Numerical response of mammalian carnivores to rodents affects bird reproduction in temperate forests: A case of apparent competition?

Grendelmeier, Alex; Arlettaz, Raphaël; Pasinelli, Gilberto

doi:10.1002/ece3.4608

Cited by 20 publications

(29 citation statements)

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“…Our study supports the low incidence of nest predation by small rodents found in nest camera studies elsewhere (Mallord et al 2012, Grendelmeier et al 2015, Bellamy et al 2018 , Grendelmeier et al 2018. If this hypothesis is correct, Wood Warblers could use rodent activity on the forest floor as an indicator of the predation risk from carnivores, which are particularly effective in predating the nests, to reduce the likelihood of nest failure by avoiding settling in areas of high rodent abundance , Grendelmeier et al 2018.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Patterns of predator behaviour and Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix nest survival in a primaeval forest

Maziarz

Grendelmeier

Wesołowski³

et al. 2018

Ibis

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Understanding the foraging behaviour of predators is key to interpreting the role of anti‐predator adaptations of birds in reducing nest losses. Conducting research in primaeval habitats, with a low level of direct human interference, is particularly valuable in the understanding of predator–prey interactions. Using nest cameras, we investigated the identity and behaviour of potential and actual predators appearing at Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix nests, and the importance of different predator groups for nest survival, in the primaeval part of Białowieża Forest (Poland). Mammals formed the main predator group (30 of 32 nest depredations), particularly medium‐sized carnivores (24 of 32), which attacked nests more frequently than merely passing by. This contrasted with other species, especially small rodents, which were commonly recorded near nests but rarely attacked them. Most nest attacks (22 of 32) took place at night and nest survival did not depend on nest visibility, indicating a reduced utility of nest concealment in defence against predators using mainly sound or olfaction when hunting. Daily nest survival declined strongly with nest progression (from egg‐laying to fledging of chicks), probably due to increased predator detection of nests containing older and louder chicks, rather than to increasing parental activity at nests during the day. The set of actual nest predators differed from some previous studies in human‐transformed habitats, showing that Wood Warblers may face different threats in modified vs. near‐pristine environments.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Patterns of predator behaviour and Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix nest survival in a primaeval forest

Maziarz

Grendelmeier

Wesołowski³

et al. 2018

Ibis

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“…It is well established that these Bresource pulses^ (Ostfeld et al 1996;Ostfeld and Keesing 2000) temporally release seed-eating rodents from food limitation and they become superabundant in the following spring (Pucek et al 1993;Ostfeld et al 1996;Ostfeld and Keesing 2000;Bogdziewicz et al 2016). Such rodent outbreaks extend over large spatial scales Knops 1998, 2000;Bogdziewicz et al 2017) and have negative consequences for ground-nesting songbirds Ostfeld 2003, 2008;, including wood warblers Grendelmeier et al 2018). Rodents per se are not a threat for wood warbler nests (cf Mallord et al 2012;Grendelmeier et al 2015); however, wood warblers and rodents are indirectly linked via shared enemies (apparent competition; Grendelmeier et al 2018).…”

Section: Communicated By P a Bednekoffmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such rodent outbreaks extend over large spatial scales Knops 1998, 2000;Bogdziewicz et al 2017) and have negative consequences for ground-nesting songbirds Ostfeld 2003, 2008;, including wood warblers Grendelmeier et al 2018). Rodents per se are not a threat for wood warbler nests (cf Mallord et al 2012;Grendelmeier et al 2015); however, wood warblers and rodents are indirectly linked via shared enemies (apparent competition; Grendelmeier et al 2018). It is welldocumented that generalist predators, e.g., martens and foxes, which are also important nest predators of wood warblers (Wesołowski 1985;Mallord et al 2012;Grendelmeier et al 2015), respond numerically and functionally to rodent outbreaks (Jędrzejewska and Jędrzejewski 1998;Ostfeld and Keesing 2000;Bogdziewicz et al 2016).…”

Section: Communicated By P a Bednekoffmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is welldocumented that generalist predators, e.g., martens and foxes, which are also important nest predators of wood warblers (Wesołowski 1985;Mallord et al 2012;Grendelmeier et al 2015), respond numerically and functionally to rodent outbreaks (Jędrzejewska and Jędrzejewski 1998;Ostfeld and Keesing 2000;Bogdziewicz et al 2016). As a consequence, wood warblers suffer higher nest loses in years following mast seeding, and this is due to generalist predators (mainly marten and foxes) incidentally preying on warbler nests when hunting for rodents on the forest floor (Grendelmeier et al 2018). Wood warbler densities and occurrence were found to be strongly negatively correlated with rodent abundance at a range of spatial scales Szymkowiak and Kuczyński 2015;Pasinelli et al 2016).…”

Section: Communicated By P a Bednekoffmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nest predator avoidance during habitat selection of a songbird varies with mast peaks and troughs

Szymkowiak

Thomson

2019

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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Predation risk is vital in determining habitat quality. But landscapes of fear are complex and dynamic, such as temperate deciduous forests characterized by intermittent, synchronized production of large seed crops (mast peaks). These Bresource pulses^elevate the magnitude of predation risk via direct or indirect effects, possibly altering also predator avoidance strategies of a prey. Yet, how animals manage predation risk via informed habitat selection and how this depends on ecological context remains poorly explored. We studied risk-sensitive settlement behavior of wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix. We tested the hypothesis that warblers flexibly avoid predators (Eurasian jays Garrulus glandarius) during habitat selection but that their interactions are mediated by mast seeding, which is known to elevate the overall nest predation risk for warblers through its cascading effects on population dynamics of rodents and generalist predators. We used a playback experiment to manipulate warblers' perceived risk of nest predation by jays. We replicated the experiment in two consecutive years, followed by high or low seed crop. In the spring following mast trough, risky jay plots featured low abundance, late settlement, and poor pairing success compared to other treatments. In contrast, no response differences were found in the spring following mast seeding. Our results suggest that the way wood warblers adjust habitat choices to jay predation risk is indirectly mediated by mast seeding. This highlights plasticity in predator avoidance during prey habitat selection in complex and dynamic landscapes of fear, and the potential effects of mast seeding on animal behavior via indirect interactions. Significance statement Avoiding places with high nest predation risk during settlement decisions is believed to be widespread in birds. However, the mechanistic understanding of how birds acquire and use information about ambient nest predation risk to fine-tune settlement decisions is still limited. Using a playback experiment, we show that wood warblers eavesdrop on predator calls and avoid settling at sites with high perceived risk of nest predation by Eurasian jays. However, the way warblers adjust habitat choices to the nest predation risk posed by jays appears to be affected by tree mast seeding. This is potentially due to cascading effects of masting on the population dynamics of rodents and generalist predators, creating temporal peaks of elevated nest predation risk for wood warblers. Our study highlights plasticity in predator avoidance during prey settlement behavior in temporally variable, pulsed-resources ecosystems.

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“…Although negative correlations between rodents and wood warblers have been found at various spatial scales (Grendelmeier et al, 2019;Pasinelli et al, 2016;Szymkowiak & Kuczyñski, 2015;), there need not to be an underlying causality. It is well established that rodents respond positively to mast seeding (e.g., Pucek, Jedrzejewski, Jedrzejewska, & Pucek, 1993) and rodent hunters positively to increased rodent numbers (e.g., Grendelmeier et al, 2018;Schmidt & Ostfeld, 2003). Hence, wood warblers may use environmental cues related to mast seeding other than rodent or predator presence to decide where to settle.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does acoustically simulated predation risk affect settlement and reproduction of a migratory passerine?

et al. 2019

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Nest predation is one of the most important drivers of avian life history evolution and population dynamics. Increasing evidence suggests that birds are able to assess nest predation risk and avoid settling in high‐risk areas to increase their reproductive performance. However, the cues used for settlement decisions are poorly known in most species. Population sizes of the migratory wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix are characterized by strong annual fluctuations, which are negatively correlated with the number of forest rodents. Wood warblers might avoid rodent‐rich areas to reduce predation risk arising either from rodents, from rodent‐hunting predators attracted to such areas or from predators not linked to rodents. To evaluate these hypotheses, we conducted a large‐scale field experiment to test whether wood warblers avoided settling in plots with high predation risk simulated by broadcasting vocalizations of rodents or predators. Moreover, we tested whether reproductive performance varied in relation to simulated predation risk. Settlement patterns did not differ between plots with rodent, predator and noise control treatments. Likewise, measures of reproductive performance did not seem to differ across treatments. Thus, the broadcasted vocalizations of rodents and predators did not seem to be perceived as threat by wood warblers. Alternatively, the species might use other cues than those presented here, either other acoustic cues, visual and/or olfactory cues or a combination of cue types during settlement. Further experimental investigations to pin point cues and senses relevant for settlement decisions in wood warblers and birds in general are needed to better understand their life history and population dynamics.

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Numerical response of mammalian carnivores to rodents affects bird reproduction in temperate forests: A case of apparent competition?

Cited by 20 publications

References 58 publications

Patterns of predator behaviour and Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix nest survival in a primaeval forest

Patterns of predator behaviour and Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix nest survival in a primaeval forest

Nest predator avoidance during habitat selection of a songbird varies with mast peaks and troughs

Does acoustically simulated predation risk affect settlement and reproduction of a migratory passerine?

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