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Predation of artificial nests by introduced rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in Florida, USA

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Abstract

Native throughout Asia, rhesus macaques are believed to have the widest native range of any non-human primate and are capable of adapting to an extensive diversity of habitats. Rhesus macaques have caused environmental degradation in introduced habitats, including decreasing bird populations through nest predation. In the 1930s, rhesus macaques were intentionally introduced into what is today Silver Springs State Park (SSSP), central Florida, in an effort to increase tourism. Our objective was to determine whether introduced rhesus macaques in SSSP would consume eggs presented in artificial nests. We used camera traps adjacent to 100 open-cupped artificial bird nests baited with quail eggs near the Silver River. Nests were placed in shrubs and left in the field site for 12 days, representative of the incubation period of native passerine species. Twenty-one nests were depredated by rhesus macaques, nine by nest predators other than macaques, and five nests by an unidentified predator. Nests were more likely to be depredated by macaques when located in areas of high macaque relative abundance. This study suggests introduced rhesus macaques may influence nest predation rates of native bird species in natural areas.

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Acknowledgments

Research funding was provided by the USDA National Needs Fellowship. We thank the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for providing field equipment, Sally Lieb and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for allowing us to conduct this research in Silver Springs State Park, Bob Gottschalk for his guidance and volunteer hours on this project, and Dr. Theron Terhune and James Colee for statistical guidance. This project was approved by the University of Florida’s animal ethics committee (IACUC Protocol No. 201308022).

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Correspondence to C. Jane Anderson.

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Anderson, C.J., Hostetler, M.E., Sieving, K.E. et al. Predation of artificial nests by introduced rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in Florida, USA. Biol Invasions 18, 2783–2789 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-016-1195-1

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