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25 results for “nest predation risk”
Data from: Nest structure affects auditory and visual detectability, but not predation risk, in a tropical songbird community
1. Offspring mortality varies dramatically among species with critical demographic and evolutionary ramifications, yet the causes of this variation remain unclear. Nests are widely used for breeding across taxa and thought to influence offspring mortality risk. Traditionally, more complex, enclosed nest structures are thought to reduce offspring predation by reducing the visibility of nest contents and muffling offspring sounds compared to open nests. Direct tests of the functional bases for nest structure influences on predation risk are lacking. 2. We used experiments and 10 years of observational data to examine how nest structure influences nest predation risk in a diverse community of tropical songbirds. First, we examined how nest size was related to nest structure and nest predation rates across species. Second, we assessed how nest structure influences the detectability of nestling begging calls both in field and laboratory settings. Finally, we examined how the acoustic properties of different nest structures influence nest predation risk. Specifically, we experimentally broadcast begging calls from open and enclosed nests to determine how auditory cues and nest structure interact to affect predation on plasticine and quail eggs. We also tested whether nest structure was associated with differences in nest predation rates between the incubation (no begging cues) and nestling (begging cues) stages. 3. We found that enclosed nests are larger than open nests after accounting for adult size, and larger nests had increased predation rates. Moreover, enclosed nests did not consistently alter nestling begging calls in ways that reduce the likelihood of predation compared to open nests. Indeed, begging cues increased predation rates for enclosed but not open cup nests in our playback experiment, and nest predation rates showed greater increases after hatching in enclosed than open cup nests. 4. Ultimately, enclosed nests do not necessarily provide greater predation benefits than open nests in contrast to long standing theory.
Data from: Nest predation risk explains variation in avian clutch size
Questions about the ecological drivers of, and mechanistic constraints on, productivity have driven research on life history evolution for decades. Resource availability and offspring mortality are considered among the two most important influences on the number of offspring per reproductive attempt. We used a factorial experimental design to manipulate food abundance and perceived offspring predation risk in a wild avian population (red-faced warblers; Cardellina rubrifrons) to identify the mechanistic cause of variation in avian clutch size. Additionally, we tested whether female quality helped explain the extant variation in clutch size. We found no support for the Food Limitation or Female Quality Hypotheses, but we did find support for both predictions of the Nest Predation Risk Hypothesis. Females that experienced an experimentally heightened perception of offspring predation risk responded by laying a smaller clutch than females in the control group. Additionally, predation rates at artificial nests were highest where red-faced warbler clutch size was smallest (at high elevations). Life history theory predicts that an individual should invest less in reproduction when high nest predation risk reduces the likely benefit from that nesting attempt, and indeed we found that birds exhibit phenotypic plasticity in clutch size by laying fewer eggs in response to increasing nest predation risk.
Data from: Nest structure affects auditory and visual detectability, but not predation risk, in a tropical songbird community
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Data from: Nest predation risk explains variation in avian clutch size
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Data from: Does nest predation risk affect the frequency of extra-pair paternity in a socially monogamous passerine?
While considerable variations in both the frequency of extra-pair paternity (EPP) and the behavioral events that produce it are recognized among species, populations, individuals, and breeding attempts, the determinants of these variations are surprisingly difficult to establish. Nest predation may be one such determinant, since it is the most important source of reproductive failure, and past studies have suggested a variety of reproductive flexibilities under nest predation risk. However, despite its potentially significant effect on mating behaviors, nest predation risk has rarely been discussed in association with variations in intraspecific EPP patterns. Here, we examined the effect of naturally occurring nest predation, which varied between sites, years, and breeding attempts, on patterns of EPP in 92 broods (132 adults and 710 nestlings) of the Japanese great tit Parus major minor. We found that the frequency of extra-pair offspring was positively correlated with the nest predation rate, along with a correlation to breeding attempts in a season, but not with other factors such as individual quality or breeding density. Under high nest-predation risk, it may be adaptive for males to search for additional extra-pair copulation to spread the risk of losing all offspring and to invest less in mate-guarding, which also enables females to seek additional extra-mating. The results of this study suggest that nest predation risk, among other factors, may significantly influence paternity allocation in birds.
Data from: Spatio-temporal responses of predators to hyperabundant geese affect risk of predation for sympatric-nesting species
The Arctic is undergoing rapid changes, with anthropogenic shifts in climate having important and well-documented impacts on habitat. Populations of predators and their prey are affected by changing climate and other anthropogenic factors, and these changing trophic interactions could have profound effects on breeding populations of Arctic birds. Variable abundance of lemmings (a primary prey of generalist Arctic predators) and increasing abundance of light geese (Lesser Snow and Ross' Geese; a secondary prey) could have negative consequences for numerous sympatric shorebirds (an incidental prey). Using 16 years of predator-prey observations and 13-years of shorebird nest survival data at a site near a goose colony we identify relationships among geese, lemmings, and their shared predators and then relate predator indices to shorebird risk of nest predation. During two years, we also placed time-lapse cameras and artificial shorebird nests at increasing distances from a goose colony to document spatial trends in predators and their effect on risk of predation. In the long-term data, yearly indices of light geese positively influenced indices of gulls and jaegers, and shorebird nest predation rate was negatively correlated with jaeger and fox indices. All three predator indices were highest near the goose colony and artificial nest predation probability was negatively correlated with distance from goose colony, but these effects were less apparent during the second year. Combined, these results highlight the variation in predator-mediated interactions between geese and shorebirds and outline one mechanism by which hyperabundant geese may be contributing to local or regional declines in Arctic-nesting shorebird populations.
Data from: Nest predation risk and growth strategies of passerine species: grow fast or develop traits to escape risk?
Different body components are thought to trade off in their growth and development rates, but the causes for relative prioritization of any trait remains a critical question. Offspring of species at higher risk of predation might prioritize development of locomotor traits that facilitate escaping risky environments over growth of mass. We tested this possibility in 12 altricial passerine species that differed in their risk of nest predation. We found that rates of growth and development of mass, wings, and endothermy increased with nest predation risk across species. In particular, species with higher nest predation risk exhibited relatively faster growth of wings than of mass, fledged with relatively larger wing sizes and smaller mass, and developed endothermy earlier at relatively smaller mass. This differential development can facilitate both escape from predators and survival outside of the nest environment. Tarsus growth was not differentially prioritized with respect to nest predation risk, and instead all species achieved adult tarsus size by age of fledging. We also tested whether different foraging modes (aerial, arboreal, and ground foragers) might explain the variation of differential growth of locomotor modules, but we found that little residual variation was explained. Our results suggest that differences in nest predation risk among species are associated with relative prioritization of body components to facilitate escape from the risky nest environment.
Data from: Spatiotemporal patterns of duck nest density and predation risk: a multi-scale analysis of 18 years and more than 10 000 nests
Many avian species are behaviorally-plastic in selecting nest sites, and may shift to new locations or habitats following an unsuccessful breeding attempt. If there is predictable spatial variation in predation risk, the process of many individuals using prior experience to adaptively change nest sites may scale up to create shifting patterns of nest density at a population level. We used 18 years of waterfowl nesting data to assess whether there were areas of consistently high or low predation risk, and whether low-risk areas increased, and high-risk areas decreased in nest density the following year. We created kernel density maps of successful and unsuccessful nests in consecutive years and found no correlation in predation risk and no evidence for adaptive shifts, although nest density was correlated between years. We also examined between-year correlations in nest density and nest success at three smaller spatial scales: individual nesting fields (10–28 ha), 16-ha grid cells and 4-ha grid cells. Here, results were similar across all scales: we found no evidence for year-to-year correlation in nest success but found strong evidence that nest density was correlated between years, and areas of high nest success increased in nest density the following year. Prior research in this system has demonstrated that areas of high nest density have higher nest success, and taken together, our results suggest that ducks may adaptively select nest sites based on the local density of conspecifics, rather than the physical location of last year's nest. In unpredictable environments, current cues, such as the presence of active conspecific nests, may be especially useful in selecting nest sites. The cues birds use to select breeding locations and successfully avoid predators deserve continued attention, especially in systems of conservation concern.
Figure 3 in Nest-site microhabitat association of red-billed leiothrix in subtropical fragmented forest in central China: evidence for a reverse edge effect on nest predation risk?
Figure 3. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS) ordination of 237 sample units of microhabitat characteristics in the forest, and the joint plot of NMS scores with important microhabitat variables (r2> 0.2). The first and third axes represent 30% and 46% of the total variation, respectively.
Figure 4 in Nest-site microhabitat association of red-billed leiothrix in subtropical fragmented forest in central China: evidence for a reverse edge effect on nest predation risk?
Figure 4. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS) ordination of 134 sample units of microhabitat characteristics in the scrub-grassland, and the joint plot of NMS scores with important microhabitat variables (r2> 0.2). The first and second axes represent 78% and 15% of the total variation, respectively.
Figure 1 in Nest-site microhabitat association of red-billed leiothrix in subtropical fragmented forest in central China: evidence for a reverse edge effect on nest predation risk?
Figure 1. Study areas and vegetation types for nest-site selection of the red-billed leiothrix in Daweishan Nature Reserve (DSNR; 28°20′54″–28°28′47″N, 114°01′51″–114°12′52″E), Hunan Province, China.
Mesopredator predation risk limits northern bobwhite nesting habitat
Predators can significantly limit the amount of available habitat for vulnerable prey. Encouraging spatial segregation of predators and prey through habitat management prescriptions may be a useful tool to increase productivity and abundances of prey species of conservation concern. We estimated the total area of low-risk nesting habitat by interacting predator habitat selection models with northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) nest-site selection models. We used trail cameras, transect sampling, spotlighting transects, and incidental tracking to survey and map occurrences of mesopredators at a site in western Oklahoma, USA. We created broad-scale resource selection function models for bobwhite nest-site and mesopredator habitat selection using generalized linear models to create maps of occurrence probability in ArcGIS. Bobwhite nests were more likely to be depredated in areas of high selection by coyotes (Canis latrans) and striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) compared to areas with low mesopredator selection. Approximately 392 ha of bobwhite nesting habitat (17%) had low probabilities of selection by both coyotes and striped skunks. Our results demonstrate the need for incorporating species' interactions into estimations of available habitat. Based on the total area of highly selected cover by northern bobwhite, approximately 29% of the study area would have been deemed suitable for nesting. However, only 5% of that area is predicted to have low predation risk.
Data from: Spatio-temporal responses of predators to hyperabundant geese affect risk of predation for sympatric-nesting species
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Data from: Nest predation risk and growth strategies of passerine species: grow fast or develop traits to escape risk?
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Data from: Predation risk landscape modifies flying and red squirrel nest site occupancy independently of habitat amount
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Data from: Nest predation in New Zealand songbirds: exotic predators, introduced prey and long-term changes in predation risk
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Mesopredator predation risk limits northern bobwhite nesting habitat
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Data from: Parent birds assess nest predation risk: influence of cavity condition and avian nest predator activity
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Data from: Does nest predation risk affect the frequency of extra-pair paternity in a socially monogamous passerine?
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Data from: Spatiotemporal patterns of duck nest density and predation risk: a multi-scale analysis of 18 years and more than 10 000 nests
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