Asking the pikas politely…
Mountain white-crowned sparrows’ (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha; hereafter MWCS) diet fluctuates across seasons given their changing nutrient requirements across life stages and environment. Insect population densities may influence the daily nest survival of MWCS who depend upon these organisms as food because the transition from egg to adult occurs in less than one year. Insect population fluctuation is influenced by temperature (˚C) and precipitation (cm), which were also examined in this nest survival study. Our objective was to determine nest success relative to insect prey availability with corresponding abiotic shifts. Nest data was collected in the upper East River Valley, Colorado, over a period of seven years (2005, 2007, 2008, and 2014-2017). We calculated daily nest survival using a time-sensitive, hierarchical modeling procedure in program MARK to determine the effects of insect population density (Diptera and Lepidoptera), weather, nest stage (incubation or nestling), clutch size, and seasonality (linear and quadratic). We found a slight, but significant negative correlation between nest survival and Diptera abundance and significant positive correlation between nest survival and Lepidoptera abundance. This study helps us to understand the resource requirements of MWCS throughout the nesting season so that we may predict future patterns in population fluctuation based on prey population density as impacted by temperature and precipitation.
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