Dunn, Jenny C., Gruar, Derek, Stoate, Chris , Szczur, John and Peach, Will J. (2016) Can hedgerow management mitigate the impacts of predation on songbird nest survival? Journal of Environmental Management, 184 (3). pp. 535-544. ISSN 0301-4797
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Item Type: | Article |
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Item Status: | Live Archive |
Abstract
Nest predators can have significant impacts on songbird reproductive success. These impacts may be amplified by habitat simplification and here we test whether sympathetic management of farmland hedgerows can reduce nest depredation, especially by corvids. We test whether songbirds select nest sites according to structural features of hedgerows (including nest visibility and accessibility), and whether these features influence nest predation risk. Songbirds selected nesting sites affording higher vegetation cover above the nest, increased visibility on the nest-side of the hedgerow and reduced visibility on the far side of the hedge. Nest survival was unrelated to corvid abundance and only weakly related (at the egg stage) to corvid nest proximity. Nest survival at the chick stage was higher where vegetation structure restricted access to corvid-sized predators (averaging 0.78 vs. 0.53), and at nests close to potential vantage points. Overall nest survival was sensitive to hedgerow structure (accessibility) particularly at low exposure to corvid predation, while the overall impact of corvid exposure was dependent on the relationship involving proximity to vantage points. Nest survival over the chick stage was much higher (0.67) in stock-proof, trimmed and mechanically cut hedgerows, (which tended to provide lower side visibility and accessibility) than in recently laid, remnant or leggy hedgerows (0.18). Long-term reductions in the management of British hedgerows may therefore be exposing nesting songbirds to increased predation risk. We recommend regular rotational cutting of hedgerows to maintain a dense woody structure and thereby reduce songbird nest predation.
Keywords: | Nest predation, Corvids, Farmland birds, Predator-habitat interactions, Farmland conservation, NotOAChecked |
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Subjects: | D Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture and related subjects > D441 Farm Management D Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture and related subjects > D447 Environmental Conservation C Biological Sciences > C100 Biology |
Divisions: | College of Science > School of Life Sciences |
Related URLs: | |
ID Code: | 25341 |
Deposited On: | 20 Dec 2016 16:59 |
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