TY - JOUR
T1 - Nest Predators of North American Birds
T2 - Continental Patterns and Implications
AU - DeGregorio, Brett A.
AU - Chiavacci, Scott J.
AU - Benson, Thomas J.
AU - Sperry, Jinelle H.
AU - Weatherhead, Patrick J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 The Author(s).
PY - 2016/8/1
Y1 - 2016/8/1
N2 - Identifying nest predators is of fundamental importance to understanding avian breeding ecology and can contribute to identifying broadscale nest-predation patterns. We reviewed 53 North American nest-predator studies, comprising more than 4000 camera-monitored nests, to explore geographic patterns in predator identity and how predation varied with predator richness, habitat, nest height, and bird size. Overall, mesopredators (at high latitudes) and snakes (at low latitudes) were the most frequent nest-predator guilds. Predation by rodents was greatest in the Great Plains and boreal forest and by corvids in the Southwest. Predation by different guilds was often correlated. Predator richness was greatest at midlatitudes but was a poor predictor of predation probability. Nest height and habitat influenced predator-specific predation. The richness of predator species was not influenced by bird body size, nesting height, or habitat type. Our results enable the prediction of regionally influential predators, highlight knowledge gaps, and provide a foundation for further exploration.
AB - Identifying nest predators is of fundamental importance to understanding avian breeding ecology and can contribute to identifying broadscale nest-predation patterns. We reviewed 53 North American nest-predator studies, comprising more than 4000 camera-monitored nests, to explore geographic patterns in predator identity and how predation varied with predator richness, habitat, nest height, and bird size. Overall, mesopredators (at high latitudes) and snakes (at low latitudes) were the most frequent nest-predator guilds. Predation by rodents was greatest in the Great Plains and boreal forest and by corvids in the Southwest. Predation by different guilds was often correlated. Predator richness was greatest at midlatitudes but was a poor predictor of predation probability. Nest height and habitat influenced predator-specific predation. The richness of predator species was not influenced by bird body size, nesting height, or habitat type. Our results enable the prediction of regionally influential predators, highlight knowledge gaps, and provide a foundation for further exploration.
KW - Avian ecology
KW - breeding behavior
KW - nest cameras
KW - predator identity
KW - predator-prey interactions
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U2 - 10.1093/biosci/biw071
DO - 10.1093/biosci/biw071
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:84981187610
SN - 0006-3568
VL - 66
SP - 655
EP - 665
JO - BioScience
JF - BioScience
IS - 8
ER -