Variability in size of groups in communal roosts: influence of age-class, abundance of individuals and roosting site
Sergio A. Lambertucci
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA (Universidad Nacional del Comahue – CONICET), Quintral 1250 (R8400FRF), Bariloche, Argentina. Email: slambertucci@comahue-conicet.gob.ar; slambertucci@gmail.com
Emu 113(2) 122-127 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU12048
Submitted: 9 June 2012 Accepted: 8 February 2013 Published: 27 May 2013
Abstract
Many birds roost communally but their patterns of use of communal roosts is generally poorly known. For conservation purposes, and to better understand communal roosting generally, it is important to know the factors that influence the size of groups at roosts. I studied the effect of age-class, number of individuals and roosting site on the patterns of variation in the size of communally roosting groups of Andean Condors (Vultur gryphus). I fitted a variance–mean relationship (Taylor’s Power Law, TPL) to the number of individuals that roosted daily at seven communal roosts, and made temporal (in each roost) and spatial (among roosts) comparisons of the relationship. The abundance of individuals at a roost fitted the TPL well, both temporally and spatially. The variation in the abundance of individuals was significantly influenced by the roosting site selected, independent of the effect of the mean number of individuals. Moreover, the effect of roosting site on the variability of abundance of individuals was stronger than the effect of age-class. Accordingly, I highlight the importance of the roosting site in modulating variation in the size of groups of communally roosting individuals. This understanding of the patterns of variation in the use of communal roosts could aid in determining the importance of sites for the conservation of a species.
References
Alcaide, M., Cadahía, L., Lambertucci, S. A., and Negro, J. J. (2010). Noninvasive estimation of minimum population sizes and variability of the major histocompatibility complex in the Andean Condor. Condor 112, 470–478.| Noninvasive estimation of minimum population sizes and variability of the major histocompatibility complex in the Andean Condor.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Anderson, R. M., Gordon, D. M., Crawley, M. J., and Hassell, M. P. (1982). Variability in the abundance of animal and plant species. Nature 296, 245–248.
| Variability in the abundance of animal and plant species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ballantyne, F., and Kerkhoff, A. J. (2007). The observed range for temporal mean-variance scaling exponents can be explained by reproductive correlation. Oikos 116, 174–180.
| The observed range for temporal mean-variance scaling exponents can be explained by reproductive correlation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Beauchamp, G. (1999). The evolution of communal roosting in birds: origin and secondary losses. Behavioral Ecology 10, 675–687.
| The evolution of communal roosting in birds: origin and secondary losses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Andean Condor Vultur gryphus. Available at http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3822 [Verified 4 March 2013].
Blanco, G., and Tella, J. L. (1999). Temporal, spatial and social segregation of Red-billed Choughs between two types of communal roost: a role for mating and territory acquisition. Animal Behaviour 57, 1219–1227.
| Temporal, spatial and social segregation of Red-billed Choughs between two types of communal roost: a role for mating and territory acquisition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 10373254PubMed |
Carrete, M., Lambertucci, S. A., Speziale, K., Ceballos, O., Travaini, A., Delibes, M., Hiraldo, F., and Donázar, J. A. (2010). Winners and losers in human-made habitats: interspecific competition outcomes in two Neotropical vultures. Animal Conservation 13, 390–398.
| Winners and losers in human-made habitats: interspecific competition outcomes in two Neotropical vultures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Donázar, J. A., and Feijóo, J. E. (2002). Social structure of Andean Condor roosts: influence of sex, age, and season. Condor 104, 832–837.
| Social structure of Andean Condor roosts: influence of sex, age, and season.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Eiserer, L. A. (1984). Communal roosting in birds. Bird Behaviour 5, 61–80.
Ferguson-Lees, J., and Christie, D. A. (2001). ‘Raptors of the World.’ (A. & C. Black: London.)
Gaston, K. J., and McArdle, B. H. (1994). The temporal variability of animal abundances: measures, methods and patterns. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B. Biological Sciences 345, 335–358.
| The temporal variability of animal abundances: measures, methods and patterns.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Greenwood, P. J., and Harvey, P. H. (1982). The natal and breeding dispersal of birds. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 13, 1–21.
| The natal and breeding dispersal of birds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kusch, A. (2004). Distribución y uso de dormideros por el Cóndor Andino (Vultur gryphus) en Patagonia Chilena. Ornitologia Neotropical 15, 313–317.
Lambertucci, S. A. (2010). Size and spatio-temporal variations of the Andean Condor Vultur gryphus population in north-west Patagonia, Argentina: communal roosts and conservation. Oryx 44, 441–447.
| Size and spatio-temporal variations of the Andean Condor Vultur gryphus population in north-west Patagonia, Argentina: communal roosts and conservation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lambertucci, S. A., and Mastrantuoni, O. A. (2008). Breeding behavior of a pair of free-living Andean Condors. Journal of Field Ornithology 79, 147–151.
| Breeding behavior of a pair of free-living Andean Condors.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lambertucci, S. A., and Speziale, K. L. (2009). Some possible anthropogenic threats to breeding Andean Condors (Vultur gryphus). Journal of Raptor Research 43, 245–249.
| Some possible anthropogenic threats to breeding Andean Condors (Vultur gryphus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lambertucci, S. A., Jácome, N. L., and Trejo, A. (2008). Use of communal roosts by Andean Condors in northwest Patagonia, Argentina. Journal of Field Ornithology 79, 138–146.
| Use of communal roosts by Andean Condors in northwest Patagonia, Argentina.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lambertucci, S. A., Donázar, J. A., Huertas, A. D., Jiménez, B., Sáez, M., Sanchez-Zapata, J. A., and Hiraldo, F. (2011). Widening the problem of lead poisoning to a South American top scavenger: lead concentrations in feathers of wild Andean Condors. Biological Conservation 144, 1464–1471.
| Widening the problem of lead poisoning to a South American top scavenger: lead concentrations in feathers of wild Andean Condors.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lambertucci, S. A., Carrete, M., Donázar, J. A., and Hiraldo, F. (2012). Large-scale age-dependent skewed sex ratio in a sexually dimorphic avian scavenger. PLoS ONE 7, e46347.
| Large-scale age-dependent skewed sex ratio in a sexually dimorphic avian scavenger.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XhsV2jurzI&md5=c74d6098a22db50196e41a612d1990aeCAS | 23029488PubMed |
Landres, P. B., Morgan, P., and Swanson, F. J. (1999). Overview of the use of natural variability concepts in managing ecological systems. Ecological Applications 9, 1179–1188.
Marquet, P. A., Quiñones, R. A., Abades, S., Labra, F., Tognelli, M., Arim, M., and Rivadeneira, M. (2005). Scaling and power-laws in ecological systems. Journal of Experimental Biology 208, 1749–1769.
| Scaling and power-laws in ecological systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15855405PubMed |
Maurer, B. A., and Taper, M. L. (2002). Connecting geographical distributions with population processes. Ecology Letters 5, 223–231.
| Connecting geographical distributions with population processes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McArdle, B. H., Gaston, K. J., and Lawton, J. H. (1990). Variation in the size of animal populations: patterns, problems and artefacts. Journal of Animal Ecology 59, 439–454.
| Variation in the size of animal populations: patterns, problems and artefacts.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McVey, K. J., Skrade, P. D. B., and Sordahl, T. A. (2008). Use of a communal roost by Turkey Vultures in northeastern Iowa. Journal of Field Ornithology 79, 170–175.
| Use of a communal roost by Turkey Vultures in northeastern Iowa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Meretsky, V. J., Snyder, N. F., Beissinger, S. R., Clendenen, D. A., and Wiley, J. W. (2000). Demography of the California Condor: implications for reestablishment. Conservation Biology 14, 957–967.
| Demography of the California Condor: implications for reestablishment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Morrison, D. W., and Caccamise, D. F. (1990). Comparison of roost use by three species of communal roostmates. Condor 92, 405–412.
| Comparison of roost use by three species of communal roostmates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Olea, P. P., and Mateo-Tomás, P. (2009). The role of traditional farming practices in ecosystem conservation: the case of transhumance and vultures. Biological Conservation 142, 1844–1853.
| The role of traditional farming practices in ecosystem conservation: the case of transhumance and vultures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pennycuick, C. J., and Scholey, K. D. (1984). Flight behavior of Andean Condors Vultur gryphys and Turkey Vultures Cathartes aura around the Paracas Peninsula, Peru. Ibis 126, 253–256.
| Flight behavior of Andean Condors Vultur gryphys and Turkey Vultures Cathartes aura around the Paracas Peninsula, Peru.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rabenold, P. P. (1987). Recruitment to food in Black Vultures: evidence for following from communal roosts. Animal Behaviour 35, 1775–1785.
| Recruitment to food in Black Vultures: evidence for following from communal roosts.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reed, D. H., O’Grady, J. J., Brook, B. W., Ballou, J. D., and Frankham, R. (2003). Estimates of minimum viable population sizes for vertebrates and factors influencing those estimates. Biological Conservation 113, 23–34.
| Estimates of minimum viable population sizes for vertebrates and factors influencing those estimates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shepard, E. L. C., Lambertucci, S. A., Vallmitjana, D., and Wilson, R. P. (2011). Energy beyond food: foraging theory informs time spent in thermals by a large soaring bird. PLoS ONE 6, e27375.
| Energy beyond food: foraging theory informs time spent in thermals by a large soaring bird.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhsFGjs7zO&md5=639b6e0e83bbb188665703e6d06e4ec9CAS |
Speziale, K. L., Lambertucci, S. A., and Olsson, O. (2008). Disturbance from roads negatively affects Andean Condor habitat use. Biological Conservation 141, 1765–1772.
| Disturbance from roads negatively affects Andean Condor habitat use.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Taylor, L. R. (1961). Aggregation, variance and the mean. Nature 189, 732–735.
| Aggregation, variance and the mean.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Taylor, L. R. (1986). Synoptic dynamics, migration and the Rothamsted Insect Survey: Presidential Address to the British Ecological Society, December 1984. Journal of Animal Ecology 55, 1–38.
| Synoptic dynamics, migration and the Rothamsted Insect Survey: Presidential Address to the British Ecological Society, December 1984.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Taylor, L. R., and Taylor, R. A. J. (1977). Aggregation, migration and population mechanics. Nature 265, 415–421.
| Aggregation, migration and population mechanics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaE2s7gtVeqtQ%3D%3D&md5=c84fd32b6b040782c41a34b140049943CAS | 834291PubMed |
Taylor, L. R., and Woiwod, I. P. (1980). Temporal stability as a density-dependent species characteristic. Journal of Animal Ecology 49, 209–224.
| Temporal stability as a density-dependent species characteristic.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Taylor, L. R., Woiwod, I. P., and Perry, J. N. (1980). Variance and the large scale spatial stability of aphids, moths and birds. Journal of Animal Ecology 49, 831–854.
| Variance and the large scale spatial stability of aphids, moths and birds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thompson, W. L., Yahner, R. H., and Storm, G. L. (1990). Winter use and habitat characteristics of vulture communal roosts. Journal of Wildlife Management 54, 77–83.
| Winter use and habitat characteristics of vulture communal roosts.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ward, P., and Zahavi, A. (1973). The importance of certain assemblages of birds as ‘information‐centres’ for food‐finding. Ibis 115, 517–534.
| The importance of certain assemblages of birds as ‘information‐centres’ for food‐finding.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yom-Tov, Y. (1979). The disadvantage of low positions in colonial roosts: an experiment to test the effect of droppings on plumage quality. Ibis 121, 331–333.
| The disadvantage of low positions in colonial roosts: an experiment to test the effect of droppings on plumage quality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |