Title | Effect of clearcutting on artificial egg predation in boreal mixedwood forests in north-central Alberta |
Publication Type | Thesis |
Year of Publication | 1996 |
Authors | Cotterill, S. E. |
Volume | Zoology |
Issue | M. Sc. |
Pagination | 78 |
Place Published | University of Alberta |
Publication Language | en |
Keywords | Aves |
Abstract | Effect of clearcutting on the rate of artificial egg predation and egg predators was examined in Alberta's boreal mixedwood ecoregion in 1993 and 1994. Control sites remained unfragmented for the two year study. Treatment sites were isolated by clearcutting following the 1993 field season. Plasticine eggs and nest cameras were used to identify predators; and corvids, potential egg predators, were censused. Effect of nest site and landscape attributes on the probability of egg predation was also examined. Clearcutting did not affect the rate of egg predation or corvid densities, nor did the rate of egg predation vary with distance into aspen forest from a clearcut edge. Predation levels increased significantly in 1994 in $\underline{both}$ continuous and fragmented sites. Deer Mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and Red Squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) were the primary predators of ground nests and shrub nests, respectively. Probability of egg predation by Deer Mice and Red Squirrels could not be accurately predicted based on nest site vegetation or landscape characteristics. |
URL | http://search.proquest.com/docview/89254704 |
Topics | Biology |
Locational Keywords | Calling Lake |
Active Link | |
Group | Science |
Custom 5 | 55 15 |
Custom 6 | 113 19 |
Citation Key | 40338 |