Why woodcock commute: testing the foraging-benefit and predation-risk hypotheses

摘要: Moving between sites is a common behavior employed by prey in order to balance trade-offs associated with acquiring resources and avoiding predators. At dusk during summer, American woodcock frequently fly from diurnal coverts forests nocturnal roost fields. We tested 2 hypotheses, the foraging-benefit hypothesis predation-risk hypothesis, determine benefit gained that commute. used telemetry identify fields Rhode Island, USA, summers. each site, we measured availability diversity of prey, soil properties, mammalian predator activity. Earthworms were 3–4 times more abundant at than The richness foods was greater 2011 but similar 2012. Soil moisture content about 1.5 coverts, whereas other properties sites. night, predators visited for 73% monitored 2011. During 2012, number days until initial visit 1.8 Our results provide first empirical support hypothesis. avoid not feed.