Abstract
ABSTRACT: Small solitary open nesting passerines, such is the Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla that builds nest in the undergrowth, have little chance of successfully scaring off a predator to defend a nest. The aim of our study was to determine if parental care by Blackcaps can reduce the risk of depredation of its nests. We compared the survival of natural clutches with artificial clutches (plasticine and independently both plasticine & quail eggs). The artificial clutch was placed in a nest after the natural clutch had been concluded, and the results were analysed as matched pairs of data. We assumed that significantly higher survival rates of natural clutches than of artificial clutches deprived of parental care, might indicate a significant positive effect of parental care on reducing depredation risk of Blackcap clutches. Losses caused by birds, rodents and larger mammals were 49%, 41% and 9%, respectively. The differences in survival rates of artificial clutches (plasticine as well as quail & plasticine...
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
