Seasonal Space use and Territory Size of Resident Sparrows in the Central Monte Desert, Argentina

Sagario, M. Cecilia; Cueto, Víctor R.

doi:10.13157/arla.61.1.2014.153

Cited by 12 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…For example, if hesitation to start feeding was increased under experimental conditions (e.g. birds tested feeding alone as in our trials) in organisms like the rufous‐collared sparrow which feed in flocks in the field in some seasons (Sagario and Cueto ), the behavior of rufous‐collared sparrow and many‐colored chaco finch in the field would be even more similar than our results showed. The social environment may facilitate the approach to novel foods or objects because the presence of group members enables them to learn about the palatability of novel items socially (Stöwe et al , Voelkl et al ), reducing the stress of individual birds while feeding (Greenberg , , Cadieu et al ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

Do neophobia and dietary wariness explain ecological flexibility? An analysis with two seed‐eating birds of contrasting habits

Camín

Martin‐Albarracin²,

Jefferies

et al. 2015

Journal of Avian Biology

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The neophobia threshold hypothesis (NTH) suggests that the acquisition and maintenance of a high behavioral and ecological flexibility in the evolutionary and adaptive history of a species is the consequence of lower levels of neophobia towards new micro-habitats and of dietary wariness of novel foods. To test this idea we assessed the degree of neophobia and dietary wariness in two seed-eating bird species with contrasting degrees of ecological flexibility that inhabit the central Monte desert (Argentina): a grass-seed specialist, the many-colored chaco-finch, and a generalist feeder, the rufous-collared sparrow. We expected that both species would exhibit neophobia and wariness when faced with new foraging opportunities but that the rufous-collared sparrow would be less neophobic and less wary than the specialized many-colored chaco-finch. Experimental indicators of neophobia and dietary wariness included willingness to eat near novel objects and willingness to eat novel seeds, respectively. Both species showed similar levels of reluctance to novelty, although the sparrow could be slightly more reluctant than the finch. Contrary to our predictions, the sparrow was neither less hesitant nor faster or greedier than the finch. This experimental evidence does not support a negative relationship between neophobia/wariness and ecological flexibility in these two seed-eating birds and it coincides with the growing evidence that challenges the NTH. Some of our results provide support for the dangerous niche hypothesis, especially as the rufous-collared sparrow, that feeds on more diverse and potentially dangerous food, showed higher levels of neophobia in some cases. Although the idea of neophobia and wariness being plausible causes of ecological specialization sounds attractive, the current situation calls for further research so that the causes of ecological flexibility in granivorous birds can be better understood.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

Do neophobia and dietary wariness explain ecological flexibility? An analysis with two seed‐eating birds of contrasting habits

Camín

Martin‐Albarracin²,

Jefferies

et al. 2015

Journal of Avian Biology

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“…Though a typical central foraging model around nest sites cannot be invoked (most of these species nest on shrubs, on the ground or in smaller Geoffroea decorticans trees [96, 97]), these birds are territorial, particularly during spring and summer when tall trees are preferred singing perches [98–100]. Even when their territories in the algarrobal tend to be contiguous [101], birds may be flying to and from tall trees as important posts for antipredatory and territorial vigilance, visiting near patches more frequently. Seasonal variations in its influence on foraging may associate with changes in guild composition, movement patterns, territoriality and territory size [68, 101, 102].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even when their territories in the algarrobal tend to be contiguous [101], birds may be flying to and from tall trees as important posts for antipredatory and territorial vigilance, visiting near patches more frequently. Seasonal variations in its influence on foraging may associate with changes in guild composition, movement patterns, territoriality and territory size [68, 101, 102]. Foraging far from tall trees may involve higher predation risk, as interpreted in classic studies with granivorous birds (e.g., [89, 103–106]), and also change seasonally with varying perception, evaluation or actual risk of predation [106–108].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are all patches worth exploring? Foraging desert birds do not rely on environmental indicators of seed abundance at small scales

2019

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Background Consumers should show strong spatial preferences when foraging in environments where food availability is highly heterogeneous and predictable. Postdispersal granivores face this scenario in most arid areas, where soil seed bank abundance and composition associates persistently with vegetation structure at small scales (decimetres to metres). Those environmental features should be exploited as useful pre-harvest information, at least to avoid patches predicted to be poor. However, we did not find the expected spatial association in the algarrobal of the central Monte desert by observing foraging seed-eating birds, a field technique influenced by how much they exploit visited patches. In this work we tested if the first stage of foraging by granivorous birds (patch visit, encounter or exploration) is positively associated with environmental indicators of patch quality by recording the removal of single seeds from 300 scattered experimental devices during seasonal trials. Spatial selectivity was analysed by comparing the structural characteristics of used vs. available microhabitats, and evaluated against bottom-up and top-down hypotheses based on our previous knowledge on local seed bank abundance, composition and dynamics. Their foraging activity was also explored for spatial autocorrelation and environmental correlates at bigger scales. Results Postdispersal granivorous birds were less selective in their use of foraging space than expected if microhabitat appearance were providing them relevant information to guide their search for profitable foraging patches. No microhabitat type, as defined by their vegetation structure and soil cover, remained safe from bird exploration. Analyses at bigger temporal and spatial scales proved more important to describe heterogeneity in seed removal. Conclusions Closeness to tall trees, probably related to bird territoriality and reproduction or to their perception of predation risk, seemed to determine a first level of habitat selection, constraining explorable space. Then, microhabitat openness (rather than seed abundance) exerted some positive influence on which patches were more frequently visited among those accessible. Selective patterns by birds at small scales were closer to our predictions of a top-down spatial effect, with seed consumption creating or strengthening (and not responding to) the spatial pattern and dynamics of the seed bank. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12898-019-0242-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…Sin embargo, cuando los recursos disponibles son limitados, se puede producir competencia entre los individuos, expresando interacciones sociales agonísticas (Koomen & Herrmann 2017, Boyce & Martin 2019. En particular, en paseriformes se han descrito interacciones sociales agonísticas en torno a parches de recursos alimenticios y/o territorios establecidos (Sagario & Cueto 2014, Francis et al 2018, esto provoca la expresión comportamientos agresivos, incluyendo demostraciones de amenaza, dominancia, y ataques físicos directos (Francis et al 2018). No obstante, la expresión de conductas agonistas en aves suele variar entre especies de acuerdo a características morfológicas, genéticas, de historia de vida, y/o a características del ambiente, lo cual es materia de interés para la ecología del comportamiento (Maney & Godson 2011, Wojczulanis-Jakubas et al 2015, Davis & Sewall 2016, Hardman & Dalesman 2017, Bai et al 2021.…”

Section: Short Communicationunclassified

Interacciones sociales de aves granívoras silvestres frente a comederos experimentales en el matorral semiárido del norte de Chile

2022

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Se estudió la expresión de conductas agresivas de aves frente a comederos artificiales con semillas en una región semiárida de Chile. En ocho comederos experimentales cuantificamos 1.118 eventos de interacción social, registrándose 366 conductas agresivas (32,74 %). Este recurso provocó inestabilidad social sólo en algunas especies, sugiriendo diferencias comparativas en la expresión de conductas agonísticas. Además, el 34,78 % de las aves granívoras conocidas para la zona estudiada utilizaron los comederos por lo que se descarta su utilidad para evaluar riqueza.

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Seasonal Space use and Territory Size of Resident Sparrows in the Central Monte Desert, Argentina

Cited by 12 publications

References 14 publications

Do neophobia and dietary wariness explain ecological flexibility? An analysis with two seed‐eating birds of contrasting habits

Do neophobia and dietary wariness explain ecological flexibility? An analysis with two seed‐eating birds of contrasting habits

Are all patches worth exploring? Foraging desert birds do not rely on environmental indicators of seed abundance at small scales

Interacciones sociales de aves granívoras silvestres frente a comederos experimentales en el matorral semiárido del norte de Chile

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