Risk of Predation on Waterfowl Nests in the Canadian Prairies: Effects of Habitat Edges and Agricultural Practices

Pasitschniak-Arts, Maria; Messier, François

doi:10.2307/3545958

Cited by 74 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Second, since most studies did not collect data on prey distribution (e.g., Dijak and Thompson 2000;Donovan et al 1997;Hilty and Merenlender 2004), habitat qualities could not be sufficiently evaluated. Third, most studies failed to reliably determine particular predator species (e.g., Huhta et al 1998;Pasitschniak-Arts and Messier 1995;Storch et al 2005). Therefore, they could not determine if the edge effect arose due to the specific preferences of some species for edge structures (see alternatives (3) and (4) above) or solely due to exploitation of the habitat edge by interior specialists from both habitat interiors (see alternative (5) above).…”

Section: Communicated By C Gortázarmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing mechanistic explanations for mammalian predator responses to habitat edges

et al. 2010

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Increased predator activity along habitat edges (the edge effect) is often documented in the temperate zone, but earlier studies have rarely been able to explicitly test the suggested mechanisms underlining this phenomenon. In this study, we measured the distribution of mammalian predators by scent stations and their main prey (rodents) in four types of landscape elements corresponding to an edge gradient between two habitat types; grassland and forest. We found a contrasting pattern in carnivore activities between years. Whereas carnivores did not exhibit a significant occurrence along the forest-grassland edge in the first year with low prey abundance, they were more likely to be detected along habitat edges in the subsequent year with high prey abundance. Our results do not suggest that the increased activity of carnivores at habitat edges arises as a consequence of predator overflow from higher quality habitat through the edge into lower quality habitat, but showed that most predator species focus their activity specifically to the edge structure. On the other hand, our data do not provide straightforward support for the hypothesis that predator edge preferences are caused by a spatial gradient in carnivores' main prey-rodents.

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Section: Communicated By C Gortázarmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing mechanistic explanations for mammalian predator responses to habitat edges

et al. 2010

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“…For example, organochlorine pesticides applied to hayfields may accumulate to potentially hazardous levels in grassland birds (8). Hayfields frequently are small and highly fragmented, characteristics that are associated with reduced nest success (9,10). Hay harvest also can change vegetation structure, reducing prey abundance (11).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Population trends of grassland birds in North America are linked to the prevalence of an agricultural epizootic in Europe

Nocera

Koslowsky²

2011

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Globalization of trade has dramatic socioeconomic effects, and, intuitively, significant ecological effects should follow. However, few quantitative examples exist of the interrelationship of globalization, socioeconomics, and ecological patterns. We present a striking illustration of a cascade in which bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE; “mad cow disease”) outbreaks in Europe exerted pressure on global beef markets, subsequently affecting North American hayfields and grassland bird populations. We examined competing models, which linked the prevalence of BSE in five focal countries, volume of beef exports to those countries from North America, and the amount of hayfield harvested and the abundance of grassland birds in North America. We found that ( i ) imports from North America increased 1 y after BSE outbreaks; ( ii ) probably because fewer cattle remained, the hay harvest in North America was reduced 2 y after the outbreak; ( iii ) the reduced hay harvest yielded a positive response in grassland bird populations 3 y after the outbreak.

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“…As a consequence of these assumptions, the model considers that bird density does not affect the predator population dynamics, which is determined by ecological processes in the matrix (e.g. Gates and Gysel, 1978;Pasitschniak-Arts and Messier, 1995).…”

Section: Nest Success Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since some forest structures can act as a barrier to the movement of species that live primarily in anthropogenic habitats, the permeability of boundaries to predators may greatly affect the spatial predation pattern within forest patches (Wiens, 1992;Pasitschniak-Arts and Messier, 1995). Consequently, the distance which predators are able to penetrate into forest patches is an 0304-3800/$ -see front matter © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking edge effects and patch size effects: Importance of matrix nest predators

Vergara

Hahn

2009

Ecological Modelling

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a b s t r a c tThe edge effect is usually considered to be the proximate cause of area sensitivity in forest birds. We tested if birds nesting in large patches are less vulnerable to the edge effect using a simple model that assumes an increase in patch size reduces the probability of a matrix predator moving to the core areas of forest and that larger perimeter/area ratios result in a higher number of matrix predators per unit of area. The probability of a nest being successful decreased asymptotically with an increase in either the patch penetration distance of predators or predator density, but those effects were reduced when patch size was increased. Large patches have a lower probability of being affected by an Allee effect and they can function as sink habitats only if penetration distance and predator density are largely increased. However, the transition from an Allee effect to a sink condition occurs with a small increase in penetration distance and predator density. Since birds nesting in large patches are less vulnerable to an increase in matrix predator populations, persistence of bird populations may be possible by increasing the size of habitat patches that can act as source populations.

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Risk of Predation on Waterfowl Nests in the Canadian Prairies: Effects of Habitat Edges and Agricultural Practices

Cited by 74 publications

References 37 publications

Testing mechanistic explanations for mammalian predator responses to habitat edges

Testing mechanistic explanations for mammalian predator responses to habitat edges

Population trends of grassland birds in North America are linked to the prevalence of an agricultural epizootic in Europe

Linking edge effects and patch size effects: Importance of matrix nest predators

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