Abstract
A large part of the variation in bird reproductive success is often explained by nest predation. Many studies report negative relationships between breeding density and reproductive success due to the predation effect. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the total nest density should affect nest predation stronger than the nest density of a single species. We used a large sample (n = 320) of Booted Warbler Iduna caligata and Whinchat Saxicola rubetra nests obtained during a period of 6 years in abandoned fields. We used model selection to evaluate effects of density, nest age, season and year on daily nest survival rate. We used a single-species (the distance to the nearest conspecific nest and the number of conspecific nests around the focal nest) and total (the distance to the nearest nest of any passerine species and the total number of passerine nests around the focal nest) nest-density variables. Our results suggest that nest density affects nest survival negatively. Both Booted Warbler and Whinchat nests were more likely to be depredated when neighboring nests of any passerine species were closer. Daily nest survival rates were better predicted by the total nest density than single-species nest density. We suggest that generalist predators performing an area-restricted search may play an important role in nest predation in abandoned fields. The total nest density should be estimated when studying density-dependent nest predation as conclusions about nest predation based on single-species nest densities may be incorrect. The potential impact of density-dependent predation on real nests should be considered when designing artificial nest experiments.
Zusammenfassung
Die artspezifische Rate der Nestprädation hängt bei offenbrütenden Singvögeln von der gesamten Nestdichte aller Arten ab
Ein Großteil der Variation im Bruterfolg von Vögeln wird häufig mit der Nestprädationsrate erklärt. Viele Studien berichten von negativen Beziehungen zwischen Brutdichte und Bruterfolg aufgrund des Prädationseffekts. In der vorliegenden Arbeit testeten wir die Hypothese, dass die Gesamtnestdichte die Nestprädation stärker beeinflusst als die Nestdichte einer einzelnen Art. Wir verwendeten eine große Stichprobe (n = 320) von Nestern des Buschspötters (Iduna caligata) und des Braunkehlchens (Saxicola rubetra), die im Verlauf von sechs Jahren in brachgelegten Feldern gefunden worden waren. Wir nutzten ein Modellauswahlverfahren, um die Effekte von Nestdichte, Alter, Saison und Jahr auf die tägliche Überlebensrate der Nester zu bestimmen. Wir verwendeten Nestdichtevariablen einer einzigen Art (Distanz zum nächsten Nest der gleichen Art und die Anzahl Nester der gleichen Art um das jeweilig betrachtete Nest) und Variablen der Gesamtnestdichte (Distanz zum nächsten Nest aller Singvogelarten und die Gesamtzahl an Singvogelnestern um das jeweilig betrachtete Nest). Unsere Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass die Nestdichte die Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeit eines Nests negativ beeinflusst. Sowohl Buschspötter wie auch Braunkehlchennester fielen mit einer erhöhten Wahrscheinlichkeit Prädation zum Opfer, wenn benachbarte Singvogelnester von gleich welcher Art näher lagen. Die täglichen Überlebensraten der Nester wurden von der Gesamtnestdichte besser vorhergesagt als von der Nestdichte einer einzelnen Art. Wir nehmen an, dass Generalisten unter den Prädatoren, die in bereichsbeschränkten Mustern nach Nahrung suchen, eine bedeutende Rolle bei der Nestprädation in brachgelegten Feldern zukommt. Wenn man dichteabhängige Nestprädation untersucht, sollte die Gesamtnestdichte abgeschätzt werden, und Ergebnisse zur Nestprädation, die auf den Nestdichten einer einzigen Art beruhen, können inkorrekt sein. Der potentielle Einfluss von dichteabhängiger Prädation auf echte Nester sollte bei der Konzeption von Experimenten mit Kunstnestern berücksichtigt werden.
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Acknowledgements
This study was funded by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant numbers 13-04-00745 and 16-04-01383). The fieldwork in the Russky Sever National Park was made possible with the support of the administration of the park, particularly A. L. Kuznetsov and L. V. Kuznetsova. Students and graduates of the Department of Zoology and Ecology, Moscow Pedagogical State University were involved in the fieldwork. We thank Jere Tolvanen and the anonymous reviewers for their help in improving the manuscript.
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Shitikov, D., Vaytina, T., Makarova, T. et al. Species-specific nest predation depends on the total passerine nest density in open-nesting passerines. J Ornithol 159, 483–491 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-017-1526-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-017-1526-8