Flight distance of urban birds, predation, and selection for urban life |
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Authors: | Anders Pape Møller |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratoire de Parasitologie Evolutive, CNRS UMR 7103, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Bat. A, 7ème étage, 7 quai St. Bernard, Case 237, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France |
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Abstract: | Numerous species have adapted to humans, especially invasive species associated with humans in towns and cities. Short flight
distances of populations adapted to urban environments reflect changes in behavior and physiology, reflecting phenotypic plasticity
or evolution. Here, I tested the hypothesis that the decrease in flight distance to a potential predator (an approaching human)
reflected adaptation to urbanization, using a data set of flight distances of 44 common species of European birds in different
stages of adaptation to urban environments. Urban populations had consistently shorter flight distances than rural populations
of the same species. Variation in relative flight distance of urban populations was predicted by the number of generations
since urbanization, as expected by a gradual process of adaptation. Furthermore, species with relatively large populations
in urban environments would be an indication of local adaptation to urban environments. Relative flight distance of urban
population was shorter for species with large populations in urban compared to rural habitats. Species that had adapted to
urban environments as shown by short flight distances were less susceptible to predation by the European sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus than species with relatively long flight distances in urban populations. These findings provide evidence consistent with
the hypothesis that recent changes in the tameness of urban birds, as reflected by their relatively short flight distances,
is an adaptation to the novel urban environment.
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. |
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Keywords: | Flight distance Invasions Life history Urbanization |
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