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Aims: To investigate if predation on Redshank nests was affected by habitat characteristics at a local scale. Methods: We examined survival rates of Redshank nests on coastal meadows on the Baltic island of Gotland, Sweden, over two breeding seasons. We analysed nest survival rates in relation to several habitat characteristics that may benefit predators searching for nests. We examined existing studies concerning predation rates on wader nests in relation to edges and habitat features potentially used by avian predators. Results: We found no significant effects of distance to habitat edge or to nearest potential lookout for avian predators or to shoreline. Abundance of Lapwings Vanellus vanellus, an aggressive species with active nest-defence, did not have any significant effect on nest survival rate, nor did vegetation concealment of nests. Nest survival rates were significantly different between years and lower later in the season. Conclusions: There is only weak support for general effects on wader nest predation rates of proximity to edges and features used by avian predators. Simple mechanical management actions such as removal of trees and bushes on coastal meadows may not directly, and by itself, result in higher reproductive success of waders. Further understanding is needed of the behaviour of predators and the composition of the predator community in different landscapes in order to increase the efficiency of management actions to remove threats to vulnerable species on coastal meadows.

Nest survival among eight wader species Charadrii in relation to densities of grazing livestock (0–2 livestock/day/ha) was investigated on Öland, southeastern Sweden in 2004. When analysing a pooled data set of 173 nests, nest survival was not related to densities of livestock. Only six nests were destroyed from trampling by livestock and the estimated trampling risk of nests was low. Another analysis of 122 nests produced significantlynegative relationships between nest survival and initiation of incubation. Nests were depredated more oftenlater in the season. Nest survival was not related to livestock density or to vegetation height at nests. Mayfieldestimates of hatching success were 2–21% for four of the different wader species. The highest hatching success was found in Lapwing Vanellus vanellus (21%) and Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula (20%), and the lowest in Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus (2%), while Redshank Tringa totanus had intermediate hatchingsuccess (11%). This study indicates that, at current grazing management, predation has a higher relative impact on nest survival of waders breeding on coastal meadows compared to direct and indirect effects of grazing animals.

Several wader species breeding in agricultural landscapes are declining in Europe. Here, we present evidencethat reproduction in a subpopulation of an abundant but vulnerable wader species, the Redshank Tringa totanus,is too low for self-sustainability. We used population data collected from Gotland, SE Sweden, during thebreeding seasons of 1997–2003. We used analytic and simulation-based sensitivity analyses of a stage-basedmatrix model of female Redshanks to compare the relative importance of specific vital rates to λ (populationgrowth rate). For each vital rate, we present estimates of mean values and parameter limits. At mean valuesof vital rates, λ is estimated to 0.876, while the computer simulation yields an average λ of 0.860 (95% confidenceintervals: 0.770–0.950), which is significant lower than 1. Further, analytic sensitivity of λ is highestto adult survival followed by chick survival and nest success. Analytic elasticity of λ ranks vital rates in a similarway as analytic sensitivity, and the computer simulation also indicates that the rankings of sensitivities andelasticities are robust to parameter uncertainties. In the simulated data, almost half of the variation in λ wasexplained by variation in adult survival (41%). The explanatory power of chick survival (27%) and nest successof first clutches (22%) was intermediate while other vital rates accounted for negligible amounts of variation.We conclude, however, that the potential to increase an already high adult survival is limited. Therefore,management actions should aim to increase reproductive success mediated via decreased nest predationrates and increased survival of Redshank chicks simultaneously.

CapsuleNest survival rates could not be explained by distance to habitat edges or other features used by predators. AimsTo investigate if predation on Redshank nests was affected by habitat characteristics at a local scale. MethodsWe examined survival rates of Redshank nests on coastal meadows on the Baltic island of Gotland, Sweden, over two breeding seasons. We analysed nest survival rates in relation to several habitat characteristics that may benefit predators searching for nests. We examined existing studies concerning predation rates on wader nests in relation to edges and habitat features potentially used by avian predators. ResultsWe found no significant effects of distance to habitat edge or to nearest potential lookout for avian predators or to shoreline. Abundance of Lapwings Vanellus vanellus, an aggressive species with active nest-defence, did not have any significant effect on nest survival rate, nor did vegetation concealment of nests. Nest survival rates were significantly different between years and lower later in the season. ConclusionsThere is only weak support for general effects on wader nest predation rates of proximity to edges and features used by avian predators. Simple mechanical management actions such as removal of trees and bushes on coastal meadows may not directly, and by itself, result in higher reproductive success of waders. Further understanding is needed of the behaviour of predators and the composition of the predator community in different landscapes in order to increase the efficiency of management actions to remove threats to vulnerable species on coastal meadows.

The redshank (Tringa totanus) is declining throughout Europe and to implement efficient conservation measures, it is important to obtain information about the population genetic structure. The aim of the present study was two-fold. First, we analysed the genetic variation within and between populations in the Baltic region in southern Scandinavia. Evidence of genetic structure would suggest that different populations might require separate management strategies. Second, in an attempt to study large-scale genetic structure we compared the Baltic populations with redshanks from northern Scandinavia and Iceland. This analysis could reveal insights into phylogeography and long-term population history. DNA samples were collected from six breeding sites in Scandinavia presumed to include two subspecies (totanus and britannica) and a further sample from Iceland (subspecies robusta). Two methods were used to study the population genetic structure. Domain II and III of the mitochondrial control region was analysed by DNA sequencing and nuclear DNA was analysed by screening amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Mitochondrial DNA showed no variation between individuals in domain II. When analysing an 481 bp fragment of domain III seven haplotypes were found among birds. On the basis of mtDNA sequences, redshanks showed some evidence of a recent expansion from a bottlenecked refugial population. Bayesian analyses of AFLP data revealed a significant genetic differentiation between suggested subspecies but not between populations within the Baltic region. Our results indicate that populations of redshanks in Europe constitute at least three separate management units corresponding to the recognised subspecies.