Early nest initiation and vegetation density enhance nest survival in Wild Turkeys

The theory of adaptive habitat selection suggests resource selection by animals should reflect underlying quality, such that individual selection confers an adaptive advantage via increased fitness. Using resource selection functions and nest survival models, we demonstrated that visual obstruction at the nest site was adaptively significant but timing of nest initiation had the greatest effect on nest survival for eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris). Predation risk is a selective pressure, and if individuals can perceive predation risk, they may respond by altering selection of nest site characteristics based on prior experience. We evaluated patterns in nest site selection of 387 wild turkeys and consequences of selection on reproductive success across the southeastern United States from 2014-2019. We monitored 549 nest sites and found that nest initiation date had the strongest effect on daily nest survival rates, wherein adult females at our earliest nest initiatio...