ARTIFICIAL NEST PREDATION IN HEDGEROWS OF AN AGRO-URBAN SYSTEM IN HIDALGO, MEXICO

In many agro-ecosystems of Latin America, hedgerows are an important habitat for numerous bird species. However, the hedgerow characteristics and those of the surrounding landscape affecting nest predation in these structures are not known. Using artificial nests, predation was studied in 20 hedgerows located in an agro-urban system in central Mexico. Predation data was related with habitat variables at two spatial scales, local and landscape. Out of a total of 200 artificial nests put in place, 80 nests were predated and no significant relationship was found between total predation and local scale variables At the landscape scale, total predation increased in hedgerows located near remnants of native vegetation. It was also found that birds were the main predators in this landscape, followed by carnivores and rodents.