Biology Bird Nest Report
Investigation on the effect of location on bird’s nest predation
Abstract:
Nest predation impacts the success of avian species. To test if the location of the nest impacted upon the amount and time the nest was predated upon, artificial nests with plastiscine eggs were placed in exposed and protected environments for two weeks in the greater Sydney region. It was hypothesized that those nests in exposed environments will be preyed upon more and in a shorter period of time then nests in a protected environment. It was found that nests in an exposed environment were predation upon significantly more (X² = 17.38, d.f.=1, critical value=3.84 p<0.05) than nests in a protected environment. A significant association was also found in the amount of time until the nest was attacked and the location of the nests. (t=2.15, degrees of freedom=85, probability>5% therefore Ho is rejected) the results show that nests in exposed environments were attacked in a in a shorter space of time compared to the nests in protected environments.
Introduction:
The largest contribution to lack of nesting success in avian communities (Wiens 1989) and is said to be predation, and is thought to influence location of avian nest locations and reproduction. (Bosque and Bosque 1995)
Predators are animals that rely on other animals as a source of nutrition. In an attempt of protecting nests and avian individuals from being attacked camouflage is used as a form of defense. For example, the nest being off the ground if not a ratite reduces predation from specific species such as dingoes as they are unable to reach the nest. Camouflage helps reduce predation from animals with poor eye sight such as snakes. However, for predators to survive, they are forced to evolve (adapt) to defensive mechanisms. (Knox 2010) To discover if the different habitats relate to different amount of predation, and the time of until predation occurs an experiment needs to be done.
This study investigates whether
Abstract:
Nest predation impacts the success of avian species. To test if the location of the nest impacted upon the amount and time the nest was predated upon, artificial nests with plastiscine eggs were placed in exposed and protected environments for two weeks in the greater Sydney region. It was hypothesized that those nests in exposed environments will be preyed upon more and in a shorter period of time then nests in a protected environment. It was found that nests in an exposed environment were predation upon significantly more (X² = 17.38, d.f.=1, critical value=3.84 p<0.05) than nests in a protected environment. A significant association was also found in the amount of time until the nest was attacked and the location of the nests. (t=2.15, degrees of freedom=85, probability>5% therefore Ho is rejected) the results show that nests in exposed environments were attacked in a in a shorter space of time compared to the nests in protected environments.
Introduction:
The largest contribution to lack of nesting success in avian communities (Wiens 1989) and is said to be predation, and is thought to influence location of avian nest locations and reproduction. (Bosque and Bosque 1995)
Predators are animals that rely on other animals as a source of nutrition. In an attempt of protecting nests and avian individuals from being attacked camouflage is used as a form of defense. For example, the nest being off the ground if not a ratite reduces predation from specific species such as dingoes as they are unable to reach the nest. Camouflage helps reduce predation from animals with poor eye sight such as snakes. However, for predators to survive, they are forced to evolve (adapt) to defensive mechanisms. (Knox 2010) To discover if the different habitats relate to different amount of predation, and the time of until predation occurs an experiment needs to be done.
This study investigates whether
References: Moller, A. P (1989). “Nest site selection across field- woodland ectones: the effect of nest predation”. (Oikos Vol. 56, 1989. Munksgaard, pg 240-246) Moller, A, P (1991)” Clutch size, nest predation and distribution of avian unequal competitors in a patchy environment”. Ecology Vol. 72, No. 4 (Aug., 1991), pp. 1336-1349. Angelstam, p (1986), “Predation on ground-nesting birds ' nests in relation to predator densities and habitat edge”. (Oikos. Vol. 47, 1986. Munksgaard. p 365-373) Crabtree, RL, L.S. Broome, and M.L. Wolfe. 1989. Effects of habitat characteristics on nest predation and nest-site selection. (J Wildl. Manage. 53: 129-137.) Burke, D, M (2004). “Patterns of nest predation on artificial and natural nests in forests” . (Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology. Vol. 18, no. 2, 2004. Blackwell Science. p 381-388) Kathryn E. Sieving "Nest predation and avian species diversity in northwestern forest understory". Ecology. FindArticles.com. 27 Apr, 2011. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2120/is_n7_v79/ai_21231384/ Bosque, C., and M. T. Bosque. 1995. Nest predation as a selective factor in the evolution of developmental rates in altricial birds. American Naturalist 145:234-260. Wiens, J. A. 1985. Habitat selection in variable environments: shrub-steppe birds. Pages 227-251 in M. L. Cody, editor. Habitat selection in birds. Academic Press. New York, New York, USA. BURHANS, D. E. 1997. Habitat and microhabitat features associated with cowbird parasitism in two forest edge cowbird hosts. Condor 99:866-872. Knox, Ladiges, Evans, Saint 2010. “Biology: An Australian Focus” 4th edition. Copyright 2010 Mc Graw-Hill Australia Pty Limited.