基于红外相机技术和人工巢试验分析白冠长尾雉巢潜在捕食者

为了了解保护区内外的白冠长尾雉繁殖生态,2014年3—7月在河南董寨国家级自然保护区和保护区外湖北平靖关村利用人工巢试验(以鸡蛋为诱饵)、红外相机技术和栖息地样方调查搜集巢捕食信息,对其巢捕食率、巢潜在捕食者和影响巢捕食的栖息地因子进行研究.两轮试验分别为繁殖期前期3—4月和繁殖期中期5—6月.试验共放置巢149个,其中红外相机监测62个,累计相机日1315个,拍摄照片7776张,视频6950个.结果表明: 保护区外(平靖关)巢捕食率高于保护区内(董寨),繁殖期前期和繁殖期中期保护区内外差异均极显著.平靖关捕食者种类数(11和6种)在繁殖期前期和中期均高于董寨(7和5种),平靖关捕食者比例较高的是啮齿类和鸦科鸟类,董寨捕食比例较高的是貉.平靖关坡度和乔木盖度对巢捕食影响显著,而董寨的落叶盖度对其影响显著.在红外监测的人工巢中共发现野生白冠长尾雉访问人工巢13巢18次.     

人工巢箱繁殖鸟类主要巢捕食者及其影响因素

巢捕食是影响鸟类繁殖成功率的一个重要因素,也是鸟类繁殖生态研究中的一项重要内容。确定鸟类的主要巢捕食者及影响巢捕食的因素对于了解鸟类繁殖成功率、种群增长率及种群数量等具有重要意义。2009—2012年,对辽宁仙人洞国家级自然保护区人工巢箱中繁殖的杂色山雀(Parus varius)、沼泽山雀(P.palustris)、大山雀(P.major)和白眉姬鹟(Ficedula zanthopygia)四种鸟类的巢捕食率及影响巢捕食的因素进行了研究。研究共记录到238个繁殖巢(杂色山雀74巢、沼泽山雀21巢、大山雀118巢、白眉姬鹟25巢),其中35巢被捕食,捕食率为14.7%,雏鸟期被捕食占91.4%。巢捕食率在4种鸟类之间无差异(x~2=0.429,df=3,P=0.934)。以锦蛇(Elaphe spp.)为代表的蛇类是该地区小型森林洞巣鸟类繁殖期主要捕食者,占总捕食率的94.3%。对影响巢捕食的22个相关因子进行二元逻辑斯蒂回归分析发现,坡度、地面裸露率、草本盖度对巢捕食具有显著性影响;出雏时间、坡位、距碎石块距离对巢捕食的影响接近显著水平;而巢高、树粗、巢箱年龄、窝卵数、距路距离等对巢捕食无显著影响。因此,处于坡度较陡,坡位较高,草本覆盖率较高,地面裸露率较低,距碎石块距离较近,且出雏时间较晚的巢更容易被捕食。     

贵州宽阔水自然保护区鸟类地面巢捕食者的调查

巢捕食是导致鸟类繁殖失败的主要原因之一。2012年5—7月,在贵州宽阔水自然保护区,采用红外自动摄像机对鸟类地面巢的捕食者进行了调查。在15个自然巢中监测到7个捕食事件,包括黄鼬(Mustela sibirica)2个(28.6%),红嘴蓝鹊(Urocissa erythrorhyncha)、喜鹊(Pica pica)、果子狸(Paguma larvata)、白腹巨鼠(Rattus edwardsi)和王锦蛇(Rattus edwardsi)各1个(占14.3%)。在22个人工巢中共记录到17个捕食事件,其中果子狸11个(64.7%),白腹巨鼠5个(29.4%),红嘴蓝鹊1个(5.9%)。兽类捕食者占83.3%,是鸟类地面巢的主要捕食者。各种捕食者捕食的时间不同,兽类捕食者主要出现在黄昏到凌晨之间,而鸟类和蛇类捕食者主要出现在白天。     

城市化对杭州市鸟类营巢集团的影响

为了了解城市化对鸟类营巢集团的影响,2007年3月至2007年8月,沿城市化梯度在杭州地区的城区、城乡结合区、农田区、农林交错区和自然林区等类型栖息地内设置3 000 m长、100 m宽的样线各18条,共计90条;并对其鸟类物种与群落营巢集团进行调查。调查共记录到繁殖鸟类96种,根据鸟类营巢位置可将其分为林冠枝干营巢集团、灌草丛营巢集团、林冠枝干/灌草丛营巢集团、自然洞穴营巢集团、人工建筑营巢集团、自然洞穴/人工建筑营巢集团地面营巢集团、水面营巢集团和寄生集团共9种。进一步分析显示,随城市化程度提高,鸟类营巢集团的数目呈整体下降趋势,而各集团的物种数也基本呈下降趋势。但是,不同的营巢集团对城市化的反应存在差异,导致其物种组成在群落中比例的明显变化。城市化程度的提高使树冠筑巢鸟、灌丛筑巢鸟、地面筑巢鸟及自然洞穴筑巢鸟在群落中所占的比例明显下降,其中地面筑巢鸟最为敏感,灌丛筑巢鸟次之。同时,自然洞穴/人工建筑集团的鸟类在群落中的比例却随着城市化程度的提高明显上升。各营巢集团之所以对城市化做出不同反应,是因为它们对筑巢地资源利用方式不同。此外,还发现植被盖度、人工设施面积、至市中心距离以及人为干扰等因素均可对鸟类营巢集团结构产生影响,但不同类型的营巢集团对上述因素的反应各异。     

营巢植物影响红头长尾山雀的巢被捕食风险

巢址选择对鸟类的巢捕食率具有重要影响,研究鸟类的巢址特征与巢捕食率之间的关系有利于揭示不同巢址特征对鸟类成功繁殖的作用。本研究以2014至2017年在河南董寨国家级自然保护区观察的红头长尾山雀(Aegithalos concinnus)为研究对象,分析了红头长尾山雀在卵期(产卵及孵卵期)(n = 124巢)及育雏期(n = 119巢)被捕食巢和成功巢的日存活率与发现巢的时间和营巢植物种类之间的关系,同时还根据其巢址的总体特征对其巢址安全性进行评级,以探究研究者评估的巢址安全等级对预测巢存活率的有效性。结果显示：在卵期,营巢于竹类植物(如箬竹Indocalamus tessellatus和刚竹属Phyllostachys sp.植物)、茶(Camellia sinensis)、灌草类植物(如蔷薇Rosa spp.和禾本科Gramineae植物)和杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)上的红头长尾山雀巢的日存活率皆显著高于在松柏类植物(如油松Pinus massoniana、侧柏Platycladus orientalis和圆柏Juniperus chinensis)上的巢;在育雏期,营巢于灌草类植物上巢的日存活率显著低于竹类、杉木和茶树上巢的日存活率。卵期巢的日存活率随巢日龄的增加而显著降低,但育雏期巢的日存活率不随巢日龄显著变化。此外,巢的日存活率与发现巢的日期之间没有显著关系,研究者评估为巢址安全等级不同的巢,其日存活率也无显著差异。综上所述,本研究的结果表明,营巢于某些特定植物有助于降低红头长尾山雀面临的巢捕食风险,说明营巢植物种类对鸟类的繁殖成功率具有重要影响。     

东方白鹳鸟巢结构特征与人工巢架设计

人工巢能提高鸟类繁殖成功率,在濒危鸟类保护中已取得显著成效.本文对黑龙江洪河自然保护区东方白鹳天然巢结构特征和人工巢利用情况进行了调查,应用单因素方差分析比较未利用的人工巢、已利用的人工巢和天然巢的结构差异.结果表明: 3种巢穴的支架直径、支架夹角、支架交点高及巢位高等结构因子均存在显著差异.结合天然巢结构特征,东方白鹳人工巢架立柱直径应在15.0～25.0 cm,高度5.0～12.0 m,使用水泥等抗酸性腐蚀材料建造.支架数量应为3～4个,直径9.0～12.0 cm,夹角45°～60°,长度90.0～140.0 cm.     

千岛湖栖息地片段化对大山雀营巢资源利用的影响

为了解栖息地片段化对次级洞巢鸟营巢资源利用的影响, 我们于2008年2-8月, 在千岛湖地区选取21个岛屿, 采用悬挂人工巢箱方法进行大山雀(Parus major)招引实验。通过测定岛屿面积、岛屿隔离度、捕食者活动率、人工巢箱周围植被盖度和人工巢箱巢向等5种参数, 分析大山雀人工巢箱利用与上述参数间的关系。实验期间, 共悬挂443个人工巢箱, 其中有72个(16.3%)被大山雀利用。大山雀倾向于选择捕食者活动率低、植被盖度低、巢口向东或向南的人工巢箱; 岛屿面积和隔离度对大山雀利用人工巢箱不存在显著的直接影响, 但岛屿面积可通过影响捕食者的活动率, 对大山雀利用人工巢箱产生间接影响。因此, 我们认为在栖息地片段化后, 应更多关注对洞巢鸟营巢资源利用有直接影响的栖息地特征因素, 以及片段化效应的间接影响。     

千岛湖栖息地片段化效应对鸟类巢捕食风险的影响

为了解栖息地片段化对鸟类巢捕食风险的影响,我们于2010年4-8月,在千岛湖地区选取16个岛屿,分别在岛屿边缘和内部区域用放置鸡蛋(大型卵)和鹌鹑(Coturnix japonica)蛋(小型卵)的方法进行人工模拟地面巢试验,研究不同体积大小鸟卵的巢捕食率及其差异,分析巢捕食率与岛屿面积、隔离度、形状指数和植物物种丰富...     

不同纬度洞巢鸟类对人工巢箱的利用及差异

迄今对洞巢鸟类生活史特征的纬度变异（特别是热带洞巢鸟类的繁殖）了解还十分有限。我们于2018年3至8月,分别在海南吊罗山（热带）、河南董寨（亚热带）和河北塞罕坝（温带）的林缘地带,悬挂相同规格的人工巢箱招引洞巢鸟类繁殖,用以比较不同地理区域的洞巢鸟类对人工巢箱的利用情况及其孵化成效和繁殖成功率。野外共悬挂577个木制巢箱,3个研究地的利用率在海南吊罗山为最低（32.6%）,河南董寨最高（92.0%）。3个地点均有大山雀（Parus cinereus）入住（占总巢数的84.3%）,其孵化成效和繁殖成功率在3个地点不存在显著差异（P > 0.05）。但在河北塞罕坝,大山雀的孵化成效（75.7%）和繁殖成功率（65.7%）显著低于同域繁殖的褐头山雀（Poecile montanus）（97.7% 和97.7%）和煤山雀（Periparus ater）（93.5%和90.3%）（P < 0.05）。研究表明,3个地理区域利用巢箱繁殖的洞巢鸟的种类、数量以及对巢箱的利用率均存在差异,但对于广布种大山雀来说,地理位置的差异并不影响其孵化成效和繁殖成功率。     

Support for the nest mimicry hypothesis in Yellow-rumped Thornbills Acanthiza chrysorrhoa

The nest of the Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa (endemic to Australia) consists of a lower domed nest where the young are cared for and an upper cup-shaped structure, referred to as the false nest. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed to explain the primary function of the false nest, but their predictions remain largely untested. Here, we test predictions of the nest mimicry hypothesis (with artificial nests) whereby the empty false nest acts as a decoy, deflecting visual nest predators and/or brood parasites away from the true nest below, thereby increasing nesting success. Clear detection of the false nest by adversaries is an intrinsic aspect of nest mimicry; thus we also test whether conspicuous nests (natural) are favoured by natural selection. Specifically, (1) we compare predation level at artificial domed nests with and without a false nest; and (2) we analyse associations between nest site concealment and nesting outcome in natural nests in a wild population. Supporting the nest mimicry hypothesis, predation level was significantly lower for artificial domed nests with false nests, and for natural nests with lower levels of concealment.     

Effect of floating nest platforms on the breeding performance of Black Terns

ABSTRACT.   In 2003 and 2004, we placed 41 floating nest platforms on Grassy Lake in southeastern Wisconsin (USA) to test the hypothesis that reproductive success of Black Terns ( Chlidonias niger ) is limited by the quality of suitable nesting habitat. Extreme differences in water levels between these 2 yr provided a natural experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of the nest platforms during a drought year (2003) when natural nesting substrate was abundant, and a flood year (2004) when natural substrate was limited during the peak nesting period. Terns nested on 27 of 41 (66%) of the platforms in 2003 and 26 of 41 (63%) in 2004. No difference in the occupancy rate of platforms and natural nests was evident in 2003, but the pattern of clutch initiations early in the season in 2004 indicated that platforms were preferred over natural substrates. In 2003, nest survival rates did not differ between nests placed on platforms and those placed on natural substrates, but platform nests had significantly higher hatching success and nest survival rates in 2004. Both the Kaplan-Meier and Apparent Nest Success methods of calculating nest survival provided similar estimates. In both years, eggs laid on platforms were significantly larger than those laid on natural substrates, suggesting that platforms were occupied by high-quality birds. Our study indicates that floating nest platforms can be an effective management tool to enhance nesting habitat for Black Terns and other aquatic birds that construct floating nests, primarily because platforms provide nest sites when natural sites are not available due to flooding. Nest platforms also may be useful for addressing questions concerning habitat selection and parental quality.     

Meta‐analyses of nest predation in temperate Australian forests and woodlands

Nest predation is the leading cause of nesting failure. Thus it is a crucial area of research needed to inform conservation management and to understand the life history of birds. I surveyed the literature to review the identity of nest predators and the factors affecting nest predation, in Australia using 177 studies. Overall, 94 nest predators were identified when incorporating artificial nests, 69 without. Using only natural nests, the Pied Currawong Strepera graculina was the most frequently reported nest predator. Five nest predators, including Pied Currawong, depredated 40% of the prey measured by the number of prey species taken. Yet, 60% of predation was carried out by the other 64 species, which included by the order of importance birds, mammals, reptiles, frogs and ants. Predation at cup and dome nests was more frequently reported than at burrow, ground and hollow nests. Only 28% of predators were observed at both artificial and natural nests suggesting artificial nests have limited, but not negligible, ability as tools for identifying predators. There was a highly significant and positive correlation between predator and prey masses. The predator prey mass ratio was calculated with a mean 0.25 and a median 0.22, a result closely matching with the proportional size of prey taken by raptors. The finding that predator size is proportional to prey opens a pathway for more life history and conservation research.     

Common waxbills use carnivore scat to reduce the risk of nest predation

For many animals, nest construction is a prerequisite for successfulbreeding. The choice of nesting materials is an important componentof nest construction, because material properties can influencenest design and, potentially, reproductive success. Common waxbillsare small African finches that select carnivore scat as a materialto include in, on, and around their nests. I investigated thehypothesis that scat functions to reduce predation risk by documentingits use in a wild population of common waxbills and by conductingan artificial nest experiment. Among natural nests, scat waspresent in every nest that hatched young, and parents continuedto add scat to nests throughout the nestling period. Among artificialnests, those that received experimental additions of carnivorescat survived at a significantly higher rate than did untreatednests, suggesting that scat functions to reduce predation risk.The mechanism by which nests are protected remains unclear,although it is likely that scat acts as an olfactory deterrentand/or camouflage. Researchers have long focused on the implicationsof nest site characteristics for avian life-history evolution.Results of the present study suggest that nest materials, similarto nest sites, may influence life histories of nest-buildinganimals by affecting predation risk.     

Do alien predators pose a particular risk to duck nests in Northern Europe? Results from an artificial nest experiment

Several alien predator species have spread widely in Europe during the last five decades and pose a potential enhanced risk to native nesting ducks and their eggs. Because predation is an important factor limiting Northern Hemisphere duck nest survival, we ask the question, do alien species increase the nest loss risk to ground nesting ducks? We created 418 artificial duck nests in low densities around inland waters in Finland and Denmark during 2017–2019 and monitored them for seven days after construction using wildlife cameras to record whether alien species visit and prey on the nests more often than native species. We sampled various duck breeding habitats from eutrophic agricultural lakes and wetlands to oligotrophic lakes and urban environments. The results differed between habitats and the two countries, which likely reflect the local population densities of the predator species. The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), an alien species, was the most common mammalian nest visitor in all habitats and its occurrence reduced nest survival. Only in wetland habitats was the native red fox (Vulpes vulpes) an equally common nest visitor, where another alien species, the American mink (Neovison vison), also occurred among nest visitors. Although cautious about concluding too much from visitations to artificial nests, these results imply that duck breeding habitats in Northern Europe already support abundant and effective alien nest predators, whose relative frequency of visitation to artificial nests suggest that they potentially add to the nest predation risk to ducks over native predators.

     

Nest Predation of Greater Sage-Grouse in Relation to Microhabitat Factors and Predators

ABSTRACT Nest predation is a natural component of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) reproduction, but changes in nesting habitat and predator communities may adversely affect grouse populations. We used a 2-part approach to investigate sage-grouse nest predation. First, we used information criteria to compare nest survival models that included indices of common raven (Corvus corax) abundance with other survival models that consisted of day of incubation, grouse age, and nest microhabitat covariates using measurements from 77 of 87 sage-grouse nests. Second, we used video monitoring at a subsample of 55 of 87 nests to identify predators of depredated nests (n = 16) and evaluated the influence of microhabitat factors on the probability of predation by each predator species. The most parsimonious model for nest survival consisted of an interaction between day of incubation and abundance of common ravens (w_{ravenXincubation day} = 0.67). An estimated increase in one raven per 10-km transect survey was associated with a 7.4% increase in the odds of nest failure. Nest survival was relatively lower in early stages of incubation, and this effect was strengthened with increased raven numbers. Using video monitoring, we found the probability of raven predation increased with reduced shrub canopy cover. Also, we found differences in shrub canopy cover and understory visual obstruction between nests depredated by ravens and nests depredated by American badgers (Taxidea taxus). Increased raven numbers have negative effects on sage-grouse nest survival, especially in areas with relatively low shrub canopy cover. We encourage wildlife managers to reduce interactions between ravens and nesting sage-grouse by managing raven populations and restoring and maintaining shrub canopy cover in sage-grouse nesting areas.     

Influence of olfactory and visual cover on nest site selection and nest success for grassland‐nesting birds

Habitat selection by animals is influenced by and mitigates the effects of predation and environmental extremes. For birds, nest site selection is crucial to offspring production because nests are exposed to extreme weather and predation pressure. Predators that forage using olfaction often dominate nest predator communities; therefore, factors that influence olfactory detection (e.g., airflow and weather variables, including turbulence and moisture) should influence nest site selection and survival. However, few studies have assessed the importance of olfactory cover for habitat selection and survival. We assessed whether ground‐nesting birds select nest sites based on visual and/or olfactory cover. Additionally, we assessed the importance of visual cover and airflow and weather variables associated with olfactory cover in influencing nest survival. In managed grasslands in Oklahoma, USA, we monitored nests of Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna), and Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) during 2015 and 2016. To assess nest site selection, we compared cover variables between nests and random points. To assess factors influencing nest survival, we used visual cover and olfactory‐related measurements (i.e., airflow and weather variables) to model daily nest survival. For nest site selection, nest sites had greater overhead visual cover than random points, but no other significant differences were found. Weather variables hypothesized to influence olfactory detection, specifically precipitation and relative humidity, were the best predictors of and were positively related to daily nest survival. Selection for overhead cover likely contributed to mitigation of thermal extremes and possibly reduced detectability of nests. For daily nest survival, we hypothesize that major nest predators focused on prey other than the monitored species’ nests during high moisture conditions, thus increasing nest survival on these days. Our study highlights how mechanistic approaches to studying cover informs which dimensions are perceived and selected by animals and which dimensions confer fitness‐related benefits.     

An inexpensive method for remotely monitoring nest activity

ABSTRACT.   In studies of avian nest success, investigators often face the difficult task of periodically checking nest status while at the same time limiting observer influence on nest survival. Remotely monitoring nests using temperature data loggers is one method that allows for continuous data capture regarding nest status (i.e., active vs. inactive) without the negative effects associated with repeated nest checks. We used small temperature data loggers (Thermochron iButtons) to remotely monitor nests of Long-billed Curlews ( Numenius americanus ) in northeastern Nevada. Data loggers programmed to record temperature at 10-min and 20-min intervals were placed in curlew nests. Data loggers were set to collect data throughout the nesting cycle to determine onset of incubation and timing of nest failure. On average, Long-billed Curlews began incubating approximately 3 d after the first egg was laid and onset of incubation coincided with the laying of the third egg. iButtons allowed us to determine when incubation was terminated in 17 of 23 unsuccessful Long-billed Curlew nests, including 13 of 17 depredated nests. The presence of iButtons in Long-billed Curlew nests did not affect daily survival rate, egg hatchability or rate of nest abandonment. iButtons are an efficient and practical means for remotely monitoring nests of large egg-laying birds, such as the Long-billed Curlew.     

Bayesian hierarchical model assessment of nest site and landscape effects on nest survival of aplomado falcons

We investigated potential effects of nest site and landscape scale factors, including anthropogenic disturbance and habitat patchiness, on the nesting success of a reintroduced population of northern aplomado falcons (Falco femoralis septentrionalis) in southern Texas. We monitored 62 nesting attempts during 2002–2004 in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. We developed hierarchical models describing daily nest survival rates (DSR) and compared the models using a Bayesian approach in R and WinBUGS. We considered possible effects of nest age, temporal trends, nest site variables, landscape structure, territory (a random effect), and 3 measures of anthropogenic disturbance: distance to paved road, proximity to power pole, and nocturnal light intensity. Whether evaluated by Deviance Information Criterion (DIC) scores or the models' overall posterior probabilities as estimated with a reversible jump Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm, none of our landscape or disturbance measures affected DSR. Rather, variation in DSR was best described by nest height, overhead cover, and nest source (artificial or natural). These nest site level factors may be manipulated by managers through provision of artificial nests. We recommend that artificial nests continue to be provided, as such nests are highly successful when located on moderately tall substrates, and they permit researchers to access nest contents for population monitoring. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.