DOI: 10.5061/dryad.m0cfxpp90
title: Experimental reduction of a primary nest predator fails to decrease nest predation rates of sagebrush songbirds

description: Predator removal comprises one management strategy to increase the
 reproductive success of a prey species of concern, particularly within
 human-altered landscapes. The efficacy of such an approach, however,
 depends partly on the extent to which predation risk is additive or
 compensatory, which remains unknown for many systems. We experimentally
 reduced the local abundance of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), a
 primary nest predator of three sagebrush-obligate songbirds (Brewer’s
 Sparrow [Spizella breweri], Sagebrush Sparrow [Artemisiospiza nevadensis],
 and Sage Thrasher [Oreoscoptus montanus]) during May ̶ August 2019 in
 western Wyoming, USA to assess whether nest predation risk was additive or
 compensatory and whether nest predator removal could comprise a
 potentially effective management tool. Deer mouse removal did not affect
 the daily nest survival of songbirds between experimental and control
 plots, despite a reduction of 68 ̶ 85% in deer mouse abundance within
 treatment areas. Nest predation in this system therefore likely operated
 in a compensatory way, in which deer mice that escaped removal, new
 immigrants, or other species of nest predator maintained similar levels of
 nest predation risk regardless of the prevalence of a primary predator. We
 caution that predator removal may not be an effective management tool in
 systems that lack barriers to predator immigration or have several
 alternative species of predators, even when a single species typically is
 responsible for the majority of predation events. 
description: # Experimental reduction of a primary nest predator fails to decrease nest
 predation rates of sagebrush songbirds
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.m0cfxpp90](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.m0cfxpp90) ## Description of the data and file structure The nestlogisticexposuredata\_rhea2023.csv file includes the following columns: NestID, Species, CheckDate, Plot, finalfate, Interval, and Int\_fate * NestID represents the unique ID for the nest. * Species is a standard four-letter banding code for songbird species. * CheckDate is the date when the nest was monitored * Plot represents the unique ID for the study location (R indicates removal, C indicates control). * finalfate represents whether the nest fledged or failed during the summer breeding season (binary; 0 represents nest failure and 1 represents a nest that fledged at least one young). * Interval represents the number of days between nest checks. * Int\_fate represents whether the nest fledged or failed during the interval between checks (binary; 0 represents nest failure and 1 represents a nest that fledged at least one young). The habitatcovariates\_rhea2023.csv file includes the following columns: NestID, AT\_density, Avg Ht, Avg % Live, PercentShrub * NestID represents the unique ID for the nest. * AT\_density represents the number of sagebrush stems within 1-m<sup>2 </sup>of the nest site. * Avg\_Ht represents the average height (cm) of sagebrush within 1-m<sup>2 </sup> of the nest site. * Avg % Live represents the average number of living sagebrush within 1-m<sup>2 </sup>of the nest site. * PercentShrub represents the average (%) shrub cover of living sagebrush within 1-m<sup>2 </sup>of the nest site. The trapnights\_rhea2023.csv file includes the following columns: TrapNight, Grid, SetTime, StartTime, EndTime, Session * TrapNight represents the date of trapping. * Grid represents the unique ID for trap area (R indicates removal, C indicates control). * SetTime represents the time when each trapping grid was baited and opened for capture. * StartTime represents when processing began for captured animals the following day. * EndTime represents when processing of captured animals was completed. * Session represents which dates consisted of consecutive trapping time periods. * The grideffort\_rhea2023.csv file includes the following columns: Type, Session, Grid, Traps, Nights\_Set, Bicatch, Baited\_Empty, Total\_TrapNights * Type represents what treatment (removal or control) is being represented * Session represents which dates consisted of consecutive trapping time periods. * Grid represents the unique ID for trap area (R indicates removal, C indicates control). * Traps represents the number of traps within a grid. * Nights\_Set represents the number of nights the traps were open for captures. * Bicatch represents the number of animals captured that were not our intended target species. * Baited\_Empty represents the number of traps that were closed after the trap night that did not have a capture. * Total\_TrapNights represents the number of traps that were available for capture within the indicated grid during the effective trapping session. * The controlcaptures\_rhea2023.csv file includes the following columns: Grid, TrapNight, Session, AID, Fate, Species * Grid represents the unique ID for trap area (R indicates removal, C indicates control). * TrapNight represents the date of trapping. * Session represents which dates consisted of consecutive trapping time periods. * AID represents the unique ID for that animal. * Fate represents whether the animal was a recapture (R), escaped (E) or was a new capture (TR). * Species is a four-letter code indicating the species (PEMA is *Peromyscus maniculatus*). The removalcaptures\_rhea2023.csv file includes the following columns: Grid, TrapNight, Session, AID, Fate, Species * Grid represents the unique id for trap area (R indicates removal, C indicates control). * TrapNight represents the date of trapping. * Session represents which dates consisted of consecutive trapping time periods. * AID represents the unique ID for that animal. * Fate indicates that the animal was lethally removed (RM. * Species is a four-letter code indicating the species (PEMA is *Peromyscus maniculatus*) ## Sharing/Access information Please contact Anna Chalfoun (achalfou@uwyo.edu) or Ashleigh Rhea (ashleighrhea13@gmail.com) for questions related to data.