Predation of artificial nests of ducks in the Tablas de Daimiel National Park: Species involved and temporal dynamics

Abstract

Resource pulses are brief and temporary events of high resource availability in an ecosystem, such as water, nutrients, or food, which can significantly affect population dynamics and species interactions. This study examined the predation of artificial duck nests in the Tablas de Daimiel National Park, aiming to identify predator species and assess their impact on the availability of these resources. To achieve this, 30 artificial nests containing six eggs each were placed and monitored for 28 days using camera traps. The analysis of the obtained images allowed for the identification of predator species, while a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) was used to evaluate differences in predation times among species. The results revealed that 73.3% of the nests were predated, with partial predation occurring in 20% of the cases. Identified predator species included the red fox, wild boar, Eurasian badger, Egyptian mongoose, magpie, and western marsh harrier. The red fox and wild boar were the fastest predators to locate and consume the nests, with average predation times of 3.6 and 7.7 days, respectively, while the magpie took longer (11.9 days). Nocturnal mammals, such as the wild boar and badger, primarily predated at night, while diurnal birds and mammals acted during the day. These findings highlight the need to consider predator temporal activity and resource availability in the design of conservation strategies.