Postharvest regeneration, sciurid abundance, and postfledging survival and movements in an Ovenbird population

Haché, Samuel; Bayne, Erin M.; Villard, Marc‐André

doi:10.1650/condor-13-002-r2.1

Cited by 19 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Streby and Andersen (2011) argued that population growth rate should not be estimated on the basis of nest data, but rather on direct estimates of juvenile survival. However, unlike other regions where avian predators play an important role (Streby & Andersen, 2011), ovenbird postfledging survival rate appears to be strongly tied to sciurid abundance (i.e., eastern chipmunk and red squirrel) in our study area (Haché, Bayne, & Villard, 2014). Hence, sugar maple masting would be expected to affect juvenile survival rate, and thus population growth rate, through its influence on sciurid abundance (see also .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Linking songbird nest predation to seedling density: Sugar maple masting as a resource pulse in a forest food web

Fiola

Vernouillet

Villard

2017

Ecology and Evolution

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The ecological literature presents considerable evidence for top‐down forcing on the maintenance of species diversity. Yet, in temperate forests, bottom‐up forces often exert a strong influence on ecosystem functioning. Here, we report on the indirect influence of a pulsed resource, sugar maple (Acer saccharum) seed production, on nest survival in a migratory songbird. We hypothesized that seed production in year t would determine daily nest survival rate in year t + 1 through its effects on seed‐eating rodents. We used the density of sugar maple seedlings (with cotyledons) in year t + 1 as a proxy for seed production in year t and predicted that it would be inversely related to songbird nest survival the same year. We estimated the density of sugar maple seedlings, eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) activity, and daily nest survival rate in the ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) over four successive years in a northern hardwood forest of New Brunswick, Canada. Seedling density varied by two orders of magnitude between years, whereas an index of chipmunk activity changed by an order of magnitude. Both variables were positively correlated and negatively correlated to daily nest survival rate. A logistic‐exposure model including only seedling density received the greatest level of support (lowest AICc). Previous studies have reported the effect of sugar maple masting on seed‐eating rodent populations, but the strong link we report between seedling density and songbird nest survival is novel. A nocturnal seed‐eating nest predator, deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), was not considered in our models, which may explain why chipmunk was not the best predictor of daily nest survival rate. The trophic linkages we observed are remarkably strong for a temperate forest ecosystem and might become more prevalent in northeastern North America, at least on calcium‐rich soils, with the loss of large‐diameter beech trees as a result of beech bark disease.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Linking songbird nest predation to seedling density: Sugar maple masting as a resource pulse in a forest food web

Fiola

Vernouillet

Villard

2017

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Haché et al. () found that survival of young Ovenbirds ( Seiurus aurocapilla ) depended on spatio‐temporal variation in predator abundance. Other investigators have reported no relationship between post‐fledging survival and habitat characteristics (Robles et al.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post‐fledging survival of altricial birds: ecological determinants and adaptation

2016

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For altricial young, fledging is an abrupt step into an unknown environment. Despite increasing numbers of studies addressing the post-fledging period, our current knowledge of the causes and consequences of post-fledging survival remains fragmentary. Here, we review the literature on post-fledging survival of juvenile altricial birds, addressing the following main questions: Is low post-fledging survival a bottleneck in the altricial reproductive cycle? What is known of proximate and ultimate causal factors such as trophic relations (food and predation), habitat conditions, or abiotic factors acting in the post-fledging period? We analyzed weekly survival estimates from 123 data series based on studies of 65 species, covering weeks 1-13 post-fledging. As a general pattern, survival of fledglings was low during the first week post-fledging (median rate = 0.83), and improved rapidly with time post-fledging (week 4 median rate = 0.96). For ground-nesting species, survival immediately after leaving nests was similar to egg-to-fledging survival. For species breeding above-ground, survival during the first week post-fledging was substantially lower than during both the nestling period and later post-fledging stages. Thus, the early post-fledging period is a bottleneck of markedly elevated mortality for most altricial species. Predation was the main proximate cause of mortality. Various factors such as habitat, annual and seasonal variation in the environment, and the physical condition of fledglings have been found to affect post-fledging survival. Individual survival depended strongly on physical traits such as mass and wing length, which likely influence the ability of fledglings to escape predation. Trophic relationships at various levels are the main ultimate driver of adaptation of traits relevant to survival during the pre-and post-fledging periods. Spatiotemporal dynamics of food resources determine the physical development of juveniles and, in turn, their performance after fledging. However, predators can cause quick and efficient selection for fledgling traits and adult breeding decisions. Parental strategies related to clutch size and timing of breeding, and the age and developmental stage at which young fledge have substantial effects on post-fledging survival. The intensity and duration of post-fledging parental investment also influences fledgling survival. Post-fledging mortality is therefore not a random and inevitable loss. Traits and strategies related to fledging and the post-fledging stage create large fitness differentials and, therefore, are integral, yet poorly understood, parts of the altricial reproductive strategy. RESUMEN Supervivencia de aves altriciales luego de salir del nido: determinantes ecol ogicos y adaptaci on Para juveniles altriciales, salir del nido es un paso abrupto hacia un ambiente desconocido. A pesar del incremento en los estudios investigando el periodo posterior a la salida, nuestro conocimiento actual de las causas y consecuencias de la supervivencia luego de salir del n...

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“…Ordinal date of fledging outperformed other measures of season in preliminary analyses. We tested for an interaction between year and fledge date because differences in movement may be due to weather and climate and predator communities may ebb and flow year to year (Haché et al ). We tested for interactions between fledgling age and fledge date because we predicted that adults fledging young early in the breeding season may maintain territories (thus have shorter fledgling movements), whereas those adults fledging young late in the breeding season may be more transient as they start a pre‐migratory molt.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Postfledging survival of neotropical migrants has been linked to various factors (e.g., annual and seasonal variation in the environment, physical condition of or age of fledglings); however, responses are not always obvious, especially regarding habitat (Vitz and Rodewald , Streby and Andersen , Cox et al , Jenkins et al , Naef‐Daenzer and Grüebler ). Few studies have investigated the mechanisms behind postfledging mortality risk, such as behavioral development and movement rates, which are likely linked to finding appropriate foraging sites while eluding predation (Vitz and Rodewald , Ausprey and Rodewald , Haché et al ). Understanding what influences variation in movements may provide insight into what defines resource quality and how selection for vegetation structure changes across life‐history stages.…”

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confidence: 99%

Behavioral development and habitat structure affect postfledging movements of songbirds

Jenkins¹,

Thompson

Faaborg

2016

J Wildl Manag

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Postfledging survival of neotropical migrant songbirds has been linked to seasonal and annual changes in the environment and to individual condition. Understanding what influences variation in postfledging movements may provide insight into the differential value of habitat across life‐history stages. We conducted a radio‐telemetry study of postfledging ovenbirds (Seiurus aurocapilla; n = 45) and Acadian flycatchers (Empidonax virescens; n = 62) in mature‐forest fragments from 2012 to 2015 in Missouri, USA. We documented variability in behavior and space use and used generalized linear mixed models to evaluate the relationship of postfledging movement rates to individuals’ condition, temporal variables, and local habitat variables. We found effects of age and season on movement distances for both study species. Additionally, daily movements of fledgling ovenbirds were negatively related to understory foliage density, a characteristic previously linked to increased survival. Habitat features are useful in predicting the postfledging movements of ovenbirds. By including behavioral development (age) and season in movement models, we were able to isolate and detect habitat effects on movement of ovenbirds and Acadian flycatchers. We suggest researchers use models of daily movement to further strengthen resource quality hypotheses generated by habitat selection and survival studies. © 2016 The Wildlife Society.

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Postharvest regeneration, sciurid abundance, and postfledging survival and movements in an Ovenbird population

Cited by 19 publications

References 53 publications

Linking songbird nest predation to seedling density: Sugar maple masting as a resource pulse in a forest food web

Linking songbird nest predation to seedling density: Sugar maple masting as a resource pulse in a forest food web

Post‐fledging survival of altricial birds: ecological determinants and adaptation

Behavioral development and habitat structure affect postfledging movements of songbirds

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