Duck nesting success in a fragmented prairie landscape: is edge effect important? Original Research Article

Habitat fragmentation and the creation of extensive edges have been postulated as causes of higher nest predation in many species of birds. In this study we tested the hypothesis that predation on upland duck nests was influenced by proximity to habitat edges in a fragmented agricultural landscape of the Canadian prairies. Nest success was independent of distance to wetland edge, road edge, or different habitat ecotones for mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), gadwall (A. strepera) and blue-winged teal (A. discors). The observed distribution of mallard and gadwall nests relative to wetland edges and habitat ecotones followed the random model, while nests were located closer to roads than expected. Nests of blue-winged teal were distributed closer to wetland edges and roads than predicted by random distributions, however, nests relative to habitat ecotones followed a random pattern. Overall, mammalian predation appeared to be the main cause of nest destruction. Nests in a fragmented prairie landscape are subjected to heavy predation, but this is not necessarily related to proximity to edges.