Bird mixed-species flock formation is driven by low temperatures between and within seasons in a Subtropical Andean-foothill forest

Biotropica ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 816-825 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Giselle Mangini ◽  
Juan Ignacio Areta
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperatures ◽  
Species Flock ◽  
Mixed Species

scholarly journals Is Intestinal Bacterial Diversity Enhanced by Trans-Species Spread in the Mixed-Species Flock of Hooded Crane (Grus monacha) and Bean Goose (Anser fabalis) Wintering in the Lower and Middle Yangtze River Floodplain?

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
Zhuqing Yang ◽  
Lizhi Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Contact Time ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Gut Bacteria ◽  
Species Flock ◽  
Mixed Species ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Indirect Contact ◽  
Hooded Crane ◽  
Bean Goose ◽  
Intestinal Pathogens

Diversity of gut microbes is influenced by many aspects, including the host internal factors and even direct or indirect contact with other birds, which is particularly important for mixed-species wintering waterbird flocks. In this study, Illumina high-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the intestinal bacteria of the hooded crane and bean goose whose niches overlap at Shengjin Lake. We tested whether contact time enhances the trans-species spread of gut bacteria. Results indicate alpha-diversity and microbial composition displayed significant separation between the two hosts in every wintering period, although the number of bacteria types shared increased with increasing contact time. For the same species, with the lengthening of contact time, alpha-diversity and the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the host intestine augmented, and the common OTUs and structural similarity of microflora in the middle and late periods were more than in the early and middle periods. In addition, we found a very high proportion of shared pathogens. Our results indicate that, although intestinal microflora of different species were separated, direct or indirect contact in the mixed-species flock caused the spread of gut bacteria trans-species, indicating that more attention should be paid to intestinal pathogens in wild birds.

Context-specific behavior serves as a mechanism of interspecific cohesion in mixed-species flocks

The Auk ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean M Williams ◽  
Catherine A Lindell
Keyword(s):  
Flight Distance ◽  
Species Flock ◽  
Mixed Species ◽  
Specific Behavior ◽  
Call Type ◽  
Interspecific Associations ◽  
Mixed Species Flocks ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Species Flocks

Abstract We investigated whether context-specific behavior is responsible for the cohesion of mixed-species flocks of antshrikes and antwrens in Amazonian Peru. Antshrikes perform a behavior while spatially repositioning, to which antwrens respond by approaching. The cohesion of interspecific associations requires communication, although the mechanisms often are unexplored. In monospecific groups, cohesion among individuals is maintained with actions or vocalizations given in a certain context. Dusky-throated Antshrikes (Thamnomanes ardesiacus) vocalize while in flight and the number of times they vocalize covaries with the flight distance. We refer to this pairing of flight and vocalization as repositioning behavior. Furthermore, antshrikes pair a different call type with perching, which we refer to as perching behavior. We followed Long-winged (Myrmotherula longipennis) and White-flanked Antwrens (M. axillaris) and recorded their response following natural vocalizations (no playback used) given by the antshrikes. Long-winged Antwrens, but not White-flanked, flew toward an antshrike significantly sooner and were more likely to approach the antshrikes after the repositioning behavior than after perching behavior. In addition, Long-winged Antwrens, but not White-flanked, flew toward an antshrike sooner after a longer series of repositioning calls than after a shorter series. We did not distinguish between the Long-winged Antwrens’ response as a function of movement vs. vocalizations of the antshrikes, although we argue that vocalizations are likely a more important communication component of repositioning behavior than movement. It remains unclear whether the antshrikes are deliberately signaling the Long-winged Antwrens or the antwrens are taking advantage of the repositioning behavior; active signaling is possible since antshrikes benefit from antwrens. White-flanked Antwrens may be less responsive to the antshrikes since they have a lower propensity to occur in a mixed-species flock. The results indicate that the repositioning behavior of Dusky-throated Antshrikes is a key mechanism of interspecific cohesion of Amazonian mixed-species flocks of the understory.

scholarly journals Mixed Species Flock, Nest Height, and Elevation Partially Explain Avian Haemoparasite Prevalence in Colombia

PLoS ONE ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. e100695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angie D. González ◽  
Nubia E. Matta ◽  
Vincenzo A. Ellis ◽  
Eliot T. Miller ◽  
Robert E. Ricklefs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Flock ◽  
Mixed Species ◽  
Nest Height

scholarly journals Structure and Dynamics of Mixed-Species Flocks in a Hawaiian Rain Forest

The Auk ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-95
Author(s):  
Patrick J. Hart ◽  
Leonard A. Freed
Keyword(s):  
Rain Forest ◽  
High Variability ◽  
Species Flock ◽  
Flock Size ◽  
Mixed Species ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Interspecific Associations ◽  
Nuclear Species ◽  
Mixed Species Flocks ◽  
Species Flocks

Abstract Mixed-species flocks of native and introduced birds were studied for four years in an upper elevation Hawaiian rain forest. Those flocks were characterized by strong seasonality, large size, low species richness, high intraspecific abundance, a lack of migrants, and a general lack of territoriality or any sort of dominance hierarchy. There was high variability among years in patterns of occurrence at the species level, and high variability within years at the individual level. These flocks are loosely structured social groupings with apparently open membership. The fluid, unstable movement patterns, high degree of variability in size and composition, and lack of positive interspecific associations are not consistent with the “foraging enhancement” hypothesis for flocking. Two resident, endangered insectivores, the Akepa (Loxops coccineus) and Hawaii Creeper (Oreomystis mana) served as “nuclear” species. Flock composition was compared between two study sites that differed significantly in density of these two nuclear species. Flock size was similar at the two sites, primarily because the nuclear species were over-represented relative to their density. This observation suggests that birds are attempting to achieve a more optimal flock size at the lower density site.

Call Similarities among Mixed Species Flock Associates

2000 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Millicent Sigler Ficken
Keyword(s):  
Species Flock ◽  
Mixed Species

scholarly journals Alarm Calling in Sri Lankan Mixed-Species Bird Flocks

The Auk ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eben Goodale ◽  
Sarath W. Kotagama
Keyword(s):  
Alarm Call ◽  
Alarm Calls ◽  
Species Flock ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Mixed Species ◽  
Alarm Calling ◽  
Natural Stimuli ◽  
Mixed Species Flocks ◽  
Multiple Species ◽  
Species Flocks

Abstract Vocal alarm calls are important to the vigilance and likely the organization of mixed-species flocks, but community-wide studies of alarm calling in flocks are lacking. We investigated which species alarm-call, and the characteristics of their calls, in a large flock system of a Sri Lankan rainforest. We recorded naturally elicited alarm calls during several attacks by Accipiter hawks and while following flocks for 10 h. We then artificially elicited alarms by throwing a stick to the side of the flock, in a total of 70 trials at 30 flock sites. The Orange-billed Babbler (Turdoides rufescens) was the most frequent caller to both the artificial and natural stimuli, followed by the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus). Several other species also called, and multiple species often called to the same stimulus (in 23 trials, and in all of the hawk attacks). The species differed in their rapidity of response and in their sensitivity to different natural stimuli. Calls of the gregarious babbler usually provided a first, unreliable warning of an incoming threat, whereas later calls of other species emphasized the seriousness of the threat. We suggest that birds in mixed-species flocks may be particularly aware of aerial predators for two reasons: (1) a “numbers effect,” whereby nongregarious species are more aware of predators when surrounded by large numbers of other species; and (2) an “information effect,” whereby species differ in the information available in their alarm calls, leading to an accumulation of information in a mixed-species flock. Llamadas de Alarma en Bandadas Mixtas de Aves en Sri Lanka

scholarly journals The influence of a single species on the space use of mixed-species flocks in Amazonian Peru

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean M. Williams ◽  
Catherine A. Lindell
Keyword(s):  
Space Use ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Species Flock ◽  
Vegetation Density ◽  
Utilization Distribution ◽  
Mixed Species ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Mixed Species Flocks ◽  
Predator Behavior ◽  
Species Flocks

Abstract Background The drivers of space use patterns of multi-species groups have been poorly studied, although mixed-species avian flocks are common throughout the world. In a mixed-species flock, multiple species move together and maintain proximity. The different species may or may not have conflicting preferences of space use. We hypothesized that the space use patterns of the flock are driven by a single species. Methods We investigated the behavioral drivers of space use patterns of mixed-species flocks in Amazonian Peru by mapping 95% fixed-kernel home ranges of three flocks, which then we divided into high-use (inner 55% kernel utilization distribution) and low-use areas (lying outside the high-use area). We quantified the foraging and anti-predator behavior of individual birds in the flocks. We tested whether foraging and anti-predator behavior of different species were different in high use and low use areas of the flock. Results We collected 455 spatial points and 329 foraging and anti-predator behavior observations on three flocks. The single best model for explaining the space use patterns of the flocks contained only vegetation density that surrounded Dusky-throated Antshrikes. Conclusion The results are consistent with the hypothesis that a single species in mixed-species flocks has a disproportionately large influence on space use patterns. The surrounding vegetation density of the Dusky-throated Antshrike was the only driver of space use patterns of flocks supported by our data. The results may apply to flocks pantropically, many of which are led by species that behave similarly to the Dusky-throated Antshrike, e.g. Asian flocks led by drongos (Dicrurus spp.).

scholarly journals Correction to: Flock‑species richness influences node importance and modularity in mixed‑species flock networks

Oecologia ◽  
2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priti Bangal ◽  
Hari Sridhar ◽  
Daizaburo Shizuka ◽  
Laura N. Vander Meiden ◽  
Kartik Shanker
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Flock ◽  
Mixed Species ◽  
Node Importance
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