ARTIFICIAL NEST PREDATION AND HABITAT FRAGMENTATION - DIFFERENT TRENDS IN BIRD AND MAMMAL PREDATORS

Predation on artificial nests was studied in Belgian deciduous forest fragments between 1 and 20() ha. Predation rates were compared to frag ment size, distance from the forest edge, time period (three replicate s), and nest type (ground and tree). Logistic regression analysis show ed that overall nest predation did not vary with distance from the edg e, forest size, and time period. Birds represented over 70% of all pre dator attacks but their importance decreased in larger areas and away from the forest edge where mammals were responsible for much of the ne st predation. It is concluded that the effect of habitat fragmentation depends on the composition of the local predator community.