Nest-site microhabitat association of red-billed leiothrix in subtropical fragmented forest in central China: evidence for a reverse edge effect on nest predation risk?
2016-02-17 10:49:10
论文题目：
Nest-site microhabitat association of red-billed leiothrix in subtropical fragmented forest in central China: evidence for a reverse edge effect on nest predation risk?
作者：
Zhiqiang Zhang
文章摘要：
Previous studies of nest-site selection on a fine scale may reveal limiting resources within habitat types. The red-billed leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea Scopoli, 1786) is a common bird species that lives in the subtropical forests of Asia. Despite many reports of this species from introduced populations, little information has been obtained from its native range. From 2011 to 2013, we studied nest-site selection of red-billed leiothrix at micro-scales in Daweishan Nature Reserve, Hunan Province, central China. A total of 363 nests were found in five vegetation types. We mea- sured the habitat variables and constructed nest-site selection models for nests found in the forest and scrub-grassland. Among the 18 variables measured in the forest, six variables were selected to construct the nest-site selection model: distance to forest edge (DTE), distance to water (DTW), vegetation comprehensive cover- age, tree coverage, bamboo coverage and shrub height. According to Akaike’s information criterion, the best model con- sisted of five of these variables (excluding vegetation comprehen- sive coverage), and distance to forest edge, distance to water, tree coverage and bamboo coverage had negative effects on nest-site selection. In scrub-grassland, the DTE, DTW, and bush coverage (BUC) were selected from the 13 variables measured, and, accord- ingly, the best model consisted of DTE and BUC. Model averaging suggested that BUC had a positive effect on nest-site selection. In contrast, DTE has a reverse effect. In addition, DTE differed sig- nificantly between successful and failed nests in forest and scrub- grassland. More successful nests were found near the forest edge. Taken together, these findings emphasise the power of fine-scale habitat selection models in identifying relevant habitat variables with a significant effect on preferred habitat and eventually, breeding success.
发表年度：
2016
刊物名称：
Journal of Natural History
通讯作者：
Daode Yang & Zhengwang Zhang