The effects of flock size, habitat type and cattle herd sizes on feeding and vigilance in cattle egrets <i>(Ardeola ibis)</i>

Wahungu, Geoffrey M.; Mumia, E. N.; Manoa, David Owino

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2028.2003.00448.x

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…These results have biological significance, as they indicate associations between these bird species were not random or loosely structured, and that Cattle Egrets foraged using similar behaviour whether with Common Ostrich or large mammals. For example, previous research showed flock sizes of Cattle Egrets were positively related to herd size of cattle, probably because larger herds flushed more insects than smaller ones, thereby providing more food for Cattle Egrets (Wahungu et al 2003). Thus, the same is likely true regarding flock size of Common Ostrich.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 91%

Cattle Egret and Common Ostrich associations in South Africa

Kamler¹,

Suinyuy²,

Goulding³

2008

Ostrich

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 91%

Cattle Egret and Common Ostrich associations in South Africa

Kamler¹,

Suinyuy²,

Goulding³

2008

Ostrich

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“…The most common bird interactor was cattle egret which is renowned for its widespread cooperative behaviour with African mammals ( Dean & MacDonald, 1981 ; Ruggiero & Eves, 1988 ; Kioko et al, 2016 ; Goodale, Beauchamp & Ruxton, 2017 ). It is possible that the higher diversity of birds on larger-bodied mammals may be linked to the higher load-carry capacity of these mammals (hence, they can carry both smaller and larger bird species), and they can also provide more feeding opportunities, e.g., by flushing more prey ( Wahungu, Mumia & Manoa, 2003 ; Kioko et al, 2016 ). Obviously, habitat type where particular bird and mammal species co-occur also has an important effect on bird–mammal association webs, facilitating some associations while limiting others ( Heymann & Hsia, 2015 ; Kioko et al, 2016 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, our analysis revealed that larger mammal herd sizes were associated with a higher mass of birds and more bird species in the full set of species, and with bird mass in the set of non-oxpecker species. This may suggest that mammals in larger herds provide more feeding opportunities by flushing more potential prey, such as insects or small vertebrates, and, hence, attract a wider community of birds ( Wahungu, Mumia & Manoa, 2003 ; Kioko et al, 2016 ). However, our finding of a relationship between mammal herd size and the number of associated bird species must be interpreted carefully.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large-scale assessment of commensalistic–mutualistic associations between African birds and herbivorous mammals using internet photos

Mikula

Hadrava

Albrecht

et al. 2018

PeerJ

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Birds sitting or feeding on live large African herbivorous mammals are a visible, yet quite neglected, type of commensalistic–mutualistic association. Here, we investigate general patterns in such relationships at large spatial and taxonomic scales. To obtain large-scale data, an extensive internet-based search for photos was carried out on Google Images. To characterize patterns of the structural organization of commensalistic–mutualistic associations between African birds and herbivorous mammals, we used a network analysis approach. We then employed phylogenetically-informed comparative analysis to explore whether features of bird visitation of mammals, i.e., their mean number, mass and species richness per mammal species, are shaped by a combination of host mammal (body mass and herd size) and environmental (habitat openness) characteristics. We found that the association web structure was only weakly nested for commensalistic as well as for mutualistic birds (oxpeckers Buphagus spp.) and African mammals. Moreover, except for oxpeckers, nestedness did not differ significantly from a null model indicating that birds do not prefer mammal species which are visited by a large number of bird species. In oxpeckers, however, a nested structure suggests a non-random assignment of birds to their mammal hosts. We also identified some new or rare associations between birds and mammals, but we failed to find several previously described associations. Furthermore, we found that mammal body mass positively influenced the number and mass of birds observed sitting on them in the full set of species (i.e., taking oxpeckers together with other bird species). We also found a positive correlation between mammal body mass and mass of non-oxpecker species as well as oxpeckers. Mammal herd size was associated with a higher mass of birds in the full set of species as well as in non-oxpecker species, and mammal species living in larger herds also attracted more bird species in the full set of species. Habitat openness influenced the mass of birds sitting on mammals as well as the number of species recorded sitting on mammals in the full set of species. In non-oxpecker species habitat openness was correlated with the bird number, mass and species richness. Our results provide evidence that patterns of bird–mammal associations can be linked to mammal and environmental characteristics and highlight the potential role of information technologies and new media in further studies of ecology and evolution. However, further study is needed to get a proper insight into the biological and methodological processes underlying the observed patterns.

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“…It is possible that the higher diversity of birds on larger-bodied mammals may be linked to the higher loadcarry capacity of these mammals (hence, they can carry both smaller and larger bird species), and they can also provide more feeding opportunities, e.g. by flushing more prey (Wahungu et al 2003;Kioko et al 2016). Obviously, habitat type where particular bird and mammal species co-occur also has an important effect on bird-mammal association webs, facilitating some associations while limiting others (Heymann & Hsiu 2015;Kioko et al 2016).…”

Section: Structure Of Bird-mammal Association Webmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, our analysis revealed that larger mammal herd sizes were associated with a higher mass of birds and more bird species in the full set of species, and with bird mass in the set of Manuscript to be reviewed non-oxpecker species. This may suggest that mammals in larger herds provide more feeding opportunities by flushing more potential prey, such as insects or small vertebrates, and, hence, attract a wider community of birds (Wahungu et al 2003;Kioko et al 2016). However, our finding of a relationship between mammal herd size and the number of associated bird species must be interpreted carefully.…”

Section: Mammal and Environmental Correlates Of Bird Visitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer Review #2 of "Large-scale assessment of commensalistic–mutualistic associations between African birds and herbivorous mammals using internet photos (v0.1)"

2018

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The effects of flock size, habitat type and cattle herd sizes on feeding and vigilance in cattle egrets (Ardeola ibis)

Cited by 6 publications

References 10 publications

Cattle Egret and Common Ostrich associations in South Africa

Cattle Egret and Common Ostrich associations in South Africa

Large-scale assessment of commensalistic–mutualistic associations between African birds and herbivorous mammals using internet photos

Peer Review #2 of "Large-scale assessment of commensalistic–mutualistic associations between African birds and herbivorous mammals using internet photos (v0.1)"

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