Predator exclosures: a technique to reduce predation at piping plover nests
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Published source details
Melvin S.M., MacIvor L.H. & Griffin C.R. (1992) Predator exclosures: a technique to reduce predation at piping plover nests. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 20, 143-148.
Published source details Melvin S.M., MacIvor L.H. & Griffin C.R. (1992) Predator exclosures: a technique to reduce predation at piping plover nests. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 20, 143-148.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Physically protect nests with individual exclosures/barriers or provide shelters for chicks of waders Action Link |
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Physically protect nests with individual exclosures/barriers or provide shelters for chicks of waders
A replicated, controlled before-and-after study from 1988-1989 at six beaches on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA (Melvin et al. 1992), found that the daily survival rates, overall hatching success and number of chicks fledged/pair of 29 piping plover Charadrius melodus nests protected by wire predator exclosures (circular wire fences, 1 m tall, around nests with 5 x 10 cm mesh) were significantly higher than for 24 unprotected nests (daily survival rates: 99% for protected vs. 93% and unprotected nests; overall hatching success: 74% of 104 eggs vs. 19% of 59 eggs; 1.96 chicks/pair vs. 0.12 chicks/pair). Before exclosures were used, between 1985 and 1987, 79% of 126 plover nests were destroyed by predators (red foxes Vulpes vulpes, striped skunks Mephitis mephitis, American crows Corvus brachyrhynchos and gulls Larus spp.).
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