REU: Influence of Nest Placement on Ecology of Coexisting Species

该项目将扩大以前对巢捕食的工作， 巢位对栖息地选择的影响， 物种和生殖投资。 巢的放置和巢 在这样的环境中， 主题，从而可以增加我们对这些主题的理解 地区 另外，对筑巢的生态限制的了解 成功地保护物种至关重要，因为 繁殖成功对种群维持的重要性。 关于350多个鸟类筑巢成功率和相关栖息地的数据 在此期间，将在另外两年内收集巢 退款 这些数据将用于检验假设， 巢斑选择的预测和共存种间的差异 物种 实验巢将被用来进行实验 测试社区的可入侵性作为进化的函数 巢位特征 研究人员将研究隐士画眉 在两个不同的栖息地的同一基质中筑巢， 研究进化后的巢位对当地筑巢的影响 成功（例如，“源-汇”效应）。 巢内变异 将在年内和年间审查安置情况， 巢捕食 巢位对雌鸟照顾巢位的影响， 以母养母，以子养母，以子养母。 监测。 最后，共存物种之间的差异 根据它们的觅食地点和筑巢地点， 比较了 研究结果将有助于鸟类群落的基本生态学 以及鸟类的保护生物学。 //

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. //