Landscape homogenization due to agricultural intensification disrupts the relationship between reproductive success and main prey abundance in an avian predator
| dc.contributor.author | Sumasgutner, Petra | |
| dc.contributor.author | Terraube, Julien | |
| dc.contributor.author | Coulon, Aurélie | |
| dc.contributor.author | Villers, Alexandre | |
| dc.contributor.author | Chakarov, Nayden | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kruckenhauser, Luise | |
| dc.contributor.author | Korpimäki, Erkki | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2019-12-10T09:12:24Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2019-12-10T09:12:24Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2019-08-06 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2019-08-11T03:19:50Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | Abstract Background Selecting high-quality habitat and the optimal time to reproduce can increase individual fitness and is a strong evolutionary factor shaping animal populations. However, few studies have investigated the interplay between land cover heterogeneity, limitation in food resources, individual quality and spatial variation in fitness parameters. Here, we explore how individuals of different quality respond to possible mismatches between a cue for prey availability (land cover heterogeneity) and the actual fluctuating prey abundance. Results We analyse timing of breeding and reproductive success in a migratory population of Eurasian kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) breeding in nest-boxes, over a full three-year abundance cycle of main prey (voles), and consider several components of individual quality, including body condition, blood parasite infection, and genetic diversity (n = 448 adults) that act on different time scales. Older individuals, and kestrel parents in higher body condition started egg-laying earlier than younger birds and those in lower body condition. Additionally, egg-laying was initiated earlier during the increase and decrease phases (2011 and 2012) than during the low phase of the vole cycle (2013). Nestling survival (ratio of eggs that fledged successfully) was higher in early nests and in heterogeneous landscapes (i.e., mosaic of different habitat types), which was evident during the increase and decrease phases of the vole cycle, but not during the low vole year. Conclusions We found a strong positive effect of landscape heterogeneity on nestling survival, but only when voles were relatively abundant, whereas a difference in the timing of breeding related to territory landscape heterogeneity was not evident. Therefore, landscape heterogeneity appeared as the main driver of high reproductive performance under favourable food conditions. Our results show that landscape homogenization linked to agricultural intensification disrupts the expected positive effect of vole abundance on reproductive success of kestrels. | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | Sumasgutner, P., Terraube, J., Coulon, A., Villers, A., Chakarov, N., Kruckenhauser, L., & Korpimäki, E. (2019). Landscape homogenization due to agricultural intensification disrupts the relationship between reproductive success and main prey abundance in an avian predator. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30691 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | Sumasgutner, Petra, Julien Terraube, Aurélie Coulon, Alexandre Villers, Nayden Chakarov, Luise Kruckenhauser, and Erkki Korpimäki "Landscape homogenization due to agricultural intensification disrupts the relationship between reproductive success and main prey abundance in an avian predator." (2019) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30691 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Frontiers in Zoology. 2019 Aug 06;16(1):31 | |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Journal Article AU - Sumasgutner, Petra AU - Terraube, Julien AU - Coulon, Aurélie AU - Villers, Alexandre AU - Chakarov, Nayden AU - Kruckenhauser, Luise AU - Korpimäki, Erkki AB - Abstract Background Selecting high-quality habitat and the optimal time to reproduce can increase individual fitness and is a strong evolutionary factor shaping animal populations. However, few studies have investigated the interplay between land cover heterogeneity, limitation in food resources, individual quality and spatial variation in fitness parameters. Here, we explore how individuals of different quality respond to possible mismatches between a cue for prey availability (land cover heterogeneity) and the actual fluctuating prey abundance. Results We analyse timing of breeding and reproductive success in a migratory population of Eurasian kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) breeding in nest-boxes, over a full three-year abundance cycle of main prey (voles), and consider several components of individual quality, including body condition, blood parasite infection, and genetic diversity (n = 448 adults) that act on different time scales. Older individuals, and kestrel parents in higher body condition started egg-laying earlier than younger birds and those in lower body condition. Additionally, egg-laying was initiated earlier during the increase and decrease phases (2011 and 2012) than during the low phase of the vole cycle (2013). Nestling survival (ratio of eggs that fledged successfully) was higher in early nests and in heterogeneous landscapes (i.e., mosaic of different habitat types), which was evident during the increase and decrease phases of the vole cycle, but not during the low vole year. Conclusions We found a strong positive effect of landscape heterogeneity on nestling survival, but only when voles were relatively abundant, whereas a difference in the timing of breeding related to territory landscape heterogeneity was not evident. Therefore, landscape heterogeneity appeared as the main driver of high reproductive performance under favourable food conditions. Our results show that landscape homogenization linked to agricultural intensification disrupts the expected positive effect of vole abundance on reproductive success of kestrels. DA - 2019-08-06 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Agro-ecosystems KW - Biodiversity conservation KW - Boreal landscapes KW - Eurasian kestrel KW - Global change KW - Heterozygosity–fitness correlations KW - Individual quality KW - Predator-prey interactions LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2019 T1 - Landscape homogenization due to agricultural intensification disrupts the relationship between reproductive success and main prey abundance in an avian predator TI - Landscape homogenization due to agricultural intensification disrupts the relationship between reproductive success and main prey abundance in an avian predator UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30691 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-019-0331-z | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30691 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | Sumasgutner P, Terraube J, Coulon A, Villers A, Chakarov N, Kruckenhauser L, et al. Landscape homogenization due to agricultural intensification disrupts the relationship between reproductive success and main prey abundance in an avian predator. 2019; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30691. | en_ZA |
| dc.language.rfc3066 | en | |
| dc.rights.holder | The Author(s). | |
| dc.subject | Agro-ecosystems | |
| dc.subject | Biodiversity conservation | |
| dc.subject | Boreal landscapes | |
| dc.subject | Eurasian kestrel | |
| dc.subject | Global change | |
| dc.subject | Heterozygosity–fitness correlations | |
| dc.subject | Individual quality | |
| dc.subject | Predator-prey interactions | |
| dc.title | Landscape homogenization due to agricultural intensification disrupts the relationship between reproductive success and main prey abundance in an avian predator | |
| dc.type | Journal Article |