Are predation rates comparable between natural and artificial open-cup tree nests in boreal forest landscapes?

ABSTRACT: Nest predation studies often use artificial nests to secure sample sizes and nest distribution patterns that allow empirically testing differences in predation rates between ecological units of interest. These studies rely on the assumption that natural and artificial nests experience similar or consistent relative predation rates across ecological gradients. As this assumption may depend on several factors (for example differences in predator community, nest construction, parental care patterns), it is important to test whether artificial nests provide adequate and comparable estimates of predation rates to natural nests. In this study, we compare predation rates of above-ground natural open-cup nests, artificial nests and natural nests with artificial eggs along a forest gradient from ed

SUBMITTER: Hoset KS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6326507 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature