Nest microhabitat selection in larks from a European semi-arid shrub-steppe: the role of sunlight and predation |
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| Authors: | Miguel Yanes Jesús Herranz Francisco Suárez |
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| Institution: | Departamento de Ecolog?́a, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma, E-28049, Madrid, Spain |
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| Abstract: | We analysed nest site selection in two shrub-steppe larks, the lesser short-toed larkCalandrella rufescensand the Thekla larkGalerida theklae. Both species nest on the ground next to a bush preferably facing north or north-east. Nestling growth and fledging weight are greater when the nest faces these directions. Both species prefer to nest next to camephytes with little foliage, and the lesser short-toed lark chooses sites with high visibility. We conclude that sunlight and nest predation are fundamental selective pressures determining nest microhabitat selection in larks in semi-arid areas. |
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| Keywords: | Habitat selection lark nest predation steppe sunlight |
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