Studies of variation in breeding parameters are often based on temporal analyses of a single population. However, to differentiate between the effects of regional and local factors, neighboring populations with limited interpopulational dispersal need to be compared. We studied two nearby (< 5 km apart) populations of House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon bonariae) at two ranches (Los Zorzales, 10 years; La Esperanza, 13 years) in south‐temperate Argentina to assess the possible effects of regional and local factors on breeding phenology. For each breeding season, we recorded laying dates, clutch sizes, and length of the breeding season, and estimated the reproductive synchrony of first and second breeding attempts. We examined how these breeding parameters were affected by weather, population density, and rates of nest failure. With favorable temperatures during the pre‐reproductive period (September–October), wrens in both populations initiated first breeding attempts earlier. However, ordinal laying dates were also affected by local factors, with wrens at Los Zorzales initiating breeding attempts earlier than those at La Esperanza. We found a spatial correlation in clutch sizes between populations for the 2007–2012 breeding seasons, but clutch sizes of first and second nesting attempts showed low variability. Reproductive synchrony of first nesting attempts varied among years, suggesting an effect of regional factors. However, we detected no synchronization between populations and were unable to identify environmental variables that explained the temporal variation. Ordinal laying dates of second clutches were strongly correlated with the ordinal laying dates of first clutches. We also found that the length of breeding seasons was longer when daily nest mortality rates were lower. Although environmental factors seemed to affect the decision of when to start breeding, pairs with successful first nesting attempts were more likely to initiate second nests, thus affecting the length of the breeding season. The spatial variation and temporal variation of the breeding parameters of House Wrens in our study provide evidence of marked plasticity in their breeding decisions and allowed us to identify local and regional environmental factors related to this variation.

中文翻译：

---

W鼠的两个南温带种群繁殖参数的时空变化

育种参数变化的研究通常基于单个种群的时间分析。但是，为了区分区域因素和地方因素的影响，需要比较种群间扩散有限的邻近人群。我们研究了House Wrens（Troglodytes aedon bonariae）附近的两个种群（相距小于5公里））在阿根廷南部温带的两个牧场（Los Zorzales，10年； La Esperanza，13年），以评估区域和地方因素对育种物候的可能影响。对于每个繁殖季节，我们记录下产蛋日期，离群大小和繁殖季节的长度，并估算第一次和第二次繁殖尝试的生殖同步性。我们研究了这些繁殖参数如何受到天气，种群密度和巢灾失败率的影响。在繁殖前期（9月至10月），温度适宜，两种种群的w都较早地开始了首次繁殖尝试。但是，有序的产卵日期也受当地因素的影响，Los Zorzales的w开始繁殖尝试的时间比La Esperanza早。我们发现2007–2012繁殖季节种群之间的离合体大小具有空间相关性，但是第一次和第二次筑巢尝试的离合体大小显示出较低的变异性。第一次筑巢尝试的生殖同步性随年份而变化，表明区域因素的影响。但是，我们没有发现种群之间的同步，也无法识别解释时间变化的环境变量。第二个离合器的顺序铺设日期与第一个离合器的顺序铺设日期密切相关。我们还发现，当日巢死亡率较低时，繁殖季节的长度会更长。尽管环境因素似乎会影响何时开始繁殖的决定，但成功进行第一次筑巢尝试的配对更有可能发起第二次筑巢，因此影响了繁殖季节的长度。我们研究中的家W的繁殖参数的时空变化为他们的繁殖决策提供了显着可塑性的证据，并使我们能够确定与这种变异有关的局部和区域环境因素。