TY - JOUR
T1 - Not all nesting guild members are alike
T2 - Nest predators and conspecific abundance differentially influence nest survival in the ground-nesting Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) and Veery (Catharus fuscescens)
AU - Kelly, Janice K.
AU - Schmidt, Kenneth A.
AU - Ostfeld, Richard S.
PY - 2017/3
Y1 - 2017/3
N2 - At the nest guild level, nest predation is a major cause of failure for many passerines. Species differ in behaviors that influence nest predation risk, presenting a challenge to nest survival analyses at the nest guild level. At our study site in southeastern New York, previous findings have suggested rodent nest predator abundance strongly drives daily nest survival of the Veery (Catharus fuscescens), a ground or low shrub-nesting songbird. In cue playback experiments, the sympatric ground-nesting Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) shows a greater aversion to chipmunk vocalizations than Veeries. These behavioral differences suggest these two sympatric ground-nesters may be driven by different ecological mechanisms despite similarity in their nesting niche. We examined how nest predator abundance, regional songbird abundance, and timing of nest activity during the breeding season influence nest survival in two songbirds from the same nest guild by building competitive models for determining the extrinsic drivers of daily nest survival. Ovenbird nest survival was best described by nest activity date, where nest survival decreased later in the breeding season, and was positively influenced by conspecific density. Nest survival of Veeries was strongly and negatively influenced by both nest predator abundance and regional abundance of Veeries. Thus, the strong relationship between nest predator abundance and nest survival observed in Veeries does not extend to Ovenbirds. These sympatric ground-nesting songbirds differ in how nest predators influence nest survival, therefore highlighting the importance of considering species-specific differences within nesting guilds to better understand nest survival at multiple ecological levels.
AB - At the nest guild level, nest predation is a major cause of failure for many passerines. Species differ in behaviors that influence nest predation risk, presenting a challenge to nest survival analyses at the nest guild level. At our study site in southeastern New York, previous findings have suggested rodent nest predator abundance strongly drives daily nest survival of the Veery (Catharus fuscescens), a ground or low shrub-nesting songbird. In cue playback experiments, the sympatric ground-nesting Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) shows a greater aversion to chipmunk vocalizations than Veeries. These behavioral differences suggest these two sympatric ground-nesters may be driven by different ecological mechanisms despite similarity in their nesting niche. We examined how nest predator abundance, regional songbird abundance, and timing of nest activity during the breeding season influence nest survival in two songbirds from the same nest guild by building competitive models for determining the extrinsic drivers of daily nest survival. Ovenbird nest survival was best described by nest activity date, where nest survival decreased later in the breeding season, and was positively influenced by conspecific density. Nest survival of Veeries was strongly and negatively influenced by both nest predator abundance and regional abundance of Veeries. Thus, the strong relationship between nest predator abundance and nest survival observed in Veeries does not extend to Ovenbirds. These sympatric ground-nesting songbirds differ in how nest predators influence nest survival, therefore highlighting the importance of considering species-specific differences within nesting guilds to better understand nest survival at multiple ecological levels.
KW - Catharus fuscescens
KW - Nest guild
KW - Nest survival
KW - Ovenbird
KW - Predation risk
KW - Seiurus aurocapilla
KW - Veery
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85015332789&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1676/1559-4491-129.1.112
DO - 10.1676/1559-4491-129.1.112
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85015332789
SN - 1559-4491
VL - 129
SP - 112
EP - 121
JO - Wilson Journal of Ornithology
JF - Wilson Journal of Ornithology
IS - 1
ER -