Weather and agricultural intensification determine the breeding performance of a small generalist predator

摘要: Land-use changes due to agricultural intensification and climatic factors can affect avian reproduction. We use a top predator of agroecosystems, the American kestrel (Falco sparverius) breeding in nest boxes Central Argentina as study subject identify if these two drivers interact birds breeding. analyzed their performance across gradient from native forest, traditional farmland intensive farmland. The surface devoted soybean was used proxy agriculture intensification; however, it did not kestrels. Even though presence pastures important determine probability successfully. Climatic variables had strong effects on species timing, number nestlings raised by pairs those breed successfully (raising at least one fledgling). Our results highlight relevance grasslands for These environments are most affected land-use change agriculture, being transformed into fully lands mostly production. Therefore, future expansion may negatively average reproductive parameters Kestrels, regional scale. Further research will be needed disentangle mechanisms which weather parameters.