RECORD
Preliminary Test of the Ecological Trap Hypothesis
- Title:
- Preliminary Test of the Ecological Trap Hypothesis
- Creator:
- Ratti, John T.; Reese, Kerry P.
- Date Created:
- 1988
- Description:
- We tested factors associated with predation near forest-field edge and with the ecological trap hypothesis using artificial bird nests containing Japanese qual (Coturnix japonica) eggs. Predationi rates were determined for 759 nests placed in a systematic pattern within plots perpendicular to a forest-field ecotone created by commercial timber harvest in northern Idaho. One plot contained an abrupt edge and 1 contained a wide feathered edge of partial timber removal. Nests of 2 diameters (80 and 100 mm) were located on the ground and above ground in shrubs, and were placed in high- (20 nests/ha) and low-density (9 nests/ha) patterns. No difference was detected for predation rate with respect to nest location or size. Nests placed in a low-density pattern received higher percent predation than nests in a high-density pattern. The high-density plot had greater shrub cover, which may have restricted predator effectiveness. Predation rates were >4x higher in forest plots than field plots; these results may reflect relatively infrequent use of field subplots by avian predators requiring perch sites. Our data do not support the ecological trap hypothesis; we found no relationship between distance from edge and predation rate. However, our abrupt-edge subplots had higher predation than the feathered-edge subplots. These data support earlier hypotheses that birds are poorly adapted to abrupt, artificial edge habitats, and that these habitats may have a barrier effect and create a travel lane for predators.
- Document Type:
- Research Article
- Subjects:
- UIEF ecological trap hypothesis bird predation predation rates field study artificial edge environments artificial nest predator travel lane wildlife
- Location:
- UIEF
- Latitude:
- 46.869607
- Longitude:
- -116.733856
- Publisher:
- The Journal of Wildlife Management
- Department:
- Fish and Wildlife Sciences
- Type:
- Text
Source
- Preferred Citation:
- "Preliminary Test of the Ecological Trap Hypothesis", UIEF Research Exchange, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections, https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/uief/items/uief_0218.html
Rights
- Rights:
- In copyright, educational use permitted.
- Standardized Rights:
- http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/