
%0 Journal Article
%A Berry, Lainie 
%T Predation rates of artificial nests in the edge and interior of a southern Victorian forest
%J Wildlife Research
%D 2002/11/29
%V 29
%N 4
%P 341-345
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/WR01022
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/WR01022 
%X Predation rates of nests at human-induced habitat edges may be greater than in forest interior due to differences in predator assemblages and predator activity. I compared the predation rates on 192 artificial nests containing plasticine eggs placed in forest edge and interior sites at Bunyip State Park, Victoria. The nest-predation rates at the forest edge sites were significantly greater (mean = 52&#8211;58%) than that at the forest interior sites (mean = 30&#8211;39%). The relative rates of predation by birds compared with mammals were significantly greater at forest edge sites (mean = 78&#8211;94%) than at forest interior sites (mean = 36&#8211;67%). Higher rates of nest predation at forest edges appeared to be due to greater densities of avian predators such as the grey shrike-thrush (Colluricincla harmonica), and/or lower abundances of small mammals. However, biases towards certain predator types may mask real, or create false, patterns in predation rates of artificial nests. A better understanding of how predators respond to artificial nests compared with natural nests is required. Until then, results of predation studies that use artificial nests should be interpreted with caution. 
