Multiple fragmented habitat-patch use in an urban breeding passerine, the Short-toed Treecreeper
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Multiple fragmented habitat-patch use in an urban breeding passerine, the Short-toed Treecreeper. / Snell, Katherine R. S.; Jensen, Rie B. E.; Ortvad, Troels E.; Willemoes, Mikkel; Thorup, Kasper.
In: PLoS ONE, Vol. 15, No. 1, 0227731, 2020.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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T1 - Multiple fragmented habitat-patch use in an urban breeding passerine, the Short-toed Treecreeper
AU - Snell, Katherine R. S.
AU - Jensen, Rie B. E.
AU - Ortvad, Troels E.
AU - Willemoes, Mikkel
AU - Thorup, Kasper
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Individual responses of wild birds to fragmented habitat have rarely been studied, despite large-scale habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss resulting from widespread urbanisation. We investigated the spatial ecology of the Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla, a tiny, resident, woodland passerine that has recently colonised city parks at the northern extent of its range. High resolution spatiotemporal movements of this obligate treeliving species were determined using radio telemetry within the urbanized matrix of city parks in Copenhagen, Denmark. We identified regular edge crossing behaviour, novel in woodland birds. While low numbers of individuals precluded a comprehensive characterisation of home range for this population, we were able to describe a consistent behaviour which has consequences for our understanding of animal movement in urban ecosystems. We report that treecreepers move freely, and apparently do so regularly, between isolated habitat patches. This behaviour is a possible driver of the range expansion in this species and may contribute to rapid dispersal capabilities in certain avian species, including Short-toed Treecreepers, into northern Europe. Alternatively, these behaviours might be common and/or provide an adaptive advantage for birds utilising matrix habitats, for example within urban ecosystems.
AB - Individual responses of wild birds to fragmented habitat have rarely been studied, despite large-scale habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss resulting from widespread urbanisation. We investigated the spatial ecology of the Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla, a tiny, resident, woodland passerine that has recently colonised city parks at the northern extent of its range. High resolution spatiotemporal movements of this obligate treeliving species were determined using radio telemetry within the urbanized matrix of city parks in Copenhagen, Denmark. We identified regular edge crossing behaviour, novel in woodland birds. While low numbers of individuals precluded a comprehensive characterisation of home range for this population, we were able to describe a consistent behaviour which has consequences for our understanding of animal movement in urban ecosystems. We report that treecreepers move freely, and apparently do so regularly, between isolated habitat patches. This behaviour is a possible driver of the range expansion in this species and may contribute to rapid dispersal capabilities in certain avian species, including Short-toed Treecreepers, into northern Europe. Alternatively, these behaviours might be common and/or provide an adaptive advantage for birds utilising matrix habitats, for example within urban ecosystems.
KW - GAP-CROSSING DECISIONS
KW - RANGE SIZE
KW - BIRDS
KW - DISPERSAL
KW - URBANIZATION
KW - ENVIRONMENT
KW - POPULATION
KW - DIVERSITY
KW - SONGBIRDS
KW - BEHAVIOR
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0227731
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0227731
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 31935239
VL - 15
JO - PLoS ONE
JF - PLoS ONE
SN - 1932-6203
IS - 1
M1 - 0227731
ER -
ID: 247073680