Determinants of nest success in the marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum)

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (9) ◽  
pp. 2277-2281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary E. Jackson ◽  
David E. Scott ◽  
Ruth A. Estes
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Success ◽  
Breeding Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Free Swimming ◽  
Nest Distribution ◽  
Ambystoma Opacum ◽  
Marbled Salamander

Nest distribution and nest success (i.e., the proportion of a clutch that successfully hatched to the free-swimming larval stage) of the terrestrial-breeding marbled salamander, Ambystoma opacum, was examined at a breeding site in South Carolina, U.S.A. Females placed nests in areas of high total vegetative cover, and tended to concentrate nests in the lowest portion of the breeding site. Nests placed at high and medium elevations exhibited a nonrandom aggregated pattern, whereas nests at low elevations were randomly distributed. Nest success of 85 nests was highest at low elevations, and was positively correlated with the number of days a female remained with (brooded) the nest. Natural selection may favor nest site selection and nest brooding behavior as mechanisms to reduce embryonic mortality.

On the Evolution of Nest Site Selection in the Marbled Salamander, Ambystoma opacum

Copeia ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 1981 (2) ◽  
pp. 387 ◽  
Author(s):  
James W. Petranka ◽  
John G. Petranka
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Ambystoma Opacum ◽  
Marbled Salamander

scholarly journals Greater Sage-Grouse nest bowls buffer microclimate in a post-megafire landscape although effects on nest survival are marginal

The Condor ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 123 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher R Anthony ◽  
Christian A Hagen ◽  
Katie M Dugger ◽  
R Dwayne Elmore
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Nest Success ◽  
Nest Survival ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Sage Grouse ◽  
Burned Areas ◽  
Visual Obstruction

Abstract Temperature at fine spatial scales is an important driver of nest site selection for many avian species during the breeding season and can influence nest success. Sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) communities have areas with high levels of vegetation heterogeneity and high thermal variation; however, fire removes vegetation that provides protection from predators and extreme environmental conditions. To examine the influence of microclimates on Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) nest site selection and nest success in a fire-affected landscape, we measured black bulb temperature (Tbb) and vegetation attributes (e.g., visual obstruction) at 3 spatial scales (i.e. nest bowl, microsite, and landscape) in unburned and burned areas. Nest bowls exhibited greater buffering of Tbb than both nearby microsites and the broader landscape. Notably, nest bowls were warmer in cold temperatures, and cooler in hot temperatures, than nearby microsites and the broader landscape, regardless of burn stage. Nest survival (NS) was higher for nests in unburned areas compared to nests in burned areas (unburned NS = 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.33–0.54; burned NS = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.10–0.46). The amount of bare ground was negatively associated with NS, but effects diminished as the amount of bare ground reached low levels. Shrub height and visual obstruction were positively associated with NS during the entire study period, whereas minimum Tbb had a weaker effect. Our findings demonstrate that thermoregulatory selection by Greater Sage-Grouse at nest sites had marginal effects on their NS. However, given that increases in vegetation structure (e.g., shrub height) provide thermal refuge and increase NS, vegetation remnants or regeneration in a post-fire landscape could be critical to Greater Sage-Grouse nesting ecology.

scholarly journals Landscape effects on nest site selection and nest success of Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus in lowland wet grasslands

Bird Study ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolas P. Bertholdt ◽  
Jennifer A. Gill ◽  
Rebecca A. Laidlaw ◽  
Jennifer Smart
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Success ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Landscape Effects ◽  
Vanellus Vanellus ◽  
Wet Grasslands

scholarly journals Influence of olfactory and visual cover on nest site selection and nest success for grassland-nesting birds

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (16) ◽  
pp. 6247-6258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dillon T. Fogarty ◽  
R. Dwayne Elmore ◽  
Samuel D. Fuhlendorf ◽  
Scott R. Loss
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Success ◽  
Nest Site Selection

Marbled salamanders (Ambystoma opacum) choose low elevation nest sites when cover availability is controlled

2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Scott ◽  
Dean Croshaw
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Reproductive Behavior ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Breeding Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Selective Forces

AbstractNest site selection is an important part of adult reproductive behavior because growth and survival of young are often affected by the local environment. In terrestrially nesting marbled salamanders, nest elevation is likely important to reproductive success because it is directly related to the time of hatching. We tested the hypothesis that females choose nest sites based on elevation and its correlates by controlling the availability of nesting cover, a potentially important factor in nest site selection which often covaries with elevation. Breeding adults were confined to field enclosures in which natural nesting cover had been removed and replaced with equal proportions of artificial cover in each of three elevation zones. In four enclosures that spanned from lowest to highest areas of a wetland breeding site, females used artificial nesting cover most frequently at low elevations. These results contrast with other studies in which intermediate elevations had highest nest densities, but are consistent with a conceptual model in which opposing selective forces result in locally adapted nest site selection.

Nest-site selection in the Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis) in central New Hampshire

2011 ◽  
Vol 89 (12) ◽  
pp. 1172-1177 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.L. Goodnow ◽  
L.R. Reitsma
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Ground Structure ◽  
Neotropical Migrant ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Declining Species

Reproductive success in birds is largely influenced by nest-site selection. Nest predators are the greatest source of nest failure for most species of birds. Species that nest on the ground may be particularly adapted to maximally conceal nests to reduce the risk of loss to predators. Little is known about nest-site selection in the Canada Warbler ( Wilsonia canadensis (L., 1766)), a small ground-nesting Neotropical migrant. We predicted higher amounts of vegetative cover at successful nests of Canada Warblers compared with unsuccessful nests because detection by predators would decrease with greater cover. We measured vegetative characteristics (concealment, stem densities, ground cover) around each nest and compared these variables between successful and unsuccessful nests and between actual nests and mock nest sites on and off territories. Greater concealment and higher stem densities were the main features surrounding a successful nest site. Nest sites had significantly greater concealment when compared with both random mock nest sites on and off territories. Thus, concealment is important for this ground nester and achieved primarily through thick cover and strategic nest placement in vertical substrate with an inconspicuous opening to the nest cup. Forests with complex ground structure and thickets of small-stemmed woody plants should be targets of conservation when considering how to manage this declining species.

scholarly journals Nest-site selection and nest success of an Arctic-breeding passerine, Smith's Longspur, in a changing climate

The Condor ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather R. McFarland ◽  
Steve Kendall ◽  
Abby N. Powell
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Success ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Changing Climate

Nest-site selection by Blue-black Grassquits in a Neotropical savanna: do choices influence nest success?

2008 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thais M. Aguilar ◽  
Raphael I. Dias ◽  
Ailton C. Oliveira ◽  
Regina H. Macedo
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Success ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Neotropical Savanna
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document