The effect of research activities on nest predation in the Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
During studies of avian breeding biology, ecology and population dynamics, researchers have to breach nesting territories, which can potentially lead to various disturbances resulting in altered relationships in the predator-prey system. It is usually assumed that human disturbance reduces nest succ...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | The European Zoological Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/24750263.2025.2462445 |
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| author | J. Płóciennik B. Czyż L. Hałupka |
| author_facet | J. Płóciennik B. Czyż L. Hałupka |
| author_sort | J. Płóciennik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | During studies of avian breeding biology, ecology and population dynamics, researchers have to breach nesting territories, which can potentially lead to various disturbances resulting in altered relationships in the predator-prey system. It is usually assumed that human disturbance reduces nest success in birds. However, recent studies have revealed that in most passerines there is no significant effect of human presence on nesting success. Moreover, some research even suggests that birds may benefit from researcher disturbance near nests. Here, we examine the effect of research activities on nest predation in a small reed-nesting passerine, the Eurasian Reed Warbler, studied during two consecutive breeding seasons. The study plot consisted of two adjacent parts (subplots) differing in the frequency of visits. In the second breeding season subplots were inverted (high-pressure subplot became a low-pressure subplot) to minimise the effect of external factors on the studied parameters. We observed some variability in predation rates between two breeding seasons, but the differences were not statistically significant. We also did not find significant differences in nest survival probabilities between subplots differing in human pressure neither at the egg nor at the nestling stage. We conclude that the researcher presence does not affect nest predation rates in the study population of Eurasian Reed Warblers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5d95d7afbe3f40d9b8e0ee1ecb2035b9 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2475-0263 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The European Zoological Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-5d95d7afbe3f40d9b8e0ee1ecb2035b92025-08-20T02:38:19ZengTaylor & Francis GroupThe European Zoological Journal2475-02632025-12-0192138238910.1080/24750263.2025.2462445The effect of research activities on nest predation in the Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceusJ. Płóciennik0B. Czyż1L. Hałupka2Ornithological Station, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Behavioural Ecology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Wrocław, PolandOrnithological Station, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Wrocław, PolandDuring studies of avian breeding biology, ecology and population dynamics, researchers have to breach nesting territories, which can potentially lead to various disturbances resulting in altered relationships in the predator-prey system. It is usually assumed that human disturbance reduces nest success in birds. However, recent studies have revealed that in most passerines there is no significant effect of human presence on nesting success. Moreover, some research even suggests that birds may benefit from researcher disturbance near nests. Here, we examine the effect of research activities on nest predation in a small reed-nesting passerine, the Eurasian Reed Warbler, studied during two consecutive breeding seasons. The study plot consisted of two adjacent parts (subplots) differing in the frequency of visits. In the second breeding season subplots were inverted (high-pressure subplot became a low-pressure subplot) to minimise the effect of external factors on the studied parameters. We observed some variability in predation rates between two breeding seasons, but the differences were not statistically significant. We also did not find significant differences in nest survival probabilities between subplots differing in human pressure neither at the egg nor at the nestling stage. We conclude that the researcher presence does not affect nest predation rates in the study population of Eurasian Reed Warblers.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/24750263.2025.2462445Human disturbancenest predationpasserineobserver effectreedbed |
| spellingShingle | J. Płóciennik B. Czyż L. Hałupka The effect of research activities on nest predation in the Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus The European Zoological Journal Human disturbance nest predation passerine observer effect reedbed |
| title | The effect of research activities on nest predation in the Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus |
| title_full | The effect of research activities on nest predation in the Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus |
| title_fullStr | The effect of research activities on nest predation in the Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of research activities on nest predation in the Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus |
| title_short | The effect of research activities on nest predation in the Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus |
| title_sort | effect of research activities on nest predation in the eurasian reed warbler acrocephalus scirpaceus |
| topic | Human disturbance nest predation passerine observer effect reedbed |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/24750263.2025.2462445 |
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