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Nest-site selection and consequences for nest survival among three sympatric songbirds in an alpine environment

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Abstract

We examined timing of breeding, nest site selection and nest survival of Horned Larks (Eremophila alpestris), Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) and American Pipits (Anthus rubescens) in an alpine habitat on Hudson Bay Mountain, BC, Canada in 2003–2007. These species partitioned their nesting niches temporally and spatially. We compared nest site characteristics among species using one-way ANOVA and logistic regression. Horned Larks (n = 103 nests) initiated breeding 2 weeks earlier (mean = 1 June) than Savannah Sparrows (n = 52, mean = 14 June) and American Pipits (n = 38, mean = 11 June). Horned Larks and American Pipits nested at similar elevations (means = 1714 and 1719 m, respectively); however, lark nests were more exposed (greater bare ground, rock and lichen/moss cover), with minimal nest concealment, while pipit nests, built into banks and soil mounds, had high concealment. Savannah Sparrows nested at lower elevation (mean = 1649 m) with greater dead vegetative cover. We assessed intraspecific habitat preferences for Horned Larks and Savannah Sparrows using logistic regression; both species chose nest sites with greater availability of their preferred habitat characteristics. We used model selection to evaluate effects of nest site characteristics, nest age, season and year on daily nest survival (DNS). Horned Larks displayed the lowest DNS of 0.954 ± 0.009 (n = 189 nests), which varied with year, season and nest age, but was not influenced by site characteristics. In contrast, DNS was highest for Savannah Sparrows (0.961 ± 0.014, n = 89) with strong responses to nest concealment, year and nest age. American Pipits exhibited an intermediate DNS (0.959 ± 0.009, n = 38), which varied with overhead concealment and elevation. Despite the simple structure of the alpine habitat, there was significant niche differentiation in nest site choices among these species. Preferences for nest concealment were positively related to nest survival in Savannah Sparrows and American Pipits but not Horned Larks, indicating how a common environment can differentially influence behavior and demography.

Zusammenfassung

Einfluss der Nistplatzwahl auf das Überleben der Bruten bei drei sympatrischen Singvogelarten in alpinen Habitaten

Wir untersuchten Brutbeginn, Nistplatzwahl und das Überleben der Bruten von Ohrenlerchen (Eremophila alpestris), Grasammern (Passerculus sandwichensis) und Pazifischen Wasserpiepern (Anthus rubescens) in einem alpinen Habitat der Hudson Bay Mountains, BC, Kanada, in den Jahren 2003 bis 2007. Diese Arten unterteilen ihre Brutnischen zeitlich wie räumlich. Wir verglichen die Nistplatzeigenschaften der drei Arten mit Hilfe einer einfachen ANOVA sowie einer logistischen Regression. Ohrenlerchen (n = 103 Nester) zeitigten ihre Bruten zwei Wochen früher (Mittel: 1. Juni) als Grasammern (n = 52; 14. Juni) und Pazifische Wasserpieper (n = 38; 11. Juni). Ohrenlerchen und Wasserpieper nisteten in ähnlichen Höhenlagen (Mittel = 1714 m bzw. 1719 m). Dabei waren die Nester der Ohrenlerchen exponierter (größere offene Bodenstellen, Gestein und Flechten-/Moosbedeckung) und weniger versteckt. Die Nester der Wasserpieper dagegen befanden sich in Uferbänken und Erdhügeln und waren so deutlich versteckter. Grasammern nisteten in niedrigeren Höhenlagen (Mittel = 1649 m) mit einem größeren Anteil toter Vegetation als Nestbedeckung. Mittels logistischer Regressionen ermittelten wir intraspezifische Habitatpräferenzen von Ohrenlerchen und Pazifischen Wasserpiepern. Beide Arten wählten Nistplätze mit einer größeren Verfügbarkeit der von ihnen präferierten Habitateigenschaften. Wir wählten ein Modell aus, um die Effekte von Nistplatzcharakteristika, Brutalter, Saison und Jahr auf die tägliche Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeit der Nester (DNS) zu evaluieren. Ohrenlerchen zeigten die geringste Nest-Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeit von 0.954 ± 0.009 (n = 189 Nester) mit Schwankungen zwischen den Jahren, innerhalb der Saison und Brutalter. Sie war jedoch nicht beeinflusst durch die Nistplatzeigenschaften. Im Gegensatz dazu war die Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeit der Nester von Grasammern (0.961 ± 0.014, n = 89) stark beeinflusst durch ihre Verstecktheit, Jahr und Brutalter. Die Nester von Pazifischen Wasserpiepern zeigten eine mittlere Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeit (0.959 ± 0.009, n = 38), die mit der Nestbedeckung von oben sowie mit der Höhenlage variierte. Trotz der einfachen Struktur alpiner Habitate gab es signifikante Nischenunterschiede bei der Nistplatzwahl der drei untersuchten Arten. Präferenzen für die Verstecktheit von Nestern waren positiv korreliert mit dem Überleben der Nester von Grasammern und Wasserpiepern, nicht jedoch von Ohrenlerchen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, wie ein einfacher Lebensraum Verhalten und Demografie unterschiedlich beeinflussen kann.

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Acknowledgments

We thank C. Ames, A. Clason, M. Mossop, L. Sampson, M. Tomlinson, and L. Wenn for field assistance. M. Drever provided valuable statistical advice and C. Guglielmo and two anonymous reviewers provided helpful comments on previous drafts. This work was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (undergraduate scholarship to M. Martin, postgraduate scholarship to A. F. Camfield, and Discovery and Northern Research Supplement grants to K. Martin), the Northern Scientific Training Program (research grants to M. Martin and A. F. Camfield), American Ornithologists’ Union (student research award to A. F. Camfield), Environment Canada (Science Horizons grant to M. Martin and A. F. Camfield), University of British Columbia (graduate fellowship to A. F. Camfield). All protocols complied with the guidelines for the ethical use of animals and research, set forth by the Canadian Council on Animal Care, and were approved by the University of British Columbia Animal Care Committee (AUP numbers A07-0048).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Forestry, Centre for Applied Conservation Research, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada

    Elizabeth C. MacDonald, Alaine F. Camfield, Michaela Martin & Kathy Martin

  2. Environment Canada, 5421 Robertson Road, RR1, Delta, BC, V4K 3N2, Canada

    Kathy Martin

  3. Environment Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel by Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada

    Scott Wilson

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  1. Elizabeth C. MacDonald
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  2. Alaine F. Camfield
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  3. Michaela Martin
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  4. Scott Wilson
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  5. Kathy Martin
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Correspondence to Elizabeth C. MacDonald.

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Communicated by C. G. Guglielmo.

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MacDonald, E.C., Camfield, A.F., Martin, M. et al. Nest-site selection and consequences for nest survival among three sympatric songbirds in an alpine environment. J Ornithol 157, 393–405 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-015-1286-2

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