ARTIFICIAL NEST PREDATION AND HABITAT FRAGMENTATION - DIFFERENT TRENDS IN BIRD AND MAMMAL PREDATORS

Predation on artificial nests was studied in Belgian deciduous forest fragments between 1 and 20() ha. Predation rates were compared to fragment size, distance from the forest edge, time period (three replicates), and nest type (ground and tree). Logistic regression analysis showed that overall nest predation did not vary with distance from the edge, forest size, and time period. Birds represented over 70% of all predator attacks but their importance decreased in larger areas and away from the forest edge where mammals were responsible for much of the nest predation. It is concluded that the effect of habitat fragmentation depends on the composition of the local predator community.