Spatial segregation of home ranges between neighbouring colonies in a diurnal raptor

Enhancement of information transfer has been proposed as a key driver of the evolution of coloniality. Transfer of information on location of food resources implies that individuals from the same colony share foraging areas and that each colony can be associated to a specific foraging area. In colon...

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Published in:Scientific reports 2018-08, Vol.8 (1), p.11762-9, Article 11762
Main Authors: Cecere, Jacopo G., Bondì, Salvatore, Podofillini, Stefano, Imperio, Simona, Griggio, Matteo, Fulco, Egidio, Curcio, Andrea, Ménard, Delphine, Mellone, Ugo, Saino, Nicola, Serra, Lorenzo, Sarà, Maurizio, Rubolini, Diego
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
631/158/856
631/601/18
Animal behavior
Animals
Colonies
Conspecifics
Diurnal
Ecosystem
Falconiformes - physiology
Feeding Behavior - physiology
Female
Food resources
Home range
Homing Behavior - physiology
Humanities and Social Sciences
Male
multidisciplinary
Public information
Raptors - physiology
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
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Summary:Enhancement of information transfer has been proposed as a key driver of the evolution of coloniality. Transfer of information on location of food resources implies that individuals from the same colony share foraging areas and that each colony can be associated to a specific foraging area. In colonial breeding vertebrates, colony-specific foraging areas are often spatially segregated, mitigating intercolony intraspecific competition. By means of simultaneous GPS tracking of lesser kestrels ( Falco naumanni ) from neighbouring colonies, we showed a clear segregation of space use between individuals from different colonies. Foraging birds from different neighbouring colonies had home ranges that were significantly more segregated in space than expected by chance. This was the case both between large and between small neighbouring colonies. To our knowledge, the lesser kestrel is the only terrestrial species where evidence of spatial segregation of home ranges between conspecifics from neighbouring colonies has been demonstrated. The observed spatial segregation pattern is consistent with the occurrence of public information transfer about foraging areas and with the avoidance of overexploited areas located between neighbouring colonies. Our findings support the idea that spatial segregation of exploited areas may be widespread among colonial avian taxa, irrespective of colony size.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-29933-2