Preliminary Test of the Ecological Trap Hypothesis

Ratti, John T.; Reese, Kerry P.

doi:10.2307/3801596

Cited by 153 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 22 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Hence, the possibility that the occurrence of mammalian predators in edge elements was the result of overflow from one habitat through the habitat edge into the second habitat (i.e., the spillover model; the matrix edge effect, sensu Lidicker 1999) was not supported during the second year. Although the spillover model has been supported by empirical data in several cases (Andrén and Angelstam 1988;Heske 1995), many studies have not been able to test this hypothesis because predation patterns have rarely been measured across the whole ecotone continuum (but see Gates and Gysel 1978;Ratti and Reese 1988).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing mechanistic explanations for mammalian predator responses to habitat edges

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Increased predator activity along habitat edges (the edge effect) is often documented in the temperate zone, but earlier studies have rarely been able to explicitly test the suggested mechanisms underlining this phenomenon. In this study, we measured the distribution of mammalian predators by scent stations and their main prey (rodents) in four types of landscape elements corresponding to an edge gradient between two habitat types; grassland and forest. We found a contrasting pattern in carnivore activities between years. Whereas carnivores did not exhibit a significant occurrence along the forest-grassland edge in the first year with low prey abundance, they were more likely to be detected along habitat edges in the subsequent year with high prey abundance. Our results do not suggest that the increased activity of carnivores at habitat edges arises as a consequence of predator overflow from higher quality habitat through the edge into lower quality habitat, but showed that most predator species focus their activity specifically to the edge structure. On the other hand, our data do not provide straightforward support for the hypothesis that predator edge preferences are caused by a spatial gradient in carnivores' main prey-rodents.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing mechanistic explanations for mammalian predator responses to habitat edges

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The edges of roads have a richer vegetation structure, a larger proportion of segetal plants and can also offer food from anthropogenic sources (Helle and Muona 1985;Huhta et al 1999;Kuitunen et al 2003). But, nesting on woodland margins carries a greater threat from predators, which more often hunt along the edges of a habitat than in its interior (Kuitunen and Helle 1988;Ratti and Reese 1988). The selection of an ecotone as a nesting site is thus encumbered with a greater risk: a site with superior food resources that is subject to greater pressure from predation (Benitez-López et al 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of road traffic on a breeding community of woodland birds

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The very rapid development of the road infrastructure in recent years has adversely affected the natural environment. The main effects of this have been the loss or deteriorating quality of habitats, the mortality of animals due to collisions with road vehicles, the withdrawal of birds as a result of disturbance and excessive noise in the neighbourhood of roads. In this study, we attempted to define the influence of a busy road on a breeding community of woodland birds. Individuals were counted using the point method at 54 observation points located at three various distances (60, 310, 560 m) from the road. At each point, we determined the habitat parameters and the intensity of noise. In total, 995 individuals of 39 species were recorded on the study plot. This study showed that the area was homogeneous with respect to habitat. The number of birds per point increased with distance from the road. Species diversity was lower near the road. The density of nine common species increased with distance from the road. Great Tit Parus major and Song Thrush Turdus philomelos preferred the neighbourhood of the road, whereas the numbers of the other species were the highest in the middle row of points. The number and species diversity of birds were correlated with the pattern of sound propagation across our study area. Our results showed that the species particularly sensitive to road traffic were those nesting near the ground and with low-frequency calls.

show abstract

“…Others, however, did not find increased predation rates at forest edges (Yahner and Wright 1985, Angelstam 1986, Ratti and Reese 1988. Angelstam (1986) argued that edge effects due to predators from outside a forest patch are most likely to occur if the productivity gradient between the patch and the surrounding matrix was steep.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat Fragmentation, Nest Site Selection, and Nest Predation Risk in Capercaillie

Storch¹

1991

Ornis Scandinavica

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Storch, I. 1990. Habitat fragmentation, nest site selection, and nest predation risk in Capercaillie. -Ornis Scand. 22: 213-217.Nest site preferences of Capercaillie Tetra° urogallus and nest predation risk in relation to habitat fragmentation patterns were studied in an area of the Bavarian Alps, West Germany. Nest sites were located through radio-equipped females. Hens strongly preferred to nest in edge habitats, namely between mature forests and clearcuts. Nest predation risk was assessed by an experiment with artificial nests, considering effects of successional stage, patch size, and distance of nests from an edge. About two thirds of the nests were destroyed, mostly by mammal predators. Losses were lowest in stands of the youngest and the oldest successional stages. Predation was lower in edge habitats than inside forest stands. No difference in predation risk or in nest site preferences was found in relation to stand size. The results suggest that Capercaillie hens selected nest sites in order to minimize predation risk.

show abstract

Preliminary Test of the Ecological Trap Hypothesis

Cited by 153 publications

References 22 publications

Testing mechanistic explanations for mammalian predator responses to habitat edges

Testing mechanistic explanations for mammalian predator responses to habitat edges

The effect of road traffic on a breeding community of woodland birds

Habitat Fragmentation, Nest Site Selection, and Nest Predation Risk in Capercaillie

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About