Title |
Loss of migration and urbanization in birds: a case study of the blackbird (Turdus merula)
|
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Published in |
Oecologia, May 2014
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DOI | 10.1007/s00442-014-2953-3 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Anders Pape Møller, Jukka Jokimäki, Piotr Skorka, Piotr Tryjanowski |
Abstract |
Many organisms have invaded urban habitats, although the underlying factors initially promoting urbanization remain poorly understood. Partial migration may facilitate urbanization because such populations benefit from surplus food in urban environments during winter, and hence enjoy reduced fitness costs of migratory deaths. We tested this hypothesis in the European blackbird Turdus merula, which has been urbanized since the 19th century, by compiling information on timing of urbanization, migratory status, and population density for 99 cities across the continent. Timing of urbanization was spatially auto-correlated at scales up to 600 km. Analyses of timing of urbanization revealed that urbanization occurred earlier in partially migratory and resident populations than in migratory populations of blackbirds. Independently, this effect was most pronounced in the range of the distribution that currently has the highest population density, suggesting that urbanization facilitated population growth. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that timing of urbanization is facilitated by partial migration, resulting in subsequent residency and population growth. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 1 | 13% |
Spain | 1 | 13% |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1 | 13% |
Hungary | 1 | 13% |
Unknown | 4 | 50% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 7 | 88% |
Scientists | 1 | 13% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
France | 2 | 1% |
Finland | 1 | <1% |
Romania | 1 | <1% |
Brazil | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 129 | 96% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 32 | 24% |
Researcher | 28 | 21% |
Student > Master | 28 | 21% |
Student > Bachelor | 21 | 16% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 4 | 3% |
Other | 11 | 8% |
Unknown | 10 | 7% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 80 | 60% |
Environmental Science | 31 | 23% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 3 | 2% |
Veterinary Science and Veterinary Medicine | 1 | <1% |
Philosophy | 1 | <1% |
Other | 5 | 4% |
Unknown | 13 | 10% |