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Factors Associated with Duck Nest Success
in the Prairie Pothole Region of Canada

Daily Rate of Nest Predation

Predation rates on nests of the 5 common species tended to decrease as the breeding season progressed (Fig. 3). The trend was consistent among species, but significant only for the northern shoveler (X2 = 3.85, 1 df, P = 0.05). The decline in predation rates was not consistent among area-years. We detected significant interactions between area-year and search period for all species (mallard, X2 = 121.2, 56 df, P < 0.01; gadwall, X2 = 39.4, 20 df, P < 0.01; northern shoveler, X2 = 40.0, 26 df, P = 0.03; northern pintail, X2 = 104.9, 40 df, P < 0.01) except blue-winged teal (X2 = 29.7, 23 df, P = 0.13). We could not explain interactions by examining annual wetness measurements. Interactions between area-year and search period were still significant for 8 of 15 categories (5 species, 3 wetness intervals) and for at least 1 species in each wetness interval. Where we did not detect interactions and where differences in nest predation rates among search periods were significant, rates were lower in later search periods.

GIF-Daily rates of nest predation
Fig. 3. Daily rates of nest predation (no. of nests destroyed or abandoned as a result of predation ÷ by no. of exposure days) by 3-week nest-search period for 5 common species of dabbling ducks in the Prairie Pothole Region of Canada combined for years 1982-85.
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