Shifts in Dominant Nest Predators Along a Rural-To-Urban Landscape Gradient

The condor

Amanda D. Rodewald¹ 

关键词: agriculture;    diversity;    landscape;    mammal;    mesopredator;    nest;    predator;    video;    urban;   

DOI  :  10.1525/cond.2011.100132

学科分类：动物科学

来源: Central Ornithology Publication Office

【 摘 要 】

Abstract. In urban landscapes, predators are often more abundant or diverse than in rural areas, but few studies have examined how the identity of actual nest predators varies with urbanization. From 2007 to 2010, we used time-lapsed video to record activity at nests of the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens), Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis), and Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) in riparian forests in urban and rural landscapes of Ohio, and we examined the extent to which predator identity was predicted by landscape composition. In 99 records of depredation, we identified 21 species of nest predators (17 in rural, 15 in urban). No single species dominated, though the Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater; 18% of recorded depredations) and northern raccoon (Procyon lotor; 11%) were the most commonly recorded predators. Birds were responsible for 62% of depredations, followed by mammals (36%) and snakes (2%). By category of predator, mesopredators were ...

【 授权许可】

CC BY