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- Title
Bird flocks in relation to vegetation diversification in a South Swedish coniferous plantation during winter.
- Authors
Ulfstrand, S.
- Abstract
Nine species of small passerines occurred in a coniferous plantation during winter. The number of species and individuals in the flocks were approximately linearly correlated. Certain species occurred almost only in the largest flocks. All species except one showed significant foraging preferences for certain tree species. Consequently woodland stands of different taxonomic composition supported partly different species constellations. Bird flock diversity was correlated with the number of tree and shrub species, with the structural complexity of the forest and, secondarily with the openness of the stand. Total forest diversification was quantified In terms of topoelements including both taxonomic and structural vegetational complexity. It is argued that these two factors and direct sociability play different roles for the different species forming the flocks. Multispecies flocks permit the formation of large groups for antipredator protection without causing too many individuals of a species to occur within a small area.
- Subjects
PASSERIFORMES; BIOLOGICAL classification; PREDATORY animals; BIODIVERSITY; FORESTS &; forestry; ANIMAL species
- Publication
Oikos, 1975, Vol 26, Issue 1, p65
- ISSN
0030-1299
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2307/3543279