Habitat and nest-site partitioning in splendid and variegated fairy-wrens (Aves : Maluridae)

1999 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Tibbetts ◽  
Stephen Pruett-Jones
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Interspecific Competition ◽  
Similar Pattern ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Territory Size ◽  
Sympatric Populations ◽  
Nest Placement

Territory size, interspecific interactions, foraging behaviour, habitat use, and nest placement were examined in sympatric populations of splendid (Malurus splendens melanotus) and variegated (M. lamberti assimilis) fairy-wrens. Although these species have similar patterns of life history and biology, they utilise different microhabitats within overlapping territories. Splendid fairy-wrens spent more time on the ground and in open areas, whereas variegated fairy-wrens generally preferred higher and more protected locations. The two species exhibited a similar pattern of separation with respect to foraging behaviour, as splendid fairy- wrens mainly foraged on the ground whereas variegated fairy-wrens preferred bushes. They also partitioned nesting habitat, with splendid fairy-wrens building nests in areas with a greater density of trees than variegated fairy-wrens. Further, splendid fairy-wrens built nests in larger shrubs and farther from the edge of these bushes than variegated fairy-wrens. We suggest that these differences in habitat use decrease interspecific competition between the two species.

Foraging behaviour in East Asian desert rodents and its implications on coexistence

2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 171-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling-Ying Shuai ◽  
Yan-Ling Song ◽  
Burt P. Kotler ◽  
Keren Embar ◽  
Zhi-Gao Zeng
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Species Coexistence ◽  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Interference Competition ◽  
Foraging Efficiency ◽  
Gobi Desert ◽  
Patch Use ◽  
Desert Rodents ◽  
Daily Scale

We studied the foraging behaviour of two sympatric rodents (Meriones meridianus and Dipus sagitta) in the Gobi Desert, Northwestern China. The role of the foraging behaviour in promoting species coexistence was also examined. We used giving-up densities (GUDs) in artificial food patches to measure the patch use of rodents and video trapping to directly record the foraging behaviour, vigilance, and interspecific interactions. Three potential mechanisms of coexistence were evaluated (1) microhabitat partitioning; (2) spatial heterogeneity of resource abundance with a tradeoff in foraging efficiency vs. locomotion; and (3) temporal partitioning on a daily scale. Compared to M. meridianus, D. sagitta generally possessed lower GUDs, spent more time on patches, and conducted more visits per tray per capita, regardless of microhabitat. However, M. meridianus possessed advantages in average harvesting rates and direct interference against D. sagitta. Our results only partly support the third mechanism listed above. We propose another potential mechanism of coexistence: a tradeoff between interference competition and safety, with M. meridianus better at interference competition and D. sagitta better at avoiding predation risk. This mechanism is uncommon in previously studied desert rodent systems.

Habitat use and coexistence of three territorial herbivorous damselfish on different-size patch reefs

2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (8) ◽  
pp. 2265-2272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akihisa Hattori ◽  
Takuro Shibuno
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Patch Reef ◽  
Back Reef ◽  
Intraspecific Interactions ◽  
Reef Area ◽  
Patch Reefs ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Random Placement

In local reef fish communities, species richness increases with increasing reef area. At Ishigaki Island, Japan, species richness is much lower on large reefs in the shallow back reef than that expected from random placement model simulations (RPMS). As three aggressive territorial herbivorous damselfish, Stegastes nigricans, Stegastes lividus and Hemiglyphidodon plagiometopon, coexist only on such large reefs, we focused on these species and examined patterns of their distribution and abundance on 84 patch reefs of various sizes (area and height). We also examined their aggressive intra- and interspecific behavioural interactions and habitat use on the two large reefs (the largest complex patch reef and the large flat patch reef) among the 84 patch reefs. While the abundance of both S. lividus and H. plagiometopon was highly correlated with patch reef area, that of S. nigricans was closely correlated with patch reef height. For S. nigricans and S. lividus, interspecific interactions occurred significantly more frequently than intraspecific interactions on the large flat patch reef. However, there was no significant difference in frequencies of the two interaction types on the largest complex patch reef, where they three-dimensionally segregated conspecific territories. This study suggested that reef height as well as reef area influence the distribution and abundance of these territorial herbivorous damselfish in the shallow back reef. As large patch reefs cannot be tall allometrically in shallow back reefs, relatively flat patch reefs may not have the high species richness expected from RPMS based on reef area.

Habitat use, temporal activity patterns and foraging behaviour of raptors in the south-west of the Northern Territory, Australia

2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Aumann
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Diel Activity ◽  
The South ◽  
Interspecific Differences ◽  
South West ◽  
Diel Activity Patterns ◽  
Vegetation Structures

On the basis of opportunistic observations, the preferred habitats of diurnal raptors in the south-west of the Northern Territory are quantified in terms of their vegetation structures and composition, and linked with foraging methods and information on local diets. Broad interspecific differences in diel activity patterns are also described. The evidence suggests that raptor species in this part of arid Australia differ with respect to their foraging times, habitats and methods, and that these differences relate to their partitioning of food resources.

Occurrence and habitat use of Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera edeni) in the Cabo Frio region, South-eastern Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 1081-1086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Israel S. Maciel ◽  
Rodrigo H. Tardin ◽  
Sheila M. Simão
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Field Trips ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Video Recordings ◽  
Eastern Brazil ◽  
Water Depths ◽  
Cabo Frio

Ninety-six field trips were conducted between summer 2010 and 2012 in order to understand the occurrence and habitat use of Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) in the Cabo Frio region, South-eastern Brazil. Bryde's whales were present in the study area between November and July, being observed during all seasons, but occur more frequently during the autumn (Nindividuals = 16) and spring (Nindividuals = 13), followed by summer (Nindividuals = 5) and winter (Nindividuals = 2), respectively. Bryde's whales were observed in water depths ranging from 20.1–100 m. Furthermore, during 2240 min of video recordings, the most frequent behaviour observed was foraging (40.2%; 900 min). Travelling comprised 28.1% (630 min) of observations, while in 33.1% (710 min) behaviour could not be determined. Taking into account the pattern of occurrence, the use of deeper bathymetric bins and the frequency observed, the foraging behaviour of Bryde's whales observed in our study seems to be associated to prey dynamics. Our data show that the study area is frequently used for foraging by this species in Brazilian waters.

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