scholarly journals Habitat characteristics and species interference influence space use and nest‐site occupancy: implications for social variation in two sister species

Oikos ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 128 (4) ◽  
pp. 503-516
Author(s):  
Claire M. S. Dufour ◽  
Neville Pillay ◽  
Nico Avenant ◽  
Johan Watson ◽  
Etienne Loire ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nest Site ◽  
Site Occupancy ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Sister Species ◽  
Social Variation

scholarly journals Nest Site Selection and Nesting Success in Saltmarsh Breeding Sparrows: The Importance of Nest Habitat, Timing, and Study Site Differences

The Condor ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 107 (4) ◽  
pp. 849-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carina Gjerdrum ◽  
Chris S. Elphick ◽  
Margaret Rubega
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nesting Success ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Smooth Cordgrass ◽  
Vegetation Model ◽  
Nest Habitat ◽  
Habitat Differences ◽  
Seaside Sparrow

Abstract We examined nest-site selection and nesting success in Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed (Ammodramus caudacutus) and Seaside Sparrows (A. maritimus), at seven sites in Connecticut. We found 160 Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow nests and 23 Seaside Sparrow nests, and compared characteristics of their locations to each other and to random locations. We tracked success of all nests, quantified nest productivity and causes of nest losses, and tested for habitat differences between successful and unsuccessful nests. Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows nested in higher than average locations, where the vegetation was taller and more dense than at random locations, where there was a deep layer of thatch, and where saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens) dominated the vegetation. There was little evidence that habitat characteristics influenced the success of nesting birds, but the timing of nest initiation relative to spring tides was important. Seaside Sparrow nests occurred in even taller vegetation, that was more sparse than average and dominated by the tall form of smooth cordgrass (S. alterniflora). Habitat influenced the success of Seaside Sparrow nests, but timing did not; on average, successful nests occurred in taller vegetation. Model comparisons suggest that vegetation structure influences site selection more than species composition or inherent differences among marshes. Overall, our results indicate that nest flooding is a major threat to successful reproduction in both species, but they have different strategies to avoid flooding. Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows time their reproduction to avoid especially high tides, while Seaside Sparrows avoid flooding spatially by nesting in tall vegetation.

scholarly journals The nesting of Eurasian stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) on the site 'Jaroš' in SNR 'Pašnjaci velike droplje' (Great Bustard Pastures)

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 37-46
Author(s):  
Kristina Tepavac
Keyword(s):  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Site Occupancy ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Reproductive Season ◽  
Defensive Behaviour ◽  
Great Bustard ◽  
Burhinus Oedicnemus ◽  
Reproductive Activities

In the reproductive season of 2018 a successful breeding of Stone curlew was recorded in the Special Nature Reserve "Pastures of Great Bustard" (Northern Serbia). Two breeding pairs with four chicks were monitored on the daily basis from April to late August 2018. Reproductive activities regarding nest site occupancy, egg laying, incubation, hatching, chick rearing as well as predator defensive behaviour was documented.

scholarly journals Seasonal patterns in nest survival of a subtropical wading bird, the Hawaiian Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni)

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10399
Author(s):  
Kristen C. Harmon ◽  
Nathaniel H. Wehr ◽  
Melissa R. Price
Keyword(s):  
Nest Site ◽  
Parental Behavior ◽  
Nest Survival ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Seasonal Patterns ◽  
Vegetation Height ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
Himantopus Mexicanus ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Nesting Season

Nest survival is influenced by where and when birds decide to breed. For ground-nesting species, nest-site characteristics, such as vegetation height and proximity to water, may impact the likelihood of nest flooding or depredation. Further, habitat characteristics, and thus nest survival, may fluctuate across the breeding season. The Hawaiian Stilt (‘Ae‘o; Himantopus mexicanus knudseni) is an endangered Hawaiian waterbird that nests in wetlands across the Hawaiian Islands. In this study, we used observational surveys and nest cameras to examine the impact of nest-site characteristics and day of nesting season on nest survival of the Hawaiian Stilt. Early nests had a higher chance of survival than late nests. For most of the nesting season, taller vegetation was correlated with increased nest survival, while shorter vegetation was correlated with increased nest survival late in the nesting season. Seasonal patterns in nest survival may be due to changes in parental behavior or predator activity. Nest depredation was responsible for 55% of confirmed nest failures and introduced mammals were the primary nest predators. Our study is the first to examine seasonality in nest survival of Hawaiian Stilts and suggests that, despite longer nesting seasons and year-round occupation of wetlands, late nesters in subtropical regions may have lower nest survival than early nesters, similar to trends observed in temperate regions.

scholarly journals Nest-site selection and breeding success of passerines in the world’s southernmost forests

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9892
Author(s):  
Rocío Fernanda Jara ◽  
Ramiro Daniel Crego ◽  
Michael David Samuel ◽  
Ricardo Rozzi ◽  
Jaime Enrique Jiménez
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Survival ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Ecological Trap ◽  
Additional Hypothesis ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Risk Of Predation

Background Birds can maximize their reproductive success through careful selection of nest-sites. The ‘total-foliage’ hypothesis predicts that nests concealed in vegetation should have higher survival. We propose an additional hypothesis, the ‘predator proximity’ hypothesis, which states that nests placed farther from predators would have higher survival. We examined these hypotheses in the world’s southernmost forests of Navarino Island, in the Cape Horn Biosphere reserve, Chile (55°S). This island has been free of mammalian ground predators until recently, and forest passerines have been subject to depredation only by diurnal and nocturnal raptors. Methods During three breeding seasons (2014–2017), we monitored 104 nests for the five most abundant open-cup forest-dwelling passerines (Elaenia albiceps, Zonotrichia capensis, Phrygilus patagonicus, Turdus falcklandii, and Anairetes parulus). We identified nest predators using camera traps and assessed whether habitat characteristics affected nest-site selection and survival. Results Nest predation was the main cause of nest failure (71% of failed nests). Milvago chimango was the most common predator, depredating 13 (87%) of the 15 nests where we could identify a predator. By contrast, the recently introduced mammal Neovison vison, the only ground predator, depredated one nest (7%). Species selected nest-sites with more understory cover and taller understory, which according to the total-foliage hypothesis would provide more concealment against both avian and mammal predators. However, these variables negatively influenced nest survival. The apparent disconnect between selecting nest-sites to avoid predation and the actual risk of predation could be due to recent changes in the predator assemblage driven by an increased abundance of native M. chimango associated with urban development, and/or the introduction of exotic mammalian ground predators to this island. These predator assemblage changes could have resulted in an ecological trap. Further research will be needed to assess hypotheses that could explain this mismatch between nest-site selection and nest survival.

scholarly journals Female Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes (Heterodon platirhinos) choose nest sites that produce offspring with phenotypes likely to improve fitness

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (10) ◽  
pp. 1215-1220 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.A. Peet-Paré ◽  
G. Blouin-Demers
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
First Year ◽  
Temperature Profiles ◽  
Offspring Fitness ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Random Site ◽  
Second Year

Nest-site selection is an important behaviour in oviparous reptiles because incubation conditions affect offspring phenotype, with favourable conditions leading to higher offspring fitness. We aimed to identify the habitat characteristics involved in nest-site selection in Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes ( Heterodon platirhinos Latreille, 1801) and to determine whether females select nest sites that result in offspring with phenotypes likely to improve fitness. We compared the habitat characteristics and temperature profiles of 21 nests with 21 randomly selected sites. Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes selected open, grassy sites with less herbs and shrubs than random sites, and nests were significantly warmer than random sites during the 2 years of the study. In the second year of the study, we incubated 215 eggs from eight nests in a split-clutch design at mean nest (24 °C) and random site (22 °C) temperatures approximating those of the first year of the study. Eggs incubated at 24 °C resulted in neonates that hatched earlier, had fewer scale anomalies, were larger, and swam faster than neonates from eggs incubated at 22 °C. Our results indicate that Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes select nest sites that lead to offspring with phenotypes likely to improve fitness.

scholarly journals Greater Scaup, Aythya marila, Nest Site Characteristics on Grassy Island, New Brunswick

2012 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Jon T. McRoberts ◽  
Nicole T. Quintana ◽  
W. Andrew Smith ◽  
Warren B. Ballard ◽  
F. Patrick Kehoe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Ecological Understanding ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
Nesting Sites

We studied Greater Scaup (Aythya marilla) nest site selection on Grassy Island, New Brunswick, during 1995 and 1996 by describing site selection in relation to habitat characteristics and association with larids using univariate comparisons. We pooled nesting data from both years and found that nesting sites were significantly closer to larid colonies and the edge of the patch of vegetation in which the nests were situated, had less forb canopy cover, more sedge cover, greater overhead concealment and lateral cover at 0–0.25 m, and less ground moisture than random sites. We evaluated Greater Scaup nests delimited as close to or far from larid colonies at 30 m and documented that nests closer to larid colonies were found in shorter vegetation that was closer to the edge of the patch of vegetation with less lateral cover at 0.25–0.5 m, but had greater overhead concealment than nests farther away. Advancements in the ecological understanding of the species, including habitat use patterns and species associations, will increase the likelihood of conservation successes.

Effects of Habitat Characteristics on Gadwall Nest Predation and Nest-Site Selection

1989 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Crabtree ◽  
Linda S. Broome ◽  
Michael L. Wolfe
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Predation ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Habitat Characteristics

scholarly journals Space-use patterns of Malay civets (Viverra tangalunga) persisting within a landscape fragmented by oil palm plantations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meaghan N. Evans ◽  
Carsten T. Müller ◽  
Peter Kille ◽  
Gregory P. Asner ◽  
Sergio Guerrero-Sanchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Resource Utilization ◽  
Forest Structure ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Resource Utilization Functions ◽  
Viverra Tangalunga

Abstract Context Agricultural land use is expanding and is a major driver of the biodiversity crisis. Land use planning initiatives seeking to optimize wildlife conservation are hindered by a lack of baseline data quantifying species’ tolerance to human-modified landscapes. Objectives We explored the influence of landscape characteristics on the fine-scale space-use patterns of a model generalist carnivore, the Malay civet (Viverra tangalunga), within degraded tropical forests and oil palm plantations. Methods We collected over 20,000 GPS locations from 21 male civets in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo to evaluate the species’ space-use patterns and habitat utilization processes. We used movement-based modeling to determine home ranges, and combined the results with high-resolution remotely sensed habitat characteristics. We developed resource utilization functions to determine individual and population-level functional responses to proximity to plantation edge, distance to water, terrain ruggedness, forest structure, and functional diversity. Results Civets foraged within oil palm plantations, yet all animals utilized forests. Home ranges scaled with proportion of plantation within both total and core ranges. Resource utilization functions reported individualism in the species’ responses to habitat characteristics. At the population-scale, civets consistently and more intensely used habitats closer to plantation edges and taller tree canopies. Conclusions Although plantations did not pose an inhospitable matrix, oil palm agriculture is a less suitable habitat than remnant forests for civets. Proximity measures and forest structure influenced the spatial behaviors of this adaptable generalist, highlighting the importance of protected areas. We recommend land-sparing and -sharing approaches to facilitate carnivore persistence across oil palm degraded landscapes.

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