Agroforestry system as a buffer zone in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest conservation unit: an artificial nest predation perspective

Abstract

Here we inferred about the effectiveness of a buffer zone composed by an Agroforestry System (AS) for providing reproductive conditions for Atlantic Forest birds by comparing artificial nest predation rates between a buffer zone, a primary forest area, and a set of small and isolated Atlantic Forest fragments. We have used 237 nests throughout the three areas, of which 100 (42.2%) were depredated. Predation frequencies were 28.6% in the continuous forest, 100% in the AS, and 51.9% in the fragments, differing significantly. We could detect nest predators in 48 of the 100 depredated nests (48%) using camera traps. Differences between areas may be attributed to changes in nest predator species. We support previous evidences that the conservation of bird communities may not rely on buffer zones as an extension of their breeding habitats.

Is the presence of eggs a relevant cue for predators of freshwater chelonian nests?

“…Egg predation using artificial nests is a common method to study the predation relationships (Zanette, 2002;Martin and Joron, 2003;Bernstein et al, 2015). These experiments are important to test ecological and behavioral hypothesis related to predation (Oja et al, 2015;Galvao et al, 2018), which can also be used to identify the potential predators and the factors that influences their activity (Roper, 1992;Burkey, 1993). Some predation patterns are not easy to observe in natural nests; therefore, investigations through artificial nests are essential (Major and Kendal, 1996).…”