South Dakota Project
Predator Cascade and Nest Success: Changes in Foraging Patterns as a Function of Grassland Patch Dynamics and Vegetation Composition
July 2017 - June 2021
Personnel
- Joshua Stafford, Principal Investigator
- Samantha Fino, Student / Post Doc
- Aaron Pearse, Co-Principal Investigator
- Rocco Murano, Co-Principal Investigator
Participating Agencies
- South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks via Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration
Predator-prey interactions influence vital rates and predation is a major cause of nest failure of ground-nesting birds (e.g., waterfowl). With continued grassland loss associated with conversion to row crop agriculture, and changing predator communities (e.g., declines in red fox, active coyote control), understanding how habitat dynamics influence predator-prey interactions and nest success of ground-nesting birds will improve development of comprehensive management recommendations for remaining grasslands, restoration or reclamation efforts, and for active management programs that wish to modify grassland regimes or predator communities themselves to improve nesting habitat and nest survival.
| Research Publications | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| Fino, S., J.D. Stafford, A.T. Pearse, and J.A. Jenks. 2019. Incidental captures of Plains Spotted Skunks (Spilogale putorius interrupta) in central South Dakota. The Prairie Naturalist 51:33-36. | October 2019 |
| Presentations | Presentation Date |
|---|---|
| Fino, S. R., J. D. Stafford, A. T. Pearse, J. A. Jenks, and R. C. Lonsinger. Relating predator community dynamics and duck nest survival in eastern South Dakota. 78th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 30 January 2018. | January 2018 |
| Fino, S. R., J. D. Stafford, A. T. Pearse, J. A. Jenks, and R. C. Lonsinger. Relating predator community dynamics and duck nest survival in eastern South Dakota. South Dakota Chapter of the Wildlife Society Annual Meeting, Chamberlain, South Dakota. 26 February 2018. | February 2018 |
| Fino, S.R., J.D. Stafford, A.T. Pearse, and J.A. Jenks. 2017. Predator community and duck nest success in eastern South Dakota. CRU Annual Meeting. Brookings, SD, 24 October 2017. | October 2017 |
| Fino, S. R., J. D. Stafford, A. T. Pearse, J. A. Jenks, and R. C. Lonsinger. Relating predator community dynamics and duck nest survival in eastern South Dakota. 78th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 30 January 2018. | January 2018 |