REU: Influence of Nest Placement on Ecology of Coexisting Species

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This project will expand previous work on nest predation and nest placement as influences on habitat selection, coexistence of species, and reproductive investment. Nest placement and nest predation have received relatively little attention in such topics and, thus, can increase our understanding of these topics areas. Plus, knowledge of ecological constraints on nesting success in critical to conservation of species because of the importance of reproductive success to population maintenance. Data on nesting success and associated habitat for more than 350 nest will be collected during two additional years under this renewal. These data will be used to test hypotheses and predictions on nest patch choice and differences among coexisting species. Artifical nest will be used to conduct experimental tests of invasibility of communities as a function of evolved nest placement traits. Researchers will study Hermit Thrushes nesting in the same substrate in two different habitats to examine effects of evolved nest placement on local nesting success (e.g.. "source - sink" effects). Variability in nest placement will be examined within and among years and relative to nest predation. Effects of nest placement on nest attendance by females, feeding and guarding of females by males, and feeding nestlings will be monitored. Finally, differences among the coexisting species based on their foraging sites versus nesting sites will be compared. Results will contribute to the basic ecology of avian communities and to conservation biology of birds. //