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In managed ecosystems, cultivated plant diversity is a collection of native and introduced species composed of varying plant origins across scales: locally native, non‐locally native, and non‐native. Non‐local and non‐native plant species may be ill‐suited as host plants for locally native insects. Yet, we lack information on the population‐ and individual‐level consequences of introduced plants to phytophagous insects. Promethea moth (Callosamia promethea) is a Lepidopteran species regionally specialized to Prunus in the Northeastern United States. Here, we used a rearing experiment to compare Promethea caterpillar performance on 14 different Prunus host plants commonly found naturally and in horticulture and two non‐hosts. Across all measures, Prunus serotina supported the highest survival, fastest growth, and largest larval biomass. We found little difference between locally native and non‐local Prunus across most measures; however, few non‐native Prunus supported living larvae to the fifth instar, and surviving larvae had reduced growth and biomass. Our results indicate that non‐native congeners are poor replacements for locally native tree species in supporting specialized Lepidoptera. However, non‐local, regionally native species in cultivation may serve as adequate, albeit suboptimal, host plants. These results further our understanding of how selection for plant traits or species impacts biodiversity in novel and managed ecosystems.

Suburban forest patches can have important conservation value for birds. This is a hopeful trend because the extent of urbanization is increasing, many avian populations are declining, and urban areas are where most people interact with wildlife. There is evidence that, despite an increased density of potential predators, the breeding success of birds in urban or suburban forest patches is comparable to that in rural areas. However, extremely limited data exists on the fledgling life stage of birds in urban or suburban areas, even though it is known that the fledgling stage strongly influences population growth rates. We used radio telemetry to look at the survival, movement, and habitat use of fledgling Wood Thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina) originating from nests in suburban forest patches and in larger swaths of rural, undeveloped forests in western Massachusetts. We tracked 168 fledglings over four field seasons and found that survival was similar for rural and suburban fledglings. Fledglings had lower mortality as they aged. Force-fledging and being left outside the nest after radio-tagging had a negative effect on survival, and we developed techniques to minimize its occurrence. We also found that rural fledglings moved farther from their natal nests, at any given age, than suburban fledglings. Fledglings in both suburban and rural sites selected denser understory growth, and the use of non-forested land cover increased as they aged.

Recovery plans for the Endangered loggerhead marine turtle Caretta caretta cite mammalian predation as a major threat, and recommend nest protection efforts, already present at many rookery beaches, to protect eggs and hatchlings. Nest protection techniques vary but wire box cages and plastic mesh screens are two common tools used to deter predation by a host of beach-foraging, opportunistic mammalian predators. We empirically tested the efficacy of wire cages and plastic mesh screens in preventing red fox Vulpes vulpes predation on artificial nests. Both techniques averted fox predation (0%), whereas unprotected control nests suffered 33% predation under conditions of normal predator motivation, or a level of motivation stimulated by loggerhead turtle egg scent. However, in side-by-side comparisons under conditions of presumed high predator motivation, 25% of mesh screens were breached whereas no cage-protected nests were successfully predated. In addition to effectiveness at preventing predation, factors such as cost, ease of use, deployment time, and magnetic disturbance were evaluated. Our study suggests that the efficacy of plastic screens and the potential disadvantages associated with galvanized wire should influence selection of mechanical barriers on beaches where fox predation threatens loggerhead nests.