Predictors of flight behavior in rural and urban songbirds

Battle, Kathryn E.; Foltz, Sarah L.; Moore, Ignacio T.

doi:10.1676/1559-4491-128.3.510

Cited by 13 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…We also found no relationship between distance to suburban fringe as a measure of urbanization and FID (urbanization hypothesis). This is in contrast to findings by Battle et al, () where birds in urban habitats had shorter FID. However, this may be owed to the fact that we worked in a generally rural habitat, so that the differences within and outside of a settlement may not be as striking as in a comparison of a large city with rural habitats (Randler, ; Randler ).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Conspicuousness-hypothesis: Usually males are more colorful and more conspicuous and flee earlier. We expect males to have larger DF and EH Thiel et al, (2007), Lailvaux et al, (2003) FID, EH, DF Experience-hypothesis: We expect differences between juveniles and older individuals due to different experience with predators Smith et al, (1984), Whiting et al, (2003) FID, EH, DF Flock-size hypothesis: We expect birds in flocks to have a higher FID than single birds or birds in smaller flocks Stankowich & Blumstein, (2005) FID, DF detection and hence decrease FID (Battle, Foltz, & Moore, 2016, Bjørvik, Dale, Hermansen, Munishi, & Moe, 2015, Bonnot et al, 2017, Randler, 2008a, Randler 2008bTätte et al, 2018, urbanization hypothesis). In our study area, the black redstart often breeds close to human settlements and hence is accustomed to human presence.…”

Section: Reference Outcome Variablementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, urbanization is known to affect the flight behavior of many animals and it is generally hypothesized, that animals in urban habitats have lower flight initiation distances than animals in rural habitats. This may be due to a higher habituation to human presence or ecological trade‐offs due to habitat quality, such as food availability or habitat obstruction that might hamper predator detection and hence decrease FID (Battle, Foltz, & Moore, , Bjørvik, Dale, Hermansen, Munishi, & Moe, , Bonnot et al, , Randler, , Randler ; Tätte et al, , urbanization hypothesis). In our study area, the black redstart often breeds close to human settlements and hence is accustomed to human presence.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Flight initiation distance and escape behavior in the black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)

2019

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There are many anti‐predatory escape strategies in animals. A well‐established method to assess escape behavior is the flight initiation distance (FID), which is the distance between prey and predator at which an animal flees. Previous studies in various species throughout the animal kingdom have shown that group size, urbanization, and distance to refuge and body mass affect FID. In most species, FID increases if body mass, group size or distance to refuge decreases. However, how age and sexual dimorphism affect FID is rather unknown. Here, we assess the escape behavior and FID of the black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros), a small turdid passerine. When approached by a human, males initiated flights later, that is allowing a closer approach than females. Males of this species are more conspicuous, and therefore, may exhibit aposematism to deter potential predators or are less fearful than females. Additionally, juveniles fled at shorter distances and fled to lower heights than adults. Lastly, concerning escape strategy, black redstarts, unless other passerine birds, fled less often into cover, but rather onto open or elevated spots. Black redstarts are especially prone to predation by ambushing predators that might hide in cover. Hence, this species most likely has a higher chance of escaping by fleeing to an open spot rather than to a potentially risky cover.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Reference Outcome Variablementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Flight initiation distance and escape behavior in the black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)

2019

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“…gray) does not necessarily have the least behavioral effect on the test animal. Studies using FID to measure animal risk assessment often employ approaches with a human wearing dull or neutral colored clothes (see [ 17 , 44 , 45 ]). This method can be appropriate for studies investigating relative differences in behavior between treatments if the observer always wears the same outfit.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fear no colors? Observer clothing color influences lizard escape behavior

et al. 2017

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Animals often view humans as predators, leading to alterations in their behavior. Even nuanced aspects of human activity like clothing color affect animal behavior, but we lack an understanding of when and where such effects will occur. The species confidence hypothesis posits that birds are attracted to colors found on their bodies and repelled by non-body colors. Here, we extend this hypothesis taxonomically and conceptually to test whether this pattern is applicable in a non-avian reptile and to suggest that species should respond less fearfully to their sexually-selected signaling color. Responses to clothing color could also be impacted by habituation to humans, so we examine whether behavior varied between areas with low and high human activity. We quantified the effects of four T-shirt colors on flight initiation distances (FID) and on the ease of capture in western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis), and we accounted for detectability against the background environment. We found no differences in lizard behavior between sites. However, lizards tolerated the closest approaches and were most likely to be captured when approached with the T-shirt that resembled their sexually-selected signaling color. Because changes in individual behavior affect fitness, choice of clothing color by people, including tourists, hikers, and researchers, could impact wildlife populations and research outcomes.

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“…Thus, boldness should be favored in urban environments, and several studies confirm increased boldness of urban animal populations compared with their nonurban counterparts ( Møller 2008 ; Samia et al. 2015b ; Battle et al. 2016 ).…”

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confidence: 99%

Urban invaders are not bold risk-takers: a study of 3 invasive lizards in Southern California

2020

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Biological invasions threaten biodiversity worldwide, and therefore, understanding the traits of successful invaders could mitigate their spread. Many commonly invasive species do well in disturbed habitats, such as urban environments, and their abilities to effectively respond to disturbances could contribute to their invasiveness. Yet, there are noninvasive species that also do well in disturbed habitats. The question remains whether urban invaders behave differently in urban environments than noninvaders, which could suggest an “urban-exploiting” phenotype. In Southern California, the co-occurrence of invasive Italian wall lizards Podarcis siculus, brown anoles Anolis sagrei, and green anoles A. carolinensis, and native western fence lizards Sceloporus occidentalis offers an opportunity to test whether invasives exhibit consistent differences in risk-taking within human-altered habitats compared with a native species. We predicted that invasive lizards would exhibit more bold behavior by having shorter flight-initiation distances (FIDs) and by being found farther from a refuge (behaviors that would presumably maximize foraging in low-risk environments). Invasive populations had similar or longer FIDs, but were consistently found at distances closer to a refuge. Collectively, invasive lizards in urban habitats were not bolder than a native species. Reliance on nearby refuges might help species successfully invade urban habitats, and if a general pattern, may pose an added challenge in detecting or eliminating them.

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Predictors of flight behavior in rural and urban songbirds

Cited by 13 publications

References 36 publications

Flight initiation distance and escape behavior in the black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)

Flight initiation distance and escape behavior in the black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)

Fear no colors? Observer clothing color influences lizard escape behavior

Urban invaders are not bold risk-takers: a study of 3 invasive lizards in Southern California

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