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Nest density, egg conspicuity, vegetation structure and seasonality affect artificial nest predation in the Brazilian Cerrado

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 May 2022

Ivan R. de Aguiar ,
Vinícius R. Vianna  and
Raphael Igor Dias
Ivan R. de Aguiar
Affiliation:
Faculdade de Ciências da Educação e Saúde, Centro Universitário de Brasília, UniCEUB, Campus da Asa Norte, Brasília, DF, Brasil
Vinícius R. Vianna
Affiliation:
Faculdade de Ciências da Educação e Saúde, Centro Universitário de Brasília, UniCEUB, Campus da Asa Norte, Brasília, DF, Brasil
Raphael Igor Dias*
Affiliation:
Faculdade de Ciências da Educação e Saúde, Centro Universitário de Brasília, UniCEUB, Campus da Asa Norte, Brasília, DF, Brasil
*
Author for correspondence: Raphael Igor Dias, Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Nest predators use visual, acoustic and chemical cues to locate nests. In the Neotropics, predation is high being the main cause of nest failure. Despite that, it is still not completely clear what kind of information predators are using to find nests or whether predators respond differently according to habitat characteristics. Here, we executed an experimental manipulation to investigate how different ecological factors influence nest predation probability. We hypothesised that egg conspicuousness, nest clustering and a more open vegetation structure would increase nest predation probability, and that nest predation would be higher during the breeding season of most avian species in the region. We used artificial nests baited with plasticine and quail eggs (Coturnix coturnix), manipulated egg coloration and nest density. Artificial nests were distributed over forest and savanna-like vegetations. Overall predation rate was 40.9%. We found that nests baited with conspicuous eggs, located in open habitats, at higher densities and during the dry period were more predated. Results suggest that main predators must be visually orientated, and that egg crypsis is an important trait for open-nest species in the area. Moreover, a higher nest density may affect predator behaviour, favouring an increase in nest searching, which may be facilitated in open habitats.

Keywords

Artificial nestBrazilian savannacryptic colorationhabitat selectionneotropicsnest clusteringpredatorrainfall
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 38 , Issue 6 , November 2022 , pp. 362 - 369
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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