Coating plasticine eggs can eliminate the overestimation of predation on artificial ground nests

Purger, Jenõ J.; Kurucz, Kornélia; Tóth, Ádám; Batáry, Péter

doi:10.1080/00063657.2012.684550

Cited by 23 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…A body of research has used placement of nests of artificial bird eggs to explore the influence of habitat on egg predation. Studies with false nests to explore predation on bird eggs have usually relied on using a combination of real eggs (usually quail or finch eggs) and plasticine eggs (sometimes rubber coated to reduce olfactory cues, Purger et al ., ) to both induce and record predation events. Vetter, Rücker & Storch () carried out a meta‐analysis of edge effects on nest predation in tropical forests, using studies that made use of over 9000 artificial nests and eggs and found support for more predation along forest edges.…”

Section: The Questionssupporting

confidence: 83%

“…Purger et al . () recommend coating clay eggs with a thin layer of rubber to mitigate high scent cues and to reduce the unnaturally high nest predation recorded from artificial nests with plasticine eggs (e.g. Maier & Degraaf, ; Purger et al ., ).…”

Section: Interpretation and Problemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Maier & Degraaf, ; Purger et al ., ). Coating eggs with a thin layer of rubber may partially counter this (Purger et al ., ). We suggest that the use of clay models with associated natural or synthetic prey odour cues may be a fruitful area, for example, either to mask the smell of the modelling material or through the preparation of scent trails culminating in a clay model versus the deployment of clay models without scent trails.…”

Section: Application and Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A different kind of ecological modelling: the use of clay model organisms to explore predator–prey interactions in vertebrates

2016

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We review the use of clay models to explore questions about predation rates on small vertebrate taxa that are typically difficult to observe directly. The use of models has a relatively long history and we examine the range of taxa studied, which includes squamate reptiles, amphibians, mammals and birds. Within this review, we have also included studies of model eggs, which are used in nest predation studies. We review the questions that have been asked and the interpretations arising from the data. The use of clay model animals has provided us with insights into how differences in prey morphology, size, and colour influence the rate at which they are attacked by predators. This allows us insights into the ecological, behavioural and evolutionary selective pressures of different predators on small vertebrate prey, including analysis of what characteristics predators target and how predators approach their prey (e.g. which part of the body is attacked). Further available interpretations include how regional and habitat variation influences predation events on models. We also briefly discuss the potential for clay models to study interspecific sociality and competition. Finally, we review the problems and limitations with the method and make some suggestions for further studies and amendments to help standardize this creative tool for ecological research.

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Section: The Questionssupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Interpretation and Problemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Application and Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A different kind of ecological modelling: the use of clay model organisms to explore predator–prey interactions in vertebrates

2016

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“…Plasticine eggs were made by hand to have the dimensions of a reference quail egg (3.5cm long, 2.8cm diameter), and were aerated for 3 days after manufacture to mitigate the strong scent. To reduce the scent further, plasticine eggs were coated with a thin layer of rubber (PlastiDip ® ) before aeration, which has been shown to reduce overestimation of mammalian predation rates (Purger et al, 2012). Eggs were marked on their base to identify the nest they were placed in, to assists in cases where an egg was removed from the nest but able to be recovered.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of forest edge and nest height on nest predation in a U.K. deciduous forest fragment

Atkin¹,

Banks-Leite²

2020

Preprint

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It has been previously hypothesised that nest predation is higher at forest edges. This has important conservation implications for the increasingly fragmented U.K. climax community. I aimed to test the generality of this edge effect in a mixed deciduous forest fragment which borders open grassland. Artificial nests containing a combination of quail and plasticine eggs were used, at ground and arboreal levels. I found an overall edge effect on nest predation rates, however this effect was not specifically seen in ground nests. Ground nests experienced significantly higher levels of predation than arboreal nests. I suggest this edge effect is due in part to the steep productivity gradient over the ecotone.

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“…In each artificial nest, we placed one quail egg and one natural coloured plasticine egg of the same size. This imitation eggs were coated with PlastiDip® and had been aired for at least two weeks before the study began (Purger et al, 2012). The nests were then checked on days 1 (21 V), 3 (23 V), 6 (26 V), 10 (30 V) and 15 (4 VI) between 9:00 h and 14:00 h. During nest checking, which lasted no longer than 5 minutes, we recorded the number of cats, and free and leashed dogs observed around the nest to take into consideration the possibility that freely moving domestic animals found and destroyed the eggs in the artificial nests.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human disturbances and predation on artificial ground nests across an urban gradient

Bocz¹,

Szép²,

Witz³

et al. 2017

Anim. Biodiv. Conserv.

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Human disturbances and predation on artificial ground nests across an urban gradient.-In our study with artificial nests we observed that the absence of ground nesting bird species in the city centre and in residential districts was due to disturbance by humans and domestic animals (dogs and cats) rather than to predation. Furthermore, predation pressure was higher in the outskirts of the city due to the greater number of natural predators. Our results suggest that planning and creating undisturbed areas could increase the chances of ground nesting birds settling and breeding in human-dominated landscapes.

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Coating plasticine eggs can eliminate the overestimation of predation on artificial ground nests

Abstract: Capsule The use of plasticine eggs coated with a thin layer of rubber instead of entirely plasticine eggs in dummy nests reduced the unnaturally high nest predation rate caused by attracted small mammals, while also enabling the identification of nest predators.

Cited by 23 publications

References 18 publications

A different kind of ecological modelling: the use of clay model organisms to explore predator–prey interactions in vertebrates

A different kind of ecological modelling: the use of clay model organisms to explore predator–prey interactions in vertebrates

The effects of forest edge and nest height on nest predation in a U.K. deciduous forest fragment

Human disturbances and predation on artificial ground nests across an urban gradient

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