Conspecific density and habitat quality drive the defence and vocal behaviour of a territorial passerine

• Published in: Ibis (London, England) England), 2024-07, Vol.166 (3), p.826-843
• Main Authors: Barrero, Adrián, Gómez‐Catasús, Julia, Pérez‐Granados, Cristian, Bustillo‐de la Rosa, Daniel, Traba, Juan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Body condition; breeding season; Chersophilus duponti; Conspecifics; Density; Environmental quality; food availability; Habitats; intraspecific competition; Latency; male density; Males; Playback; Small mammals; Statistical models; Territorial behavior; territory defence; Vegetation index; Vocalization; Vocalization behavior
• ISSN: 0019-1019; 1474-919X
• DOI: 10.1111/ibi.13295

Territorial defence depends on highly interrelated factors such as food abundance and conspecific density. We used Dupont's Lark Chersophilus duponti as a model species to evaluate the response of a territorial bird to a foreign male playback, examining how conspecific density, habitat quality and male body condition impact responses. The study was conducted in central Spain with variable male density. Response (yes/no), latency time, distance to the playback speaker, and the number of songs and other vocalizations were monitored for 5 min. Habitat quality was estimated using BlueNDVI vegetation index extracted from high‐resolution drone imagery, which is a proxy for arthropod prey biomass. Conspecific density (Kernel Density Estimator) and male body condition were calculated to assess their effect on response and intensity. We applied generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) to determine which factors predicted the response and its intensity. There was a greater response probability in areas with a higher density of conspecifics and in areas of poorer habitat quality (i.e. lower BlueNDVI values). In contrast, latency time was longer in areas with lower conspecific density. Intrasexual communication (singing and calling rates) increased with habitat quality. Intraspecific communication (other vocalizations) increased in poorer quality habitats and at a higher density of conspecifics. Body condition was not related to any variables. Our results suggest that male density, sometimes used as an indicator of an area being well conserved for the species, may reflect areas of poorer habitat quality occupied by unpaired floater males, whereas paired territorial males would occupy and defend higher quality areas, leading to lower density.