Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

Perilous Choices: Landscapes Of Fear For Adult Birds Reduces Nestling Condition Across An Urban Gradient, Aaron M. Grade, Susannah B. Lerman, Paige S. Warren

Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series

Predator fear effects influence reproductive outcomes in many species. In non-urban systems, passerines often respond to predator cues by reducing parental investment, resulting in smaller and lighter nestlings. Since trophic interactions in urban areas are highly altered, it is unclear how passerines respond to fear effects in human-altered landscapes. Nestlings of passerines in urban areas also tend to be smaller and lighter than their rural counterparts and are often exposed to high densities of potential predators yet experience lower per capita predation-the predation paradox. We suggest fear effects in urban habitats could be a significant mechanism influencing nestling condition in …