Search

The primary driver of nest failure for terrestrial birds is depredation, especially for ground-nesting species that arc vulnerable to a diverse guild of predators. However, descriptions of how complex predator-prey interactions happen, and ultimately lead to nest failures, are scarce. Herein, we provide observations collected from cameras stationed at nest sites as part of a larger study on Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata) nesting behavior in the Oklahoma Panhandle during 2016. We observed 2 multi-episode (i.e.. multiple predator visits) diurnal nest depredation events at a nest of each species. In both instances, repeated nest depredation by hispid cotton rats (Sigmodon kispidus) as well as 2 different snake species resulted in nest abandonment. We observed that cotton rats routinely visited nest sites (up to 11 times in 1 diurnal period), and often entered the nest during oft' bouts (64% of off bouts) of the incubating females. By detailing interspecific interactions involved in nest depredation. we provide a glimpse into the complexity of the nesting ecology of ground-dwelling birds. These observations further reinforce the potential pitfalls of categorizing nest depredation events without camera data. Received 17 March 2022. Accepted 17 September 2022. Key words: camera, ground-nesting, nest predators. Northern Bobwhite. Scaled Quail. El factor principal de fracaso de la anidacion en aves terrestres es la depredacion. especialmcnte en especies que anidan en el suelo y son vulnerables a un gremio divcrso de depredadores. Sin embargo, las descripciones de como ocurren las interaeciones complejas depredador-presa. que llevan en ultima instancia al fracaso dc la anidacion. son escasas. Aqui proporcionamos obscrvacioncs realizadas con camaras trampa ubicadas en sitios tic anidacion conio parte de un estudio mas grande sobre comportamiento de anidacion dc las codornices Colinus virginiaitus y Callipepla squamata en Oklahoma Panhandle durante el 2016. Observamos 2 eventos de depredacion dinrna dc nido de episodios multiples (es deeir visitas de multiples depredadores) en un nido de cada especie. En ambos casos, la depredacion repetida del nido por ratas Sigmodon hispidus asi como de 2 especics diferentes de scrpientcs resulto en cl abandono del nido. Observamos que las ratas visitaron rutinariamente los sitios de anidacion (hasta 11 veces en un periodo diurno) y entraron al nido durante las salidas (64% de las salidas) dc las hembras que tncuban. Al detallar interaccioncs intcrcspccificas involucradas en depredacion dc nidos, damos un vistazo a la complcjidad dc la ecoiogia de anidacion de las aves tcrrestres. Estas obscrvacioncs retucr/.an mas los posibles obstaeulos de categorizar los eventos de depredacion dc nido sin usar camaras trampa. Palabras clave: aves terrcstrcs, camara. codornices. depredadores dc nido., The primary driver of nest failure for terrestrial birds is depredation (Ricklefs 1969, Martin 1992), especially for ground-nesting species that are vulnerable to a diverse guild of predator species (i.e., [...]

By 1985, approximately 400,000 ha of the keystone species Shinnery oak's (Quercus havardii) historic distribution had been eliminated for agricultural purposes across the southwestern United States. These trends indicate a need for targeted conservation and restoration efforts, especially considering the increased attention received for its role in providing habitat for endangered fauna. Setting spatially explicit conservation targets can be challenging for species with limited distributions, as the change in climate conditions over time may disconnect the relationship between environmental suitability and static, topo‐edaphic factors. Our objective was to identify areas for Shinnery oak restoration and conservation and explore the role climate plays in determining these areas while considering topo‐edaphic relationships. We constructed ecological niche models to estimate Shinnery oak's distribution under current climate conditions and temporally transferred our model using an ensemble‐mean of general circulation models to identify areas predicted to retain environmental suitability for Shinnery oak through 2100. The current distribution model was best informed by one climate and two topo‐edaphic variables. We created a second distribution model excluding topo‐edaphic variables to estimate future plant–climate relationships. Incorporating insights from models informed by both static (e.g. soil) and dynamic (e.g. climate) variables, we identified areas for conservation characterized by persistent climate suitability and high soil type suitability. Lastly, we incorporated data on land use and ownership to explore socio‐ecological influences on management decisions. By identifying areas of agreement between our modeled distributions and considering social context, we prioritized conservation areas where environmental suitability persists under changing conditions to facilitate restoration success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]