Artificial nest predation in bogs: Does peat harvest increase risk?

Bogs in southern Quebec are facing significant and growing industrial press ure. Peat moss harvesting results in bog fragmentation and in edge increase between harvested areas and remaining natural patches. The objective of ou r study was to assess the effects of harvesting on nesting success of songb irds in adjacent undisturbed sites. We determined whether exposure of nests to predators was edge-dependent in harvested bogs and compared the risk of nest predation in harvested and undisturbed bogs. Over three summers. we p laced a total of 480 artificial nests at various distances (less than or eq ual to 450 m) from edges in five harvested and nine unharvested bogs. Mean nest predation rate was significantly higher (62.7%) and more variable in h arvested bogs, compared to unharvested bogs (8.6%). However, we found no re lation between nest fate and distance to exploitation edge in harvested bog s. We suggest factors associated with harvesting that may attract nest pred ators to remaining unharvested sites, thereby increasing risk of nest preda tion and ultimately lowering reproductive success.