Responses to terrestrial nest predators by endemic and introduced Hawaiian birds.

ABSTRACT: Birds free from nest predators for long periods may either lose the ability to recognize and respond to predators or retain antipredator responses if they are not too costly. How these alternate scenarios play out has rarely been investigated in an avian community whose members have different evolutionary histories. We presented models of two nest predators (rat and snake) and a negative control (tree branch) to birds on Hawai'i Island. Endemic Hawaiian birds evolved in the absence of terrestrial predators until rats were introduced approximately 1,000 years ago. Introduced birds evolved with diverse predator communities including mammals and snakes, but since their introduction onto the island approximately one century ago have been free from snake predation. We found that (a) endemic and

SUBMITTER: Cummins GC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7042753 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature