Predation risk of artificial ground nests in managed floodplain meadows

Arbeiter, Susanne; Franke, Elisabeth

doi:10.1016/j.actao.2017.11.012

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…For example, they are important allochthonous sources of aquatic food for local fish (Li, Xu, Wang, Yue, & Zhang, 2013). Their dense canopy and well‐developed root systems provide shelter for animals, regulate geomorphic processes (Arbeiter & Franke, 2018; Xu, Lei, & Zeng, 2017; Xu, Zeng, Lei, & Su, 2011), and increase the activity of soil enzymes and microbial biomass (Ren, Song, Yuan, Ni, & Li, 2018). Consequently, the survival and expansion of this functional guild would be likely to maintain the essential functions of riparian vegetation along the Yangtze River and minimise the encroachment of invasive species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unnatural flooding alters the functional diversity of riparian vegetation of the Three Gorges Reservoir

Bejarano

et al. 2020

Freshwater Biology

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The response of riparian vegetation to flow regulation has been a research focus for decades. Several studies have shed light on the effects of flow stabilisation on riparian woody species, but other life forms exposed to intensified inundation have been overlooked. Furthermore, studies from a functional perspective are scarce. We evaluated the functional response of riparian vegetation along the shores of the Three Gorges Reservoir on the Yangtze River in China to unnaturally long annual flooding (>7 months) after the first year of filling. We aimed to answer the following: (1) can we derive well‐defined flow‐response guilds from the riparian zones of the Yangtze River? and (2) which plant traits and guilds are favoured or disfavoured by the unnaturally long flooding environment? Woody and herbaceous species were inventoried in 12 reaches along the shorelines of the Three Gorges Reservoir and another 12 reaches along the free‐flowing Yangtze River. We performed a cluster analysis to derive riparian guilds using abundance data (projective coverage) from 40 riparian plant species and 13 responsive traits. Structural composition and functional diversity of the unnaturally and naturally flooded riparian vegetation were compared. Unnaturally long flooding substantially reduced species richness, but it did not change the riparian vegetation cover. This novel flooding reduced functional diversity, mostly owing to the loss of stress‐tolerant woody species and competitive perennial herbs. However, competitive annual herbs and flood‐tolerant riparian herbs, as the most abundant functional guilds, were favoured even under such long‐term hypoxic conditions. These guilds under regulation revealed a high functional resilience to prolonged flooding along the upstream reaches of the Yangtze River. Flooding tolerance and the capacity to synchronise germination and growth with short‐exposure periods underlie the plant species changes. Our findings are useful for anticipating the effects of long‐lasting inundation on riparian areas triggered by flow regulation or warmer climates. The functional perspective lends confidence that our conclusions can be generalised to other geographical regions despite not sharing the same species pool. Finally, the plant species that showed a high flooding tolerance should be considered for the restoration of riparian areas affected by the Three Gorges Reservoir.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unnatural flooding alters the functional diversity of riparian vegetation of the Three Gorges Reservoir

Bejarano

et al. 2020

Freshwater Biology

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“…The availability of grasslands is often associated with increased nest survival rates, but the direct effects of forbs at a nest site have not been frequently quantified for waterfowl (Stephens et al 2005, Thompson et al 2012, Bloom et al 2013. Studies examining the effects of forbs at nesting sites have indicated that the presence of forbs can result in higher probabilities of selection and nest survival of ground-nesting species (Arnold et al 2007, Arbeiter and Franke 2018, Sherfy et al 2018, Dixon et al 2019, Lautenbach et al 2019. Positive effects on nest survival typically result from greater visual obstruction associated with forbs and increased overhead cover of nests (Miller et al 2007, Sherfy et al 2018, Lautenbach et al 2019.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nest Site Selection Influences Cinnamon Teal Nest Survival in Colorado

Setash¹,

Kendall

Olson³

2020

J Wildl Manag

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Nest survival of ducks is partially a function of the spatiotemporal characteristics of the site at which a bird chooses to nest. Nest survival is also a fundamental component of population growth in waterfowl but is relatively unstudied for cinnamon teal (Spatula cyanoptera). We investigated cinnamon teal nest survival in a managed wetland complex in southern Colorado, USA, and assessed nest site selection to determine whether nest site characteristics were adaptive. We monitored 85 nests in 2015–2017 on Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado and did not detect a difference in nest survival across years. Based on nest site selection data from 2017, cinnamon teal selected nest sites characterized by a lower proportion of forbs than available sites. The relationships between habitat characteristics and nest survival were variable. Microhabitat characteristics exhibited only weak effects on nest survival during the laying stage. Nest survival during incubation was negatively related to the proportion of forbs at the nest site and, to a lesser extent, the proportion of grasses. Nest site selection was predictive of future nest survival based on the percent of forbs and grasses around the nest site, suggesting teal select nest locations to benefit reproductive success. These results have the potential to guide local habitat management actions for breeding waterfowl. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.

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“…In ground nests that are exposed, egg coloration must match the surrounding microhabitat, because well camouflaged clutches have higher survival probability than those in which camouflage is worse (Skrade & Dinsmore, 2013;Troscianko et al, 2016). Some studies using quail eggs found differences in predation rates of eggs in artificial nests according to nest cover (Chibowski, Brzezi nski & Jedlikowski, 2015;Arbeiter & Franke, 2018) but did not analyze whether there were changes in eggshell coloration that could have affected the resulting predation rates. Rangen, Clark & Hobson (2000) addressed some limitations of the use of artificial nests in studies of avian nest predation and recommended using quail eggs when predator assemblages are dominated by large predators.…”

Section: Dfmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quail eggs in artificial nests change their coloration when exposed to ambient conditions: implication for studies on nest predation

Cembrano

Castro

Amat

et al. 2021

PeerJ

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Quail eggs have been widely used in field experiments, mainly to study factors associated with the risk of nest predation. Some shortcomings of using quail eggs in this type of study have been previously addressed (e.g., these eggs might be too big for some predators of eggs of small birds). Here, we show experimental evidence of another shortcoming of the use of these eggs in field experiments. Quail eggs exposed to sunlight rapidly faded in colour after three days, both in the visible and UV spectra, and this change was related to the amount of solar radiation received. This caused changes in the camouflage of the eggs, which may be perceived by predators with different visual systems (dichromatic, trichromatic, and tetrachromatic (for both violet- and UV-sensitive species)). Therefore, the results of field studies of nest predation using quail eggs might be questioned in those cases in which the camouflage has been altered due to the rapid changes in coloration, as this can affect the resulting predation rates. We recommend that researchers planning to use quail eggs should perform a prospective assessment of changes in coloration of eggs exposed to environmental conditions in the nest sites used by the target species.

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Predation risk of artificial ground nests in managed floodplain meadows

Cited by 13 publications

References 37 publications

Unnatural flooding alters the functional diversity of riparian vegetation of the Three Gorges Reservoir

Unnatural flooding alters the functional diversity of riparian vegetation of the Three Gorges Reservoir

Nest Site Selection Influences Cinnamon Teal Nest Survival in Colorado

Quail eggs in artificial nests change their coloration when exposed to ambient conditions: implication for studies on nest predation

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