Effect of Spatial Heterogeneity on Ground-Nest Depredation

Bowman, Gillianne; Harris, Larry D.

doi:10.2307/3808308

Cited by 200 publications

(115 citation statements)

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“…The risk of nest predation is influenced by habitat features at the site, such as vegetation complexity and nest placement (Bowman and Harris 1980;Martin 1988;Maller 1988). A study by Gibbs (1991) in tropical wet forest concluded that the greatest risk of nest predation occurred in forest edges surrounded by secondary succession, and that this was amplified in smaller forest patches.…”

Section: Habitat Edges and Predationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of fragmentation and disturbance on the potential impact of feral predators on native fauna in Australian forest ecosystems

May¹,

Norton²

1996

Wildl. Res.

126

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We review current knowledge of the diet and predator-prey relationships of the feral cat (Felis catus), fox (Vulpes vulpes) and dingo (Canis familiaris dingo) (including wild dogs), and consider how forest fragmentation by roads may influence the use of native forest ecosystems by these species and the significance of this for native fauna. The cat, fox and dingo are significant predators in Australia that interact with native fauna in various ways, including predation, competition for resources, and transmission of disease. On the basis of current knowledge, it is clear that the nature and impact of predation by the cat, fox and dingo on native fauna are primarily determined by prey availability, although there are exceptions to this rule. Generally, dingoes prey upon large to medium-sized prey species (e.g. wallabies, common wombats and possums), foxes prey upon medium-sized to small prey (e.g. possums and rats) and consume a significant component of scavenged material and vegetation, while cats also prey upon medium-sized to small prey, but may have a greater proportion of reptiles and birds in their diet. The cat is generally considered to be an opportunistic predator and to have contributed to the demise of a number of mammals. The fox is considered more of a threat to small native mammals than is the cat and it has been asserted that all species of mammals that fall within the critical weight range (CWR) of 120-5000 g are at risk of local extinction when the fox is present. The severity of the impact of the dingo upon the native fauna is considered to be minimal, at least in comparison with the impact that the cat and fox can have on populations. The dingo is not considered a threat to CWR mammals in undisturbed environments. The fox, feral cat and dingo are all considered to have the ability to selectively prey upon species and, to some extent, individual sexes and age-classes of a number of larger prey species.Although many of Australia's forested areas are relatively heavily fragmented by roads, there are no published studies specifically investigating the use of roads by feral predators. Information on the distribution and abundance of foxes, cats and dingoes in these ecosystems, their ecology and their impact on native fauna is particularly limited. Further, the extent to which roads influence the distribution and abundance of these species and the consequences of these for native fauna are poorly known. Given this, we suggest that one of the most important research needs is to establish the relative impact that exotic predators may have on native fauna under varying degrees of road construction within native forests. For example, are areas with and without roads in forests used differently by exotic predators and what is the significance of this in terms of the potential impact on fauna? The extent to which feral predators forage away from roads needs further investigation, as does the rates of predation within edges, because this may have several consequences for the design, location and siz...

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Section: Habitat Edges and Predationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of fragmentation and disturbance on the potential impact of feral predators on native fauna in Australian forest ecosystems

May¹,

Norton²

1996

Wildl. Res.

126

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“…Although many studies have examined the effects of vegetation and prey distribution on predator behavior (Bowman and Harris 1980;Schmidt 1999), few studies have examined the effects of weather. We are aware of two studies that investigated the effects of weather on olfactory predator foraging.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Olfactory predators such as Raccoons (Procyon lotor), Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes), and Striped Skunks (Mephitis mephitis) may employ all five senses to detect and locate prey, but they rely primarily on their acute sense of smell when conditions are favorable for its use (Conover 2007). For example, Raccoons are known to grope and probe with their forefeet to locate food underwater, but they generally detect prey using olfactory cues (Bowman and Harris 1980;McClearn 1992).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Wind and Humidity on Foraging Behavior of Olfactory Mesopredators

Ruzicka

Conover

2011

Can Field Nat

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Many mammalian predators rely on scents to locate prey and weather conditions that affect an odor plume (i.e., scents suspended in air) or depositional odor (i.e., scents laid on the ground) should affect predator foraging behavior. We predicted that wind speed, wind direction, and humidity would influence the foraging behavior of olfactory mesopredators. We tested these predictions by conducting spotlight surveys for foraging Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes), Striped Skunks (Mephitis mephitis), and Raccoons (Procyon lotor) along the dike surrounding Willard Bay Reservoir in Willard, Utah, from August 2008 to August 2009. We recorded predator species, locations, numbers, and weather conditions at the time each predator was observed. While humidity had no effect on foraging, wind speed and direction were significant predictors of a predator's nightly foraging activity, with most predators observed when wind speeds were 2 to 4 m/s and winds were blowing perpendicularly over the dike the dike rather than parallel to the dike. Wind speed and direction also influenced where predators foraged on the dike, with predators being more likely to forage on the windward side of the dike when wind speeds were high enough to cause turbulence. We detected differences among predator species in their response to wind speed: Raccoons were more active than Striped Skunks and Red Foxes when the wind was calm and blowing parallel to the dike. Overall, our results indicate that these predator species alter their foraging behavior based on wind speed and wind direction. By foraging when winds were light and blowing perpendicularly over the dike, predators could likely enhance their ability to locate food using olfaction.

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“…Conversely, tall grass cover and less burned grasses characterising the foraging sites of the Familiar Chat might be influenced by the birds consciousness of its own predators during foraging thus selection of such complex areas might provide a buffer against possible predators (Bowman and Harris, 1980;Martin and Roper, 1988;Gunnarsson, 1996;Warfe and Barmuta, 2004;Janssen et al, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comparison of Foraging Site Characteristics of Two African Resident Insectivorous Birds in a Burned Habitat

Chaskda¹,

Mwansat²

2014

Ethiop. J. Env Stud & Manag

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Detailed investigation of the foraging site utilised by avian species may reveal the habitat factors important in their conservation. This study compared the foraging sites of the Sunlark, Galerida modesta and Familiar Chart, Cercomela familiaris (both African resident insectivorous birds) a week after fire engulfed about one third of the 300 ha of the Amurum Forest Reserve, Nigeria. Foraging sites were compared based on proxies of food availability (ant, grasshopper and other insect abundance) and vegetation structure. Data on food availability and vegetation structures were obtained by quadrate sampling while foraging spots were determined from four stratified transects each surveyed four times during the study. Food availability was not a significant predictor of foraging site characteristics between the two bird species. However of the nine vegetation variables measured, grass height and proportion of burned grass cover per foraging site significantly distinguished the foraging sites of the two bird species; Sunlark foraged more at sites with shorter grasses and high proportion of burned grass cover as compared to the Familiar Chat. The characteristics of the foraging sites observed might have implications on the foraging success of the birds in line with literature on the Influences of vegetation structure on avian foraging behaviour.

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Effect of Spatial Heterogeneity on Ground-Nest Depredation

Cited by 200 publications

References 0 publications

Influence of fragmentation and disturbance on the potential impact of feral predators on native fauna in Australian forest ecosystems

Influence of fragmentation and disturbance on the potential impact of feral predators on native fauna in Australian forest ecosystems

Influence of Wind and Humidity on Foraging Behavior of Olfactory Mesopredators

A Comparison of Foraging Site Characteristics of Two African Resident Insectivorous Birds in a Burned Habitat

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