nestbereich

Nestbereich, or nest area, is a term used in ecology and ethology to denote the spatial extent around a nest within which a breeding individual, pair, or colony uses resources, defends, and cares for offspring. It is related to but distinct from a general home range or territory, focusing on the area directly associated with nesting and provisioning rather than the full extent of movement.

The size and shape of a nestbereich vary across taxa and habitats. In birds, it may encompass the nest site plus nearby foraging zones and a defense perimeter; in other animals that nest, such as certain mammals, amphibians, or fish, the area can include surrounding habitat used during the breeding season. Colonial species may have multiple nests within a shared area, with each nest contributing to an overall nesting zone.

Measurement and study methods include direct observation, video monitoring, telemetry, and GPS mapping. Common metrics are the radius or polygonal area around the nest and the distance to neighboring nests. Nestbereiche can change during different breeding stages, such as incubation and chick-rearing, or in response to disturbances.

Factors influencing nestbereich size include food availability, predation pressure, parental care behavior, habitat structure, and human disturbance. Protecting the nestbereich and the surrounding foraging habitat is often important in conservation planning to improve nesting success and reduce disturbance-related failures.

Related concepts include nest site, territory, and home range. The term is primarily used in field studies and management planning rather than as a formal category in all biological disciplines.