Increasing group size dilutes black fly attack rate in Black Grouse
Black flies (Simuliidae) have been observed to harass Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) in northern Finland during summer. We studied experimentally whether group size affects the attack rate of black flies on Black Grouse. The increase in flock size diluted the rate of the black fly attacks in the Black...
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fttsvojs:oai:journal.fi:article/133658 2023-09-05T13:21:56+02:00 Increasing group size dilutes black fly attack rate in Black Grouse Rätti , O. Ojanen, U. Helle, P. 2006-07-01 application/pdf https://ornisfennica.journal.fi/article/view/133658 eng eng BirdLife Finland https://ornisfennica.journal.fi/article/view/133658/82204 https://ornisfennica.journal.fi/article/view/133658 Ornis Fennica; Vol 83 Nro 2 (2006); 86–90 Ornis Fennica; Vol. 83 No. 2 (2006); 86–90 0030-5685 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 2006 fttsvojs 2023-08-23T23:02:59Z Black flies (Simuliidae) have been observed to harass Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) in northern Finland during summer. We studied experimentally whether group size affects the attack rate of black flies on Black Grouse. The increase in flock size diluted the rate of the black fly attacks in the Black Grouse, thereby demonstrating a clear encounter–dilu-tion effect. This study is – to our knowledge – the first in demonstrating an insect harass-ment dilution effect due to group living in an avian host, but our result are in agreement with previous studies carried out in various mammalian vertebrates. Joining other indi-viduals during summer when black flies are actively feeding should benefit Black Grouse. A reduction in insect harassment may at least partly explain why Black Grouse are often gregarious during summer, but does not exclude other reasons (e.g. a reduction in predation risk) for staying in groups. Article in Journal/Newspaper Northern Finland Federation of Finnish Learned Societies: Scientific Journals Online |
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Open Polar |
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Federation of Finnish Learned Societies: Scientific Journals Online |
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fttsvojs |
language |
English |
description |
Black flies (Simuliidae) have been observed to harass Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) in northern Finland during summer. We studied experimentally whether group size affects the attack rate of black flies on Black Grouse. The increase in flock size diluted the rate of the black fly attacks in the Black Grouse, thereby demonstrating a clear encounter–dilu-tion effect. This study is – to our knowledge – the first in demonstrating an insect harass-ment dilution effect due to group living in an avian host, but our result are in agreement with previous studies carried out in various mammalian vertebrates. Joining other indi-viduals during summer when black flies are actively feeding should benefit Black Grouse. A reduction in insect harassment may at least partly explain why Black Grouse are often gregarious during summer, but does not exclude other reasons (e.g. a reduction in predation risk) for staying in groups. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Rätti , O. Ojanen, U. Helle, P. |
spellingShingle |
Rätti , O. Ojanen, U. Helle, P. Increasing group size dilutes black fly attack rate in Black Grouse |
author_facet |
Rätti , O. Ojanen, U. Helle, P. |
author_sort |
Rätti , O. |
title |
Increasing group size dilutes black fly attack rate in Black Grouse |
title_short |
Increasing group size dilutes black fly attack rate in Black Grouse |
title_full |
Increasing group size dilutes black fly attack rate in Black Grouse |
title_fullStr |
Increasing group size dilutes black fly attack rate in Black Grouse |
title_full_unstemmed |
Increasing group size dilutes black fly attack rate in Black Grouse |
title_sort |
increasing group size dilutes black fly attack rate in black grouse |
publisher |
BirdLife Finland |
publishDate |
2006 |
url |
https://ornisfennica.journal.fi/article/view/133658 |
genre |
Northern Finland |
genre_facet |
Northern Finland |
op_source |
Ornis Fennica; Vol 83 Nro 2 (2006); 86–90 Ornis Fennica; Vol. 83 No. 2 (2006); 86–90 0030-5685 |
op_relation |
https://ornisfennica.journal.fi/article/view/133658/82204 https://ornisfennica.journal.fi/article/view/133658 |
_version_ |
1776202481998495744 |