Effect of Experimental Manipulation of Vegetation Density on Nest-Site Selection in Sooty Terns

Saliva, Jorge E.; Burger, Joanna

doi:10.2307/1368121

Cited by 28 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Indeed, many studies have reported adverse effects of large gulls on tern species, including kleptoparasitism (Stienen and Brenninkmeyer, 2002), nest site competition (Kress et al, 1983;Sadoul et al, 1996), and predation on eggs and chicks (e.g. Saliva and Burger, 1989;Burger and Gochfeld, 1991;Becker, 1995, Guillemette andBrousseau, 2001). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predation on common tern eggs by the yellow-legged gull at the Ebro Delta

Hernández‐Matías¹,

Ruíz²

2003

Sci. Mar.

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SUMMARY:The Ebro Delta holds a large seabird community, including a common tern (Sterna hirundo) local population of 3,085 pairs in 2000 which breeds scattered in several colonies. At El Canalot colony, 1,178 (1999) and 1,156 pairs (2000) of this species bred distributed in 32 and 38 sub-colonies respectively. These sub-colonies varied in size from 1 to 223 pairs and were placed near the main breeding colonies of yellow-legged gulls (Larus cachinnans) and Audouin's gulls (L. audouinii), which are potential egg-predators of terns. We studied egg predation during 1999 (6 sub-colonies) and 2000 (27 sub-colonies). Overall, we found that 10.6% of the nests in 1999 and 16.7% in 2000 suffered partial or total egg predation, being total in 81.1% of the predatory events. Predation was significantly higher in small sub-colonies (<11 pairs): 49.4% in 1999 and 75.5% in 2000. Only attacks from yellow-legged gulls were observed, and defence behaviour of terns was significantly more frequent against this gull species (40.5 hours of observation), suggesting that in most cases the egg predation recorded was due to this species. Probability of egg predation was significantly and negatively correlated with distance to the nearest yellow-legged gull sub-colony, although this relationship was no more significant after adjustment for subcolony size. On the other hand, distance to the nearest Audouin's gull sub-colony did not show any effect. Our results suggest that the impact of large gulls (at least yellow-legged gulls) upon smaller seabirds breeding in the area might be important, especially when they are breeding in small sub-colonies. Further studies are needed to analyse the general impact of large gulls upon the breeding populations of other colonial bird species in the area. -El Delta del Ebro mantiene una importante comunidad de aves marinas, incluyendo una colonia de charrán común (Sterna hirundo) de 3085 parejas en el año 2000, que se divide en diversas subcolonias. En la colonia de El Canalot criaron 1178 parejas en el año 1999 y 1156 en el año 2000, distribuidas en 32 y 38 subcolonias respectivamente. Estas subcolonias oscilaron entre 1 y 223 parejas y se situaron cerca de las principales colonias de gaviota patiamarilla Larus cachinnans y gaviota de Audouin Larus audouinii, que son potenciales depredadores de huevos de charrán. La depredación de huevos se estudió en 6 subcolonias en 1999 y en 27 en el año 2000. En conjunto, encontramos que el 10,6% de los nidos en 1999 y el 16,7% en el año 2000 sufrieron predación total o parcial de huevos, siendo total en el 81,1% de los eventos predatorios. La depredación fue significativamente mayor en las subcolonias pequeñas (<11 parejas): 49,4% en 1999 y 75,5% en el año 2000. Sólo se observaron ataques por parte de gaviotas patiamarillas y la conducta defensiva de los charranes fue significativamente más frecuente frente a esta especie (40,5 horas de observación), sugiriendo que en la mayoría de los casos la depredación de huevos registrada se debió a esta especie. La probabili...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predation on common tern eggs by the yellow-legged gull at the Ebro Delta

Hernández‐Matías¹,

Ruíz²

2003

Sci. Mar.

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“…While different parental quality might also influence hatching success, it would require an experimental approach to break the correlation between parental quality and vegetation levels to separate the two effects. During the incubation phase, nest vegetation can contribute to the provision of an appropriate microclimate for successful development of embryo and protect eggs from predators (Stauffer and Best 1986;Bekoff et al 1989;Saliva and Burger 1989). Nest vegetation itself did not influence chick performance in terms of growth, probably due to their mobility as explained above.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Since earlier breeders or higher quality individuals are more likely to occupy the best habitats with appropriate amounts of vegetation, the association between habitat and individual quality or timing of breeding has to be taken into account when examining the relationship between nest vegetation and breeding performance (Burger and Lesser 1980;Pierotti 1982;Becker and Erdelen 1986;Kim and Monaghan 2005). Vegetation close to the nest site may be important for the parents and offspring in providing protection from extreme weather (Becker and Erdelen 1982;Saliva and Burger 1989), and in decreasing social conflicts by reducing visibility of conspecifics (Burger 1977;Bukacin´ska and Bukacin´ski 1993). However, nesting in an area with tall vegetation may make individuals more vulnerable to predation risk through its effect on visibility or movement of the breeding birds and their chicks (Ewald et al 1980;Go¨tmark et al 1995;Borboroglu and Yorio 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of vegetation on nest microclimate and breeding performance of lesser black-backed gulls (Larus fuscus)

Kim

Monaghan

2005

J Ornithol

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For birds that breed in large colonies, the overall area occupied by the colony generally comprises several sub-areas that differ in physical and social features such as vegetation and breeding density. Birds arriving at a breeding colony select their nesting sites through a hierarchical process of selecting a sub-area, then a particular nest site with appropriate biotic and physical attributes. Optimal vegetation cover is one such important attribute. Many ground nesting gulls preferentially select nest sites that provide shelter during reproduction, but this presumably has to be balanced against any costs such as reduced visibility of potential predators. The effects of vegetation height in the subareas within a colony, and of the amount of vegetation in the immediate vicinity of the nest on nest microclimate were investigated in lesser black-backed gulls Larus fuscus in a colony in which overall vegetation height differed in different sub-areas and was patchily distributed within these areas. Tall vegetation did have a sheltering effect, and this was positively related with chick growth. However, this vegetation area was associated with lower breeding densities, relatively late laying birds and lower chick survival rate, suggesting that sub-areas with tall vegetation held more lower-quality or young breeders. Within the sub-areas, the birds preferentially selected nest sites with more surrounding vegetation, and this was positively correlated with their hatching success.

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“…Vegetative cover limits breeding habitat for many ground-nesting tern species (Severinghaus 1982;Houde 1983;Saliva and Burger 1989;Ramos and del Nevo 1995). Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) prefer to nest on open ground with ~10-40% vegetation cover (Blokpoel et al 1978;Burger and Gochfeld 1991;Nisbet 2002).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…To date, experimental vegetation manipulations of nesting habitat for various species of terns have focused on nest site selection (e.g., Severinghaus 1982;Richards and Morris 1984;Saliva and Burger 1989;Cook-Haley and Millenbah 2002), but few have tested vegetation control techniques over a full nesting season or assessed nesting productivity in modified habitat. Spendelow (1982) found that overgrown Roseate Tern (S. dougallii) nests that had been modified by placing boards over tall vegetation at access points had higher nest success than those that had not been manipulated.…”

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confidence: 99%