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Wiley InterScience | ||||||||||||||
  Journal of Field OrnithologyVolume 78 Issue 2, Pages 152 - 158 Published Online: 19 May 2007 Journal compilation © 2009 Association of Field Ornithologists Published on behalf of the Association of Field Ornithologists, Inc
Abstract | References | Full Text: HTML, PDF (Size: 117K) | Related Articles | Citation Tracking  Testing the function of the domed nests of Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows Copyright 2007 The Author(s). Journal compilation ©2007 Association of Field Ornithologists KEYWORDS
Ammodramus caudacutus
• breeding success • dome • nest construction • nest survival • nesting habitat selection ABSTRACTABSTRACT. Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows (Ammodramus caudacutus) build ground nests, often with a closely-woven dome, in marshes that frequently flood during high tides. To test the hypothesis that domed nests help reduce the loss of eggs and chicks due to flooding or predation, we examined the characteristics and fate of 102 nests at sites along the coast of Connecticut. To test whether nest structure was tailored to suit microhabitat conditions, we also measured vegetation characteristics around nests. Finally, we conducted artificial nest-flooding experiments to determine whether removal of domes reduced egg retention during flooding. We found no significant effects of nest structure on breeding success or failure, and few significant correlations between nest structure and microhabitat. The height of nests above the ground, however, increased with vegetation height, supporting the hypothesis that nest construction is influenced by flooding, but not supporting the hypothesis that predation risk is important. Dome removal experiments showed that domes have a highly significant effect on the retention of eggs during flooding, suggesting that domes help eggs survive the regular tidal flooding of marshes. ABSTRACTEl gorrión (Ammodramus caudacutus) utiliza anegados que frecuentemente se inundan durante la marea alta y en estos habitats construye nidos en el suelo, por lo general con domos tejidos. Para probar la hipótesis de que los nidos con domos ayudan a reducir la depredación y la pérdida de huevos y pichones durante inundaciones, examinamos las características y el destino de 102 nidos en diferentes localidades a lo largo de la costa de Connecticut. Para probar si la estructura del nido estaba a la medida de las condiciones microclimáticas, también medimos las características de la vegetación en los alrededores del nido. Finalmente, llevamos a cabo experimentos de inundaciones artificiales, para determinar si la remoción del domo afectaba la retención de huevos durante inundaciones. No encontramos efectos significativos de la estructura del nido en el éxito reproductivo o fracaso de los nidos, y pocas correlaciones significativas entre la estructura y el microhabitat. La altura de los nidos del suelo, se incrementó con la altura de la vegetación, lo que apoya la hipótesis de que la construcción de nidos es influenciada por las inundaciones. La hipótesis de protección contra la depredación no tuvo apoyo con los datos tomados. Los experimentos de la remoción del domo indicaron que la estructura tiene un efecto significativo en la retención de huevos durante inundaciones, lo que sugiere que los domos ayudan a que los huevos superen el periodo regular de inundación en los anegados. Received 30 May 2006; accepted 1 December 2006 | 
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Best Student Paper Award |  |
The Association of Field Ornithologists gives an award for the best paper published by a student in each volume of the Journal of Field Ornithology. | |
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