
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Berry, Lainie 
T1  - Predation rates of artificial nests in the edge and interior of a southern Victorian forest
JF  - Wildlife Research
JO  - Wildl. Res.
Y1  - 2002
VL  - 29
IS  - 4
SP  - 341
EP  - 345
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/WR01022 
N2  - Predation rates of nests at human-induced habitat edges may be greater than in forest interior due to differences in predator assemblages and predator activity. I compared the predation rates on 192 artificial nests containing plasticine eggs placed in forest edge and interior sites at Bunyip State Park, Victoria. The nest-predation rates at the forest edge sites were significantly greater (mean = 52&#8211;58%) than that at the forest interior sites (mean = 30&#8211;39%). The relative rates of predation by birds compared with mammals were significantly greater at forest edge sites (mean = 78&#8211;94%) than at forest interior sites (mean = 36&#8211;67%). Higher rates of nest predation at forest edges appeared to be due to greater densities of avian predators such as the grey shrike-thrush (Colluricincla harmonica), and/or lower abundances of small mammals. However, biases towards certain predator types may mask real, or create false, patterns in predation rates of artificial nests. A better understanding of how predators respond to artificial nests compared with natural nests is required. Until then, results of predation studies that use artificial nests should be interpreted with caution. 
ER  -

