Predator escape tactics in birds:linking ecology and aerodynamics

In most birds, flight is the most important means of escape from predators. Impaired flight abilities due to increased wing loading may increase vulnerability to predation. To compensate for an increase in wing loading, birds are able to independently decrease body mass (BM) or increase pectoral mus...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Behavioral Ecology
Main Authors: van den Hout, Piet J., Mathot, Kimberley J., Maas, Leo R. M., Piersma, Theunis
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2010
Subjects:
aerodynamics
body mass
escape performance
flight
pectoral muscle
phenotypic flexibility
raptors
risk management
PECTORAL MUSCLE MASS
BODY-MASS
ORGAN SIZE
RED KNOTS
MORPHOLOGICAL ADAPTATIONS
CAPTIVE GREENFINCHES
RELATIVE IMPORTANCE
MIGRATORY STOPOVER
ARENARIA-INTERPRES
MANEUVERING FLIGHT
Arenaria interpres
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/11370/dfd4967a-7b7d-4cb0-8fce-9657112fa9e3
https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/dfd4967a-7b7d-4cb0-8fce-9657112fa9e3
https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arp146
https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/6740078/2010BehavEcolvdHout.pdf
Description
Summary:In most birds, flight is the most important means of escape from predators. Impaired flight abilities due to increased wing loading may increase vulnerability to predation. To compensate for an increase in wing loading, birds are able to independently decrease body mass (BM) or increase pectoral muscle mass (PMM). Comparing nearshore and farshore foraging shorebird species, we develop a theory as to which of these responses should be the most appropriate. We hypothesize that nearshore foragers should respond to increased predation by increasing their PMM in order to promote speed-based escape. Instead, farshore foragers should decrease BM in order to improve agility for maneuvering escape. Experiments on 2 shorebird species are consistent with these predictions, but on the basis of the theoretical framework for evaluating effect size and biological significance developed here, more experiments are clearly needed.

Similar Items