A5030789247- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Plant and animal studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Mathematical and Theoretical Epidemiology and Ecology Models
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Child and Adolescent Health
- Forest Management and Policy
- Ethics and Legal Issues in Pediatric Healthcare
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
The Institute for Bird Populations
2023-2024
Florida Museum of Natural History
2020-2023
University of Florida
2016-2022
Cornwall College
2016
Empirical studies in select systems suggest that social information-the incidental or deliberate information produced by animals and available to other animals-can fundamentally shape animal grouping behavior. However, understand the role of behavior fitness, we must establish general theory quantifies effects across ecological contexts generates expectations can be applied systems. Here used dynamic state variable modeling isolate about food predators on fitness. We characterized optimal...
Research suggests that zoo visitors can have positive, negative, and neutral impacts on captive primate welfare; however, research investigating the implications of visitor–animal feeding experiences is extremely limited. In UK, a large proportion BIAZA zoos house lemur species offer visitor interaction (16 out 33). This study investigated impact behavior family group crowned lemurs (Eulemur coronatus) housed at Newquay Zoo, UK visitors, accompanied by keeper, entering enclosure to feed...
Andean forests, a hotspot of biodiversity, have suffered extensive fragmentation, yet we little understanding how this process has affected biodiversity. We surveyed bird communities across gradient fragment sizes (10–170 ha) and continuous forest reference site in the Colombian Western Andes. Using multi-species occupancy model to combine survey data from audio-visual transect surveys, mist netting, playbacks for owls, estimated alpha beta taxonomic functional diversity. asked whether (1)...
Abstract The fragmentation of tropical forests remains a major driver avian biodiversity loss, particularly for insectivores, yet the mechanisms underlying area sensitivity remain poorly understood. Studies in lowland systems suggest that loss food resources, changes to light microenvironments, increased nest predation, and dispersal limitation are possible mechanisms, but these untested montane bird communities. In this study, we related functional traits (quantified using beta estimates...
Abstract Mixed-species flocks are ubiquitous in forest bird communities, yet the extent to which positive (facilitative) or negative (competitive) interactions structure these assemblages has been a subject of debate. Here, we describe fine-scale foraging ecology and use network analysis quantify mixed-species flocking an insectivorous community hardwood forests north-central Florida. Our goal was determine if similarly species more (facilitation hypothesis) less (competition likely...
Abstract Forest fragmentation is a leading driver of biodiversity loss, yet its effects on positive species interactions remain poorly known. We examined the mixed-species bird flocks in Western Andes Colombia. Using 500-m transect surveys (n = 14 transects), we sampled 8 fragments (range: 10–173 ha) and an unfragmented reference site within same altitudinal band (1,900–2,200 m.a.s.l.) matrix type (cattle pasture). evaluated relative contributions 9 predictor variables, including patch size,...
Vertebrates obtain social information about predation risk by eavesdropping on the alarm calls of sympatric species. In Holarctic, birds in family Paridae function as sentinel species; however, factors shaping eavesdroppers' reliance their are unknown. We compared three hypothesized drivers eavesdropper reliance: (a) foraging ecology, (b) degree sociality, and (c) call relevance (caller-to-eavesdropper body-size difference). a rigorous causal-comparative design, we presented Tufted Titmouse...
Abstract Mixed-species flocks constitute community modules that can help test mechanisms driving changes to composition across environmental gradients. Here, we examined elevational patterns of flock diversity (species richness, taxonomic diversity, species, and guild composition) asked if these were reflections the full bird at a given elevation (open-membership hypothesis), or they instead structured by variables. We surveyed both overall avian mixed-species an undisturbed gradient...
Abstract Shade coffee is among the most widespread and economically important crops in montane tropical regions considered more hospitable to wildlife than non‐shaded crops. Questions remain regarding value of shade as habitat for wildlife, however, given historical research focus on small‐bodied canopy species. Simultaneously, climate‐driven upslope migration represents an emerging threat well‐conserved forest at higher elevations. This study examined ground‐dwelling birds medium‐large...
Birds in mixed-species flocks benefit from greater foraging efficiency and reduced predation, but also face costs related to competition activity matching. Because this cost–benefit trade-off is context-dependent (e.g. abiotic conditions habitat quality), the structure of expected vary along elevational, latitudinal disturbance gradients. Specifically, we predicted that connectivity cohesion flocking networks would (i) decline towards tropical latitudes lower elevations, where matching are...
Abstract Climate change is considered a major driver of recent avian population declines, particularly in the drought-stricken southwestern United States. Predicting how bird populations will respond requires understanding climatic drivers influencing density across region’s diverse habitats. We modelled breeding-season densities 50 species relation to spring and summer drought timing North American monsoon rainfall over 12-year period (2007–2018) 4 habitats comprising an approximately 1,500...
Abstract Mixed-species flocks are a key facilitative interaction for tropical birds. Forest fragmentation leads to species loss and spatial turnover in these flocks, yet it is unknown how changes composition influence within-flock interactions. We used network analysis characterize flocking interactions along fragment-size gradient the Colombian Western Andes. asked 1) patch size, edge density, vegetation structure explained measures indicative of flock cohesion, 2) whether were driven by or...
Abstract Forest fragmentation is a major driver of tropical bird endangerment, yet the mechanisms underlying species losses in fragmented landscapes remain poorly known. Loss foraging microhabitats and food diversity are potential explaining sensitivity. We, therefore, measured body condition (i.e., mass adjusted for individual size) 20 understory birds as proxy availability across gradients fragment patch size silvicultural histories Western Andes Colombia. Specifically, we asked (1) if...
Abstract Generalist species can exhibit individual specialization (IS), where individuals adopt specialized foraging behaviors not attributable to age, sex, or social dominance. While IS increases with the diversity of available resources (ecological opportunity), potential impact human food subsidies on ecological opportunity is unknown. We quantified isotopic niche width Steller's Jays ( Cyanocitta stelleri ), a synanthropic predator and dietary generalist, across gradient land‐use...
Malone, K. M., H. Jones, A. M. Betancourt, T. Terhune II, and E. Sieving. 2019. Video documentation of predators nest defense at Bachman's Sparrow nests. Avian Conservation Ecology 14(2):6. https://doi.org/10.5751/ACE-01409-140206
Increased participation in mixed-species flocks is one hypothesized behavioral tactic used by forest birds to adjust cold temperatures winter. This phenomenon has been documented temperate North America, but not at subtropical latitudes where are less extreme. To understand how temperature structures the size, richness, flocking propensity, and species interactions of flocks, we performed paired flock point count surveys upland hardwood forests north-central Florida, USA. We described...
Abstract Animal coloration patterns are wildly variable. Despite this, there plumage traits that occur similarly across taxonomic groups, suggesting the possible action of widespread selective regimes. Here, we investigate why so many avian species have “flash” signals—color patches not visible when an animal is still but become with movement. Flash been hypothesized to warn conspecifics danger and coordinate prey escape behaviors among flocking species. Other hypotheses suggest flash...
Abstract Context: Shade coffee plantations are purported to maintain forest biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Understanding their conservation importance is hindered, however, by the limited taxa studied and failure account for landscape context of quality reference sites. Objectives/Research questions: (1) how occupancy mammals birds changed from continuous fragmented while statistically controlling context, (2) whether mammal bird communities responded differently shade with regard...
Previous article FreeCorrectionMichael A. Gil, Zachary Emberts, Harrison Jones, and Colette M. St. MaryMichael Gil1. Department of Biology, University Florida, Gainesville, Florida 326112. Environmental Science Policy, California, Davis, California 95616 Search for more articles by this author , Emberts1. 32611 Jones1. Mary1. Original articleSocial Information on Fear Food Drives Animal Grouping FitnessPDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints...