基于红外相机技术的白冠长尾雉集群行为研究

白冠长尾雉(Syrmaticus reevesii)生性机警,行为隐蔽,在野外研究其集群行为较为困难。红外相机技术为解决这一问题提供了有益的工具。为研究白冠长尾雉集群行为及其地理变异,采用红外相机技术在湖北广水平靖关村和河南董寨自然保护区两个地点对其集群行为进行了调查。依据前期无线电遥测的结果,在两个研究地点分别设置了1 km×1 km的样地,在样地中分别放置了25台红外相机进行监测,野外累计放置了12412个相机日,获得视频24374段,其中有白冠长尾雉的视频有1361段。以有集群行为的独立视频数量(m)与独立视频数量(M)的比表示集群率,以拍摄到的白冠长尾雉个体数量(n)与有集群行为的独立视频数量(m)的比代表集群强度。结果表明,平靖关和董寨两地均是数量为2只的群体占比最大,在平靖关和董寨分别占68.23%、72.79%,Pearson卡方检验的结果表明群体大小在两地之间无显著差异(Pearson χ~2=6.522,df=5,P=0.259),而集群方式在两地之间则差异显著(Pearson χ~2=46.415,df=4,P0.001),两地均以单性集群为主要集群方式。单因素方差分析结果表明,集群率在季节间差异不明显。Neu方法分析发现,在平靖关,白冠长尾雉对灌丛和竹林显著偏好,对针阔混交林、杉木林和乔灌丛显著回避;而在董寨,其对针阔混交林和针叶林明显偏好,对杉木林和阔叶林明显回避。     

利用红外相机研究白冠长尾雉日活动节律与人为干扰的关系

白冠长尾雉(Syrmaticus reevesii)为我国特有珍稀濒危鸟类, 其面临的人为干扰压力日趋严重。为更好地了解白冠长尾雉对不同人为干扰强度的响应, 我们于2018年3月至2019年4月, 在其东部分布区的河南连康山国家级自然保护区(连康山)、湖北中华山鸟类省级自然保护区(中华山)和湖北平靖关村及三潭风景名胜区(平靖关), 利用红外相机技术研究了其日活动节律, 并借助重叠系数测算了其与人为干扰在时间上的重叠程度以及与人为干扰之间的关系。结果表明, 连康山的人为干扰强度最高, 而中华山和平靖关的人为干扰强度接近且均低于连康山。雄性白冠长尾雉繁殖期和非繁殖期的日活动节律在三地之间的差异均不显著; 雌性白冠长尾雉繁殖期日活动节律在平靖关与连康山之间存在显著差异, 而非繁殖期日活动节律在中华山与连康山之间、平靖关与连康山之间均存在显著差异。各地白冠长尾雉日活动高峰和人为干扰出现的高峰也存在差异, 呈现出较为明显的错峰活动现象, 其中在人为干扰最强的连康山, 白冠长尾雉的活动与人为干扰的重叠程度最低。这些结果表明白冠长尾雉的日活动节律可能受人为干扰的影响, 且在行为方面表现出一定的可塑性, 它们可以通过调整日活动节律来适应人为干扰。     

河南董寨白冠长尾雉繁殖期栖息地选择

2001年至2003年春季,采用样线调查和媒鸟招引,在河南董寨国家级自然保护区对我国特有珍稀雉类白冠长尾雉（Syrmaticus reevesii）的栖息地选择进行了调查,结合RS和GIS分析了在景观水平上对栖息地的选择性,并借助逐步逻辑斯谛回归分析了影响繁殖期白冠长尾雉栖息地的关键尺度和主要因素。结果表明,在白云保护站,占区雄性白冠长尾雉在不同栖息地类型中的出现频率不同,出现最多的是混交林,其次是杉木林,随后是松林、灌丛、阔叶林;在董寨自然保护区内,在115 m尺度和250 m尺度上,针叶林的面积比例均是影响其栖息地选择的关键因子,而到农田的距离是距离因素中最重要的因素。根据回归分析和AIC_C及ΔAIC_C值,115 m尺度上栖息地变量对白冠长尾雉繁殖期的栖息地选择影响最大。综合分析表明,影响白冠长尾雉繁殖期栖息地选择的主要因子为115 m尺度上针叶林的面积比例和到农田的距离。建议在制定白冠长尾雉栖息地保护策略时,应加强现有适宜栖息地的管理,改善栖息地布局,并从景观尺度上开展针叶林对白冠长尾雉种群影响方面的研究工作。     

白冠长尾雉雄鸟的冬季活动区与栖息地利用研究

2001年和2002年冬季,利用无线电遥测技术在河南董寨国家级自然保护区内对白冠长尾雉(Syrmaticusreevesii)雄鸟的冬季活动区和栖息地利用进行了研究。对遥测位点超过30个的5只雄性个体的研究表明,白冠长尾雉雄鸟的冬季活动区面积为10.03±1.17hm2(最小凸多边形法,MCP)、8.60±0.35hm2(90%调和平均转换法,90%HMT)和9.50±1.90hm2(95%固定核法,95%FK),明显小于其繁殖期的活动区面积。核心区面积为1.88±0.37hm2。核心区的栖息地组成在个体间变化较大,但主要是针阔混交林、松林、杉木林和灌丛。在研究区尺度上,白冠长尾雉雄鸟对栖息地有明显的选择性,但在活动区内则是随机利用栖息地。乔木胸径、灌木高度、2.0m层盖度及灌丛与森林的距离对雄性白冠长尾雉冬季的栖息地选择有重要影响。根据本项研究结果,我们建议在白冠长尾雉的栖息地管理中首先应加强对现存栖息地的保护,同时应通过适当的造林来扩大栖息地面积,此外还要注意对大面积的现有灌丛进行改造。     

旅游对鸡形目鸟类巢成功率的影响——基于人工巢试验

旅游快速发展对野生动物的繁衍和种群发展造成的影响不容忽视。鸡形目鸟类大多为地面营巢,易受人为活动的影响。为揭示旅游对鸡形目鸟类巢成功率的影响,于2018年3—5月在河南董寨国家级自然保护区采用地面人工巢进行了两轮模拟试验,分析了试验轮次、巢密度、代表旅游活动强度的客流量和车流量,及植被类型、海拔等栖息地影响因子对人工巢成功率的影响。结果显示:客流量和海拔在繁殖成功巢和失败巢之间均存在不同程度的差异,繁殖成功巢的客流量较大、海拔较小,且在客流量较大、海拔较小的区域中人工巢的表观存活率明显较高。其中客流量是影响巢成功率的主导因素。此外,第二轮试验人工巢表观存活率显著低于第一轮试验,捕食者组成在不同试验轮次上也存在明显的差异,第一轮试验主要是鸟类,第二轮试验则是哺乳动物。白颈鸦、貉和野猪在本研究中是对巢威胁最大的捕食者。结果表明旅游活动可能会影响鸡形目鸟类的繁殖。因此建议在开展旅游活动时应综合考虑该区域所分布的野生动物及优先保护政策,注意控制旅游活动强度,以免对野生动物造成不良影响,并加强栖息地的保护。     

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。     

白冠长尾雉育雏期的栖息地选择

20 0 1年 4～ 8月 ,在河南省董寨国家级自然保护区对白冠长尾雉 (Syrmaticusreevesii)育雏期的栖息地进行了调查。野外共遇见 2 4个不同的家族群 ,平均大小为 (2 96± 0 35 )只。白冠长尾雉的家族群主要在针阔混交林中活动 ,这些地方的坡向以东南方向居多、坡度较缓而坡位靠下 ,与林缘的距离大于 6 0m而与水源的距离通常小于 30m。逐步判别分析的结果表明 ,与林缘的距离、乔木胸径、灌木盖度、草本植物的种类和高度等是影响白冠长尾雉家族群栖息地选择的关键因子 ;植被结构 ,尤其是草本植物的特征 ,是影响家族群栖息地选择的主要方面。建议在对白冠长尾雉采取保护措施时 ,从提供丰富的食物资源和良好的隐蔽条件入手。注意保护现存栖息地 ,在育雏期保护好草本植物。     

白冠长尾雉越冬期栖息地选择的多尺度分析

2000年至2002年冬季,在河南董寨国家级自然保护区对我国特有珍稀雉类白冠长尾雉（Syrmaticus reevesii）越冬期栖息地进行了调查,并结合RS和GIS在多个尺度上对其栖息地选择进行了分析.结果表明,不同尺度上影响白冠长尾雉越冬期栖息地选择的因素存在差异,影响因子之间还存在相互作用.在微生境上,影响因子主要是坡度、乔木盖度以及坡向余弦值与灌木高度的相互作用;在115 m尺度上,关键因子是灌木林、阔叶林和针叶林的面积;250m尺度上,主要因子是针叶林和阔叶林的面积及针叶林与阔叶林面积的相互作用;对于距离因素,到河漫滩和到农田的距离是影响白冠长尾雉越冬期栖息地选择的关键因子.根据回归分析和AIC及AICc值,115 m尺度上栖息地变量对白冠长尾雉越冬期的栖息地选择影响最大.综合分析发现,在较大的尺度上,影响白冠长尾雉越冬期栖息地选择的关键因子有针叶林面积、阔叶林面积、针叶林和灌丛面积的相互作用、到河漫滩的距离以及到农田的距离.     

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。     

Predators at bird nests in a northern hardwood forest in New Hampshire

ABSTRACT.   Nest predation is the primary cause of nest failure in most passerine birds, and increases in nest predation associated with anthropogenic habitat disturbance are invoked as explanations for population declines of some bird species. In most cases, however, the identity of the nest predators is not known with certainty. We monitored active bird nests with infrared time-lapse video cameras to determine which nest predators were responsible for depredating bird nests in northern New Hampshire. We monitored 64 nests of 11 bird species during three breeding seasons, and identified seven species of predators during 14 predation events. In addition, we recorded two instances of birds defending nests from predators and, in both cases, these nests were ultimately lost to predation. These results contrast with other studies in terms of the relatively high proportion of nests depredated by raptors and mice, as well as the absence of any predation by snakes. The diverse suite of predators in this and other studies is likely to confound our understanding of patterns of nest predation relative to fragmentation and habitat structure.     

Nest survival rate of Reeves's pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii) based on artificial nest experiments

To explore the nest survival rate of Reeves's pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii) and the nest-site factors that affect it,we conducted artificial nest experiments with reference to natural nests at Dongzhai National Nature Reserve (DNNR),Henan Province and Pingjingguan,Hubei Province from April to June 2014 simulating the situation in its early and later breeding season.We also determined distance characteristics of the nest sites by ArcGIS 10.0.Nest survival models were constructed in Program MARK for data analysis.Results indicated that in the early breeding season,the apparent survival rate (ASR) in DNNR (52.4％) was significantly greater than that in Pingjingguan (13.5％),and the ASR in the later breeding season in DNNR (26.7％) was not indistinctively correlated with Pingjingguan (3.2％).The daily survival rate (DSR) in the later breeding season was 93.8％ in DNNR and 92.0％ in Pingjingguan,respectively.The DSRs were both negatively correlated with nest distance to forest edges and settlements.The DSR in Pingjingguan was positively correlated with nest distance to paths and negatively correlated with nest distance to water sources.However,the DSR in DNNR was negatively correlated with nest distance to paths but positively correlated with nest distance to water sources.     

An ecological paradox: More woodland predators and less artificial nest predation in landscapes colonized by noisy miners

Many passerine bird populations, particularly those that have open‐cup nests, are in decline in agricultural landscapes. Current theory suggests that an increase in habitat generalist predators in response to landscape change is partially responsible for these declines. However, empirical tests have failed to reach a consensus on how and through what mechanisms landscape change affects nest predation. We tested one hypothesis, the Additive Predation Model, with an artificial nest experiment in fragmented landscapes in southern Queensland, Australia. We employed structural equation modelling of the influence of the relative density of woodland and habitat generalist predators and landscape features at the nest, site, patch and landscape scales on the probability of nest predation. We found little support for the Additive Predation Model, with no significant influence of the density of woodland predators on the probability of nest predation, although landscape features at different spatial scales were important. Within woodlands fragmented by agriculture in eastern Australia, the presence of noisy miner colonies appears to influence ecological processes important for nest predation such that the Additive Predation Model does not hold. In the absence of colonies of the aggressive native bird, the noisy miner, the influence of woodland predators on the risk of artificial nest predation was low compared with that of habitat generalist predators. Outside noisy miner colonies, we found significant edge effects with greater predation rates for artificial nests within woodland patches located closer to the agricultural matrix. Furthermore, the density of habitat generalist predators increased with the extent of irrigated land‐use, suggesting that in the absence of noisy miner colonies, nest predation increases with land‐use intensity at the landscape scale.     

Nest predators of woodland open-nesting songbirds in central Europe

I used time-lapse videotaping to identify predators of open songbird nests in fragmented deciduous woodland (nine plots, 2–10 ha each) in the Czech Republic from 2002 to 2006. I documented 22 species of predators at 171 nests of 13 species (mainly Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla , Song Thrush Turdus philomelos , Common Blackbird Turdus merula , Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella and Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs ). The main predators were Pine Marten Martes martes (37% of 178 predation events), Jay Garrulus glandarius (29%), Buzzard Buteo buteo (7%) and Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major (7%); mammals accounted for 48% of total predation. At least 3% of nests were depredated by multiple predators. In spite of their local abundance, Hooded Crows Corvus cornix did not present a serious threat for shrub nesting songbirds (< 1% of total predation). No predation by mice was recorded, suggesting that their importance has been overestimated in artificial nest studies. The proportional species composition of predators depended on which species occupied the monitored nest and location (study plot), but not on the year or the time of season. Corvids and raptors accounted for a relatively larger percentage of total predation of small ('warblers') and large ('thrushes') prey species, respectively, whereas carnivores were important predators of all prey species. Active nests of thrushes were only rarely robbed by Jays (< 4% of 52 events), presumably due to parental nest defence. Predation by woodpeckers was spatially clumped, probably due to individual foraging specialization. Predation by the other major predators was documented on most/all study plots.     

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.     

Predation as a landscape effect: the trading off by prey species between predation risks and protection benefits

1. Predators impose costs on their prey but may also provide benefits such as protection against other (e.g. nest) predators. The optimal breeding location in relation to the distance from a nesting raptor varies so as to minimize the sum of costs of adult and nest predation. We provide a conceptual model to account for variation in the relative predation risks and derive qualitative predictions for how different prey species should respond to the distance from goshawk Accipiter gentilis nests. 2. We test the model predictions using a comprehensive collection of data from northern Finland and central Norway. First, we carried out a series of experiments with artificial bird nests to test if goshawks may provide protection against nest predation. Second, we conducted standard bird censuses and nest-box experiments to detect how the density or territory occupancy of several prey species varies with distance from the nearest goshawk nest. 3. Nest predation rate increased with distance from goshawk nest indicating that goshawks may provide protection for birds' nests against nest predation. Abundance (or probability of presence) of the main prey species of goshawks peaked at intermediate distances from goshawk nests, reflecting the trade-off. The abundance of small songbird species decreased with distance from goshawk nests. The goshawk poses little risk to small songbirds and they may benefit from goshawk proximity in protection against nest predation. Finally, no pattern with distance in pied flycatcher territory (nest box) occupation rate or the onset of egg-laying was detected. This is expected, as flycatchers neither suffer from marked nest predation risk nor are favoured goshawk prey. 4. Our results suggest that territory location in relation to the nest of a predator is a trade-off situation where adult birds weigh the risk of themselves being predated against the benefits accrued from increased nest survival. Prey species appear able to detect and measure alternative predation risks, and respond adaptively. From the prey perspective, the landscape is a mosaic of habitat patches the quality of which varies according to structural and floristic features, but also to the spatial distribution of predators.     

Predation on wader nests in Europe

The population declines of waders in Europe are widely considered to have resulted from habitat loss and degradation due to agricultural changes. However, recent empirical evidence suggests that levels of predation on wader nests are unsustainably high in many cases, even in some situations where breeding habitat is otherwise favourable. We review the published and 'grey' literature on nest predation on waders in Europe and quantify the relative importance of the major predators. Nest cameras offer the least biased method of identifying and quantifying nest predators. A small number of camera studies, in combination with others utilizing nest temperature loggers, indicate that nocturnal/mammalian predators make the largest contribution to wader nest predation. More than half of site-years or studies reviewed reported clutch failure rates of over 50% attributable to predation alone, a rate that is likely to be associated with declining populations, although parameters such as chick and adult survival will also affect population trends. Correlates of wader nest predation are documented, with time of season, field type and management, distance to habitat/field edge, wader nest density, and abundance of mammalian predators being most consistently identified. Future directions of research into wader productivity are discussed, and we suggest that studies quantify additional life-history parameters such as chick survival, as well as examining the predator community, wherever possible.