crocodile - shark - toad - dog.

The rosehip fruit is

multi-nut

drupe

polydrupe

Kukushkin flax breeds:

1. zoospores

   seeds under adverse conditions

2. aplanospores

The Solanaceae family includes

tomato, pepper, cucumber

potatoes, Jerusalem artichoke, belladonna

dope, belladonna, petunia

eggplant, henbane, sow thistle

Does not form stump

Fungal cell walls contain predominantly

1. cellulose

Educational tissue in plants

2. parenchyma

Pine male gametophyte presented

10 cells

8 cells

2 cells

1 cell

Sea anemones are representatives of the type

shellfish

coelenterates

arthropods

Spider venom - the cross enters the body of the victim through

mouth opening

opening of jaw claws

holes in toe tentacles

holes in the jaws

Pharyngeal teeth are a sign of a detachment

cyprinids

herring

cod

lobe-finned

Task 2. The task includes 5 questions, with several answers (from 0 to 5). Enter the indices of the selected answers into the matrix.

According to the structure of the thallus, lichens are distinguished: a) scale; + b) colonial; c) bushy; + d) unicellular; e) leafy. +

Leaf veins perform the following functions: a) protection against evaporation; b) conduction of substances; + c) photosynthesis; d) leaf pulp support; + e) sexual reproduction of the plant.

From the following signs, select those that are characteristic of fungi and animals: a) the absence of chlorophyll in the cells; + b) chitinized cell wall; c) reserve substance - starch; d) storage substance - glycogen; + e) the ability for vegetative reproduction by body parts. +

On the roots of perennials you can find: a) accessory kidneys; + b) scaly leaves; c) root cap; + d) green leaves; e) axillary leaves.

Insect blood: a) delivers nutrients + b) carries oxygen; c) collects decay products; + d) takes part in leg extension; + e) takes part in the regulation of vital processes. +

Task 3. The task of determining the correctness of judgments. Enter the numbers of correct judgments in the answer matrix. (10 judgments)

Algae refers to any plant that lives in water.

Fern growth is attached to the soil with the help of roots.

During the dormant period, the life processes of the seeds stop.

The stems of perennial plants always perform a photosynthetic function.

A leaf scar is a trace of a fallen leaf.

The root cortex is characterized by the absence of conductive tissues. +

In aquatic plants, stomata are located on the upper side of the leaf. +

The sexual process in ciliates does not lead to an increase in the number of individuals.

Unlike radiolarians, sunfish have a mineral skeleton.

All social insects belong to the order Hymenoptera.

Part assignmentsIV. Participants are offered test tasks that require compliance. The maximum number of points that can be scored is indicated for each task individually. Competitors must complete the answer matrices in accordance with the requirements of the tasks.

[max. 4 points] Examining the plants in the garden, the scientist determined that some of them (1–4) show signs of starvation for a number of nutrients (A–D):

1) Pale yellow color of the tissue between the veins in young leaves. Old leaves are affected later in a similar way. Small power of plants.

2) Death of apical buds, twisted deformed leaves. Black rot in beet roots and carrots.

3) Delayed flowering in ornamental plants, lack of growth. Violet color of leaves and stems. Tendency to twist and turn leaves.

4) Weak growth, dwarfism, scleromorphism. The shoots/roots ratio is shifted in favor of the roots. Premature yellowing of old leaves.

Match these symptoms with their causes.

Elements: A - phosphorus; B is nitrogen, C is iron, and D is boron.