Influence of Mammal Activity on Nesting Success of Passerines

Cain, James W.; Smallwood, K. Shawn; Morrison, Michael L.; Loffland, Helen L.

doi:10.2193/0022-541x(2006)70[522:iomaon]2.0.co;2

Cited by 29 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 30 publications

(35 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our results appear to contradict numerous studies that have reported negative correlations between ‘predator activity’ and nest survival (Vickery et al 1992, Zanette and Jenkins 2000, Schmidt et al 2001, 2006, Vigallon and Marzluff 2005, Cain et al 2006, Sperry et al 2008, but see Heske et al 1999, Mahon and Martin 2006). In many studies, however, ‘predator activity’ does not necessarily refer to the space use or activity of an individual.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

A predator's perspective of nest predation: predation by red squirrels is learned, not incidental

Pelech¹,

Smith²,

Boutin³

2009

Oikos

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Nest predation has been used to explain aspects of avian ecology ranging from nest site selection to population declines. Many arguments rely on specific assumptions regarding how predators find nests, yet these predatory mechanisms remain largely untested. Here we combine artificial nest experiments with behavioural observations of individual red squirrels Tamiasciurus hudsonicus to differentiate between two common hypotheses: predation is incidental versus learned. Specifically, we tested: 1) whether nest survival could be explained solely by a squirrel's activity patterns or habitat use, as predicted if predation was incidental; or 2) if predation increased as a squirrel gained experience preying on a nest, as predicted if predation was learned. We also monitored squirrel activity after predation to test for evidence of two search mechanisms: area‐restricted searching and use of microhabitat search images. Contrary to incidental predation and in support of learning, squirrels did not find nests faster in areas with high use (e.g. forest edges). Instead, survival of artificial nests was strongly related to a squirrel's prior experience preying on artificial nests. Experience reduced nest survival times by over half and increased predation rates by 150–200%. Squirrels returned to and doubled their activity at the site of a previously preyed on nest. However, neither area‐restricted searching nor microhabitat search images can explain how squirrels located artificial nests more readily with experience. Instead, squirrels likely used cues associated with the nests or eggs themselves. Learning implies that squirrels could be increasingly effective predators as the density or profitability of nests increases. Our results add support to the view that nest predation is complex and broadly influenced (e.g. by predator experience, motivation), and is unlikely to be predicted consistently by simple relationships with predator activity, abundance or habitat.

show abstract

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

A predator's perspective of nest predation: predation by red squirrels is learned, not incidental

Pelech¹,

Smith²,

Boutin³

2009

Oikos

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The apparent link between rates of nest predation and avian nest predators, especially corvids, is well established (Andre´n 1992, Zanette and Jenkins 2000, De Santo and Willson 2001, Luginbuhl et al 2001, Roos 2002, Marzluff et al 2007. Positive associations between nest predation and numbers or activity levels of predators also are reported for rodents (Schmidt andOstfeld 2003a, b, Cain et al 2006), mustelids (Cain et al 2006), and snakes (Zanette and Jenkins 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Anthropogenic resource subsidies decouple predator–prey relationships

Rodewald

Kearns

Shustack

2011

Ecological Applications

221

135

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. The extent to which resource subsidies affect food web dynamics is poorly understood in anthropogenic landscapes. To better understand how species interactions are influenced by subsidies, we studied breeding birds and nest predators along a rural-to-urban landscape gradient that varied in subsidies provided to generalist predators. We hypothesized that resource subsidies in urban landscapes would decouple predator-prey relationships, as predators switch from natural to anthropogenic foods. From 2004 to 2009, we surveyed nest predators and monitored 2942 nests of five songbird species breeding in 19 mature forest stands in Ohio, USA. Eighteen species were video-recorded depredating nests. Numbers of avian and mammalian nest predators were positively associated with the amount of urban development surrounding forests, with the exception of Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater). Although nest survival strongly declined with detections of nest predators in rural landscapes, nest survival and predator numbers were unrelated in urban landscapes. Thus, the strength of interaction between breeding birds and nest predators diminished as landscapes surrounding forested parks became more urbanized. Our work suggests that decoupling of predator-prey relationships can arise when synanthropic predators are heavily subsidized by anthropogenic resources. In this way, human drivers can alter, and completely disarticulate, relationships among species that are well established in more natural systems.

show abstract

“…We were unable to run models for other bird groups (e.g., waterfowl) because of limited sample sizes. We also considered other variables found to affect nest survivorship, including nest age (Grant et al, 2005), day of season (Zimmerman, 1984;Winter, 1999), nest stage (passerines only: incubation versus nestling stage; Grant et al, 2005), vegetative concealment (Martin, 1993), predator abundance (Cain et al, 2006), lemming abundance (Summers, 1986), snowmelt (Summers and Underhill, 1987), and habitat type (i.e., landform). In the analysis, we removed nests that failed for other reasons, since we were most interested in the impact of nest predation on survivorship.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breeding Ecology of Birds at Teshekpuk Lake: A Key Habitat Site on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska

Liebezeit¹,

White²,

Zack³

2011

ARCTIC

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ABSTRACT. The Teshekpuk Lake Special Area in the National Petroleum Reserve -Alaska (NPR-A) currently has no long-term protection from oil development. In this study, we provide novel information on nest density, productivity, and habitat use at Teshekpuk relative to a developed oilfield site at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to assess the importance of Teshekpuk for tundra-nesting birds and to provide recommendations regarding potential oil development. Mean annual nest density of all bird species combined was significantly higher at Teshekpuk than at Prudhoe Bay and was higher than any of five other sites with comparable data on the Alaskan Arctic Coastal Plain. Nest densities were significantly higher at Teshekpuk than at Prudhoe Bay for Lapland longspurs (Calcarius lapponicus) and long-billed dowitchers (Limnodromus scolopaceus), although those for semipalmated sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) were higher at Prudhoe Bay. Total shorebird nest densities at Teshekpuk were among the highest of any sites in the region. At Teshekpuk, shorebirds nested preferentially in wet and emergent habitats, including flooded low-center polygons, non-patterned tundra, and Carex aquatilis-dominated habitats. Therefore, we recommend that future oil infrastructure placement in this region avoid these habitats. Using data collected at Teshekpuk and Prudhoe Bay from 2005 to 2008, we modeled nest survivorship for 11 shorebird species and for Lapland longspurs. For longspurs, the best-supported models based on AIC c values indicated that nest survival was always higher at Teshekpuk, but it was also higher elsewhere in years of high lemming abundance and later in the nesting season. For shorebirds, the best-supported models indicated that nest survivorship was highly variable among years and sites. Uniparental-nesting shorebirds had lower nest survivorship shortly after nest initiation followed by a rapid increase, while biparental survivorship was consistently high throughout the nest lifetime. We recommend that disturbances to nesting habitat be minimized during early June, when vulnerability to nest failure is higher. Because of their high importance to Arctic breeding birds, we recommend that areas within the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area, including our study area and those that are currently under 10-year deferral, be considered for permanent protection.Key words: Arctic Coastal Plain, Teshekpuk Lake Special Area, National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, nest diversity, nest density, nest survivorship, shorebirds, Lapland longspur RÉSUMÉ. La zone spéciale du lac Teshekpuk située dans la réserve nationale de pétrole de l'Alaska (NPR-A) n'est dotée d'aucune protection à long terme en matière de mise en valeur pétrolière. Dans la présente étude, nous fournissons de nouveaux renseignements sur la densité des nids, la productivité et l'utilisation de l'habitat à Teshekpuk à la lumière d'un chantier de mise en valeur pétrolière à la baie Prudhoe, en Alaska et ce, dans le but d'évaluer l'importance de Teshekpuk pour les oiseaux qui nichent dans la toundra a...

show abstract

Influence of Mammal Activity on Nesting Success of Passerines

Cited by 29 publications

References 30 publications

A predator's perspective of nest predation: predation by red squirrels is learned, not incidental

A predator's perspective of nest predation: predation by red squirrels is learned, not incidental

Anthropogenic resource subsidies decouple predator–prey relationships

Breeding Ecology of Birds at Teshekpuk Lake: A Key Habitat Site on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About