Modeling habituation of introduced predators to unrewarding bird odors for conservation of ground-nesting shorebirds

摘要: Foraging mammalian predators face a myriad of odors from potential prey. To be efficient, they must focus on rewarding while ignoring consistently unrewarding ones. This may exploited as nonlethal conservation tool if can deceived into vulnerable secondary explore critical design components and assess the gains to prey survival this technique, we created an individual-based model that simulated hunting behavior three introduced one their (a migratory shorebird) in South Island New Zealand. Within model, heuristically assessed outcome habituating human-deployed bird before bird's arrival at breeding grounds, i.e., were "primed." Using known home range sizes probabilities interacting with food lures, our suggests wide-ranging should encounter relatively large number odor points (between 10 115) during 27 d priming when is deployed within high-resolution grids (100-150 m). information, then modeled effect different habituation curves (exponential sigmoidal) probability depredating shorebird nests. Our results show important nest achieved regardless shape curve, but particularly are fast olfactory learners curve), even some level dishabituation occurs after become available. Predictions inform amount pattern which stimuli need field optimize encounters by predators, relative expected reduced predation pressure under scenarios predator learning. Habituating threatened have particular efficacy areas where lethal control not possible or ethical, low densities detrimental survival. approach also relevant for determining interaction devices other than points, such bait stations camera traps.