The effect of landscape fragmentation and habitat variables on nest predation of artificial ground nest in the Bohemian Forest
Abstract
Nest predation risk of ground nests in relation to habitat fragmentation patterns and microhabitat features was studied in the Bohemian Forest (Czech Republic) during the years 2005 and 2008. We used artificial nests to assess the validity of the edge effect hypothesis on nest predation and for determination other factors influencing predation rate.
We placed nests along the edge and interior of forest patches located in highly fragmented agricultural land and closed forest landscape to find out if predation on artificial nests in forest patches was influenced by surrounding landscape type. More than half (52%) out of total 317 artificial clutches was destroyed.
The predation rate was similar for edge and interior areas and among two habitat types, suggesting that nests of endangered ground nesting species, such as the hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia), are not exposed to increased predation risk in habitat edges in studied area. The positive correlation was found between the nest predation and visibility of the nest.
Based on egg remnants found in destroyed nests, we suppose that the main egg predators were mammals - martens (Martes spp.), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and wild boar (Sus scrofa).