Comparing the nest predation edge effect in different habitat edges
Abstract
Edge effect influences songbirds in that nest predation rates are higher near the edges than in the interior areas. In the last decades high number of studies investigating the problem of nest predation and edge effect were conducted, however, their results are surprisingly divers. In most studies only one type of edge (e.g. forest−arable field) was investigated, however, edge effect may vary in different edge types. In our research we aimed to examine the pattern of nest predation, when various habitat edges are examined in one mosaic landscape under same conditions simultaneously, and to investigate which environmental factors affect the nest predation rate. We conducted our survey in May 2007 in the East side of Vértes mountains in five edge types (oak forest−arable field, arable field−grassland, oak forest−grassland, oak forest−coniferous forest, coniferous forest−grassland). In each edge types we placed artificial ground nests with one quail and one plasticine egg 0−5−10−20−50 meters from the edges. In our analysis we compared the predation patterns of each edge types. We investigated the effects of concealment, distance of edge, habitat type, edge type and vegetation structure on nest predation. Predation rate at different distances varied strongly between edge types, however we detected a general pattern of higher predation at edges. With increase of the distance from the edge and increase of the concealment of nests the predation rate of the artificial nests decreased. We conclude that the concealment of artificial nests in given habitat and distance from the edge is the ultimate factor determining predation rate.
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