Experimental reduction of a primary nest predator fails to decrease nest predation rates of sagebrush songbirds
Data files
Sep 13, 2023 version files 58.93 KB
-
controlcaptures_rhea2023.csv
-
grideffort_rhea2023.csv
-
habitatcovariates_rhea_2023.csv
-
nestlogisticexposuredata_rhea2023.csv
-
README.md
-
removalcaptures_rhea2023.csv
-
trapnights_rhea2023.csv
Abstract
Predator removal comprises one management strategy to increase the reproductive success of a prey species of concern, particularly within human-altered landscapes. The efficacy of such an approach, however, depends partly on the extent to which predation risk is additive or compensatory, which remains unknown for many systems. We experimentally reduced the local abundance of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), a primary nest predator of three sagebrush-obligate songbirds (Brewer’s Sparrow [Spizella breweri], Sagebrush Sparrow [Artemisiospiza nevadensis], and Sage Thrasher [Oreoscoptus montanus]) during May ̶ August 2019 in western Wyoming, USA to assess whether nest predation risk was additive or compensatory and whether nest predator removal could comprise a potentially effective management tool. Deer mouse removal did not affect the daily nest survival of songbirds between experimental and control plots, despite a reduction of 68 ̶ 85% in deer mouse abundance within treatment areas. Nest predation in this system therefore likely operated in a compensatory way, in which deer mice that escaped removal, new immigrants, or other species of nest predator maintained similar levels of nest predation risk regardless of the prevalence of a primary predator. We caution that predator removal may not be an effective management tool in systems that lack barriers to predator immigration or have several alternative species of predators, even when a single species typically is responsible for the majority of predation events.
README: Experimental reduction of a primary nest predator fails to decrease nest predation rates of sagebrush songbirds
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.m0cfxpp90
Description of the data and file structure
The nestlogisticexposuredata_rhea2023.csv file includes the following columns: NestID, Species, CheckDate, Plot, finalfate, Interval, and Int_fate
- NestID represents the unique ID for the nest.
- Species is a standard four-letter banding code for songbird species.
- CheckDate is the date when the nest was monitored
- Plot represents the unique ID for the study location (R indicates removal, C indicates control).
- finalfate represents whether the nest fledged or failed during the summer breeding season (binary; 0 represents nest failure and 1 represents a nest that fledged at least one young).
- Interval represents the number of days between nest checks.
- Int_fate represents whether the nest fledged or failed during the interval between checks (binary; 0 represents nest failure and 1 represents a nest that fledged at least one young).
The habitatcovariates_rhea2023.csv file includes the following columns: NestID, AT_density, Avg Ht, Avg % Live, PercentShrub
- NestID represents the unique ID for the nest.
- AT_density represents the number of sagebrush stems within 1-m2 of the nest site.
- Avg_Ht represents the average height (cm) of sagebrush within 1-m2 of the nest site.
- Avg % Live represents the average number of living sagebrush within 1-m2 of the nest site.
- PercentShrub represents the average (%) shrub cover of living sagebrush within 1-m2 of the nest site.
The trapnights_rhea2023.csv file includes the following columns: TrapNight, Grid, SetTime, StartTime, EndTime, Session
- TrapNight represents the date of trapping.
- Grid represents the unique ID for trap area (R indicates removal, C indicates control).
- SetTime represents the time when each trapping grid was baited and opened for capture.
- StartTime represents when processing began for captured animals the following day.
- EndTime represents when processing of captured animals was completed.
Session represents which dates consisted of consecutive trapping time periods.
The grideffort_rhea2023.csv file includes the following columns: Type, Session, Grid, Traps, Nights_Set, Bicatch, Baited_Empty, Total_TrapNights
Type represents what treatment (removal or control) is being represented
Session represents which dates consisted of consecutive trapping time periods.
Grid represents the unique ID for trap area (R indicates removal, C indicates control).
Traps represents the number of traps within a grid.
Nights_Set represents the number of nights the traps were open for captures.
Bicatch represents the number of animals captured that were not our intended target species.
Baited_Empty represents the number of traps that were closed after the trap night that did not have a capture.
Total_TrapNights represents the number of traps that were available for capture within the indicated grid during the effective trapping session.
The controlcaptures_rhea2023.csv file includes the following columns: Grid, TrapNight, Session, AID, Fate, Species
Grid represents the unique ID for trap area (R indicates removal, C indicates control).
TrapNight represents the date of trapping.
Session represents which dates consisted of consecutive trapping time periods.
AID represents the unique ID for that animal.
Fate represents whether the animal was a recapture (R), escaped (E) or was a new capture (TR).
Species is a four-letter code indicating the species (PEMA is Peromyscus maniculatus).
The removalcaptures_rhea2023.csv file includes the following columns: Grid, TrapNight, Session, AID, Fate, Species
- Grid represents the unique id for trap area (R indicates removal, C indicates control).
- TrapNight represents the date of trapping.
- Session represents which dates consisted of consecutive trapping time periods.
- AID represents the unique ID for that animal.
- Fate indicates that the animal was lethally removed (RM.
- Species is a four-letter code indicating the species (PEMA is Peromyscus maniculatus)
Sharing/Access information
Please contact Anna Chalfoun (achalfou@uwyo.edu) or Ashleigh Rhea (ashleighrhea13@gmail.com) for questions related to data.