#Species flocks free

(2022) Social dynamics of core members in mixed-species bird flocks change across a gradient of foraging habitat quality. Collectively, these results suggest an increase in heterospecific associations increases the value of cross-species information flow in degraded habitats.Ĭitation: (Gentry) Richardson KE, Roche DP, Mugel SG, Lancaster ND, Sieving KE, Freeberg TM, et al. Second, the chickadee gargle call rate, an acoustic signal emitted during agonistic encounters between conspecifics, was relatively higher at the high-quality site. This conclusion is supported by two additional findings: First, foraging height for the subordinate Carolina chickadee relative to the tufted titmouse decreased with an increase in the number of satellite species in the most disturbed site but not in the other two sites. Differences in the social networks between each end of our habitat gradient suggest that elevated levels of interspecific association are more valuable in the habitat with low quality foraging conditions. Specifically, we examined aspects of the social network at each site, including network density, modularity, and species assortativity.

#Species flocks free

We compared interactions of free ranging wild birds across a gradient of foraging habitat quality in three managed forest remnants. Here we take a close look at sociality within two ecologically important flock-leader (core) species, the Carolina chickadee ( Poecile carolinensis) and tufted titmouse ( Baeolophus bicolor), to better understand how degradation of foraging habitat quality affects mixed-species flocking dynamics. The relationship between flocking propensity, foraging habitat quality, and interspecific competition can be altered by human-induced habitat degradation. Social associations within mixed-species bird flocks can promote information flow about food availability and provide predator avoidance benefits.