Nest-Dwelling Arthropods Community Degradation Following Colonies Abandonment by Sand Martin Riparia riparia (Linnaeus, 1758) (Aves: Passeriformes)

The characteristics of changes in the composition of nest-dwelling arthropods during colony abandonment by sand martin were investigated. Over the observation period, the proportion of nest-dwelling arthropods decreased markedly in three colonies of sand martin (2019–2023), while the proportion of free-living arthropods increased. Correlation analysis between arthropod abundance and the number of years of bird absence showed a negative correlation between the abundance of nest-dwelling and free-living species from soil biota and birds absence. The only taxon with a positive correlation was Araneae, whose abundance increased in the absence of a bird as they began to use the burrow as a place to build a web. This underscores the close relationship between arthropods and birds that build burrows and nests.