Group-Foraging Effects on Capture Rate in Wading Birds

The condor

Eric D. Stolen¹ 

关键词: aggregation;    foraging success;    Great Egret;    group foraging;    Snowy Egret;    social-facilitation hypothesis;    Tricolored Heron;   

DOI  :  10.1525/cond.2012.110159

学科分类：动物科学

来源: Central Ornithology Publication Office

【 摘 要 】

Abstract. Group foraging is common among wading birds, and the reasons why individuals forage in groups are of theoretical and practical interest. Although aggregations of foraging wading birds usually form within patches of high-quality habitat, individual wading birds can sometimes increase success by foraging near others. We investigated the hypothesis that individuals derive a benefit from foraging in groups separate from benefits due to habitat quality. We measured the capture rates of birds foraging solitarily and in groups at foraging sites and paired unused sites and used generalized linear mixed models and information-theoretic model selection to access the evidence that individuals increase their foraging success when foraging in groups. The capture rate of Great Egrets (Ardea alba) in groups was higher, supporting the hypothesis that individuals benefit from the presence of other foragers. This rate was highest in intermediate-sized groups but tapered off in larger groups, suggesting that inter...

【 授权许可】

CC BY