Nest Site Selection by Kentish Plover Suggests a Trade-Off between Nest-Crypsis and Predator Detection Strategies

Gómez‐Serrano, Miguel Ángel; López‐López, Pascual

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0107121

Cited by 47 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 49 publications

(82 reference statements)

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“…However, younger plover chicks were more often observed crouching in-place, relying on their cryptic coloration to hide rather than running for cover. It is possible that predominately open areas could provide adults a better visual range to detect approaching predators, similar to the suggestion made regarding nest-site selection where open areas could improve outward visibility to facilitate nestdefense behaviors (Anteau et al 2012b;Gómez-Serrano and López-López 2014) and to reduce depredation risk to incubating adults (Amat and Masero 2004). Early detection of an approaching predator allows time for the broods to take evasive action, such as chicks crouching to remain undetected or running to cover, and for adults to use such behaviors as a broken-wing display to lure predator attention away from chicks.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

Habitat selection and movements of Piping Plover broods suggest a tradeoff between breeding stages

et al. 2015

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In precocial birds, adults select breeding areas using cues associated with habitat characteristics that are favorable for nesting success and chick survival, but there may be tradeoffs in habitat selection between these breeding stages. Here we describe habitat selection and intra-territory movements of 53 Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) broods (320 observations) during the 2007-2008 breeding seasons on mainland-and island-shoreline habitats at Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota, USA. We used remotely sensed habitat characteristics to separately examine habitat selection and movements at two spatiotemporal scales to account for potential confounding effects of nest-site selection on brood-rearing habitat used. The scales used were (1) the entire brood-rearing period within available brood-rearing areas and (2) 2-day observation intervals within age-specific discrete habitat selection choice sets. Analyses at both scales indicated that broods selected areas which were non-vegetated, moderately level, and nearer to the shoreline. Rate of brood movement increased with age up to 5 days, then stabilized; broods that hatched [50 m away from the shoreline moved toward the shoreline. Brood movements were greater when they were in vegetated areas, when the brood-rearing area was of greater topographic complexity, and when broods aged 6-25 days were further away from the shoreline. Using inferences from our results and those of previously published work, we postulate how a potential tradeoff in habitat selection between nesting and brood-rearing can contribute to an ecological trap in a novel habitat. This work, in the context of published works, suggests that plover breeding habitat is a complex of both nesting and brood-rearing habitats and provides a basis for making remotely sensed abundance estimates of suitable breeding habitat for Piping Plovers. Keywords Discrete choice analysis Á Habitat use decisions Á Home range Á Parental care Á Shorebird Á Space use Á Territory quality Zusammenfassung Habitatwahl und Ortsbewegungen von Bruten des Gelbfuß-Regenpfeifers zeigen Entscheidungskonflikte zwischen Brutstadien Bei Nestflüchtern wählen die adulten Vögel die Brutgebiete nach Habitateigenschaften, die von Vorteil sind für den Bruterfolg und für das Ü berleben der Küken, aber es könnte Entscheidungskonflikte (Tradeoffs) bei der Habitatwahl geben zwischen diesen verschiedenen Brutstadien. Wir beschrieben Habitatwahl und intraterritoriale Bewegungen von 53 Bruten des Gelbfuß-Regenpfeifers (Charadrius melodus) anhand von 320 Beobachtungen während der Brutsaison

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

Habitat selection and movements of Piping Plover broods suggest a tradeoff between breeding stages

et al. 2015

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“…For precocial birds whose chicks must feed themselves soon after hatch, proximity to foraging habitat can have a profound effect on habitat selection (Fraser & Catlin, ; Walker et al, ) and chick survival (Cohen, Houghton, & Fraser, ; Gibson, Blomberg, Atamian, & Sedinger, ; Loegering & Fraser, ), and these selective pressures must be weighed against other concerns (Chalfoun & Schmidt, ). Adult birds also must balance their own safety with that of their nests, and these trade‐offs may obscure the relationship between selection and fitness (Chalfoun & Schmidt, ; Gomez‐Serrano & Lopez‐Lopez, ; Guilherme, Burnside, Collar, & Dolman, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Adult birds also must balance their own safety with that of their nests, and these trade-offs may obscure the relationship between selection and fitness (Chalfoun & Schmidt, 2012;Gomez-Serrano & Lopez-Lopez, 2014;Guilherme, Burnside, Collar, & Dolman, 2018).…”

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confidence: 99%

Habitat selection and potential fitness consequences of two early‐successional species with differing life‐history strategies

Catlin

Gibson

Friedrich

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Habitat selection and its relationship to fitness is a fundamental concept in ecology, but the mechanisms driving this connection are complex and difficult to detect. Despite the difficulties in understanding such intricate relationships, it is imperative that we study habitat selection and its relationship with fitness. We compared habitat selection of least terns (Sternula antillarum) and piping plovers (Charadrius melodus) on the Missouri River (2012–2014) to examine the consequences of those choices on nest and chick survival. We hypothesized that plovers and terns would select habitat that minimized the chance of flooding and predation of eggs, chicks, and adults, but that plovers would also select habitat that would provide foraging habitat for their chicks. We developed an integrated habitat selection model that assessed selection across multiple scales (sandbar and nest scales) and directly modeled the effect of selection on nest and chick survival. In general, the species selected habitat in keeping with our hypotheses, such that predation and flooding, in particular, may have been reduced. Sandbar selection had either a negative or no appreciable effect on nest survival for both species across years. Nest‐site selection in 2012 had a generally positive effect on nest survival and chick survival for both terns and plovers, and this trended toward a negative effect by 2014. This result suggested that early selection decisions appeared to be adaptive, but we speculate that relatively high site fidelity and habitat degradation led to reduced benefit over time. Our results highlight the complex nature of habitat selection and its relationship to fitness.

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“…Nice () cited 13 orders and 16 passerine families that use distraction displays to defend their young (Davis ), and Gochfeld () documented their prevalence in shorebirds in particular. Shorebirds are considered to face a trade‐off in selecting nest‐sites (Götmark et al , Gómez‐Serrano & López‐López ), choosing primarily between a cryptic strategy – nesting in habitats with dense and tall vegetation as a means by which to camouflage clutches against predation – and a predator detection strategy, where parents nest in open habitats to increase visibility and the early detection of threats. Which option birds choose may depend on the predator community present and the risk of predation at each stage of reproduction, but certainly many shorebirds appear to avoid nesting in heavily vegetated areas, presumably to increase predator detection (Gochfeld , Martin , Amat & Masero , Muir & Colwell , Saalfeld et al , Anteau et al ).…”

Section: Form and Occurrence Across Avian Taxamentioning

confidence: 99%

Avian distraction displays: a review

Humphreys

Ruxton

2020

Ibis

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Distraction displays are conspicuous behaviours functioning to distract a predator's attention away from the displayer's nest or young, thereby reducing the chance of offspring being discovered and predated. Distraction is one of the riskier parental care tactics, as its success derives from the displaying parent becoming the focus of a predator's attention. Such displays are prominent in birds, primarily shorebirds, but the last comprehensive review of distraction was in 1984. Our review aims to provide an updated synthesis of what is known about distraction displays in birds, and to open up new areas of study by highlighting some of the key avenues to explore and the broadened ecological perspectives that could be adopted in future research. We begin by drawing attention to the flexibility of form that distraction displays can take and providing an overview of the different avian taxa known to use anti‐predator distraction displays, also examining species‐specific sex differences in use. We then explore the adaptive value and evolution of distraction displays, before considering the variation seen in the timing of their use over a reproductive cycle. An evaluation of the efficacy of distraction compared with alternative anti‐predator tactics is then conducted via a cost–benefit analysis. Distraction displays are also found in a handful of non‐avian taxa, and we briefly consider these unusual cases. We conclude by postulating why distraction is primarily an avian behaviour and set out our suggestions for future research into the evolution and ecology of avian distraction displays.

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Nest Site Selection by Kentish Plover Suggests a Trade-Off between Nest-Crypsis and Predator Detection Strategies

Cited by 47 publications

References 49 publications

Habitat selection and movements of Piping Plover broods suggest a tradeoff between breeding stages

Habitat selection and movements of Piping Plover broods suggest a tradeoff between breeding stages

Habitat selection and potential fitness consequences of two early‐successional species with differing life‐history strategies

Avian distraction displays: a review

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