Showing papers on "Territoriality published in 1991"
TL;DR: As a response to constraints of the city environment not encountered in the suburbs, synchronous drifting of city ranges represents a rapid modification of behaviour since the urban niche first became occupied by foxes in the 1930s.
Abstract: (1) The spatial organization of a population of red foxes, Vulpes vulpes L., living in the city of Oxford was investigated and contrasted to that of a neighbouring population in the surrounding suburbs. (2) Both populations were organized in social groups, each of which occupied an exclusive territory. While territories in the suburbs were spatially stable, those in the city drifted in location continually, but they did so in such a way that the juxtaposition of neighbouring groups remained essentially unaltered across generations of occupants. (3) The hexagonal pattern of city ranges moved at a rate equivalent to the complete displacement of an average range (38·8 ha) every 13 months (3·01 ha month-1), although drifting was more pronounced from November to April. City and suburban foxes had comparable diets and ranges of the same order of magnitude; the mobility of city foxes was associated with social instability due to a higher turnover of the population and a lower proportion of barren vixens. (4) As a response to constraints of the city environment not encountered in the suburbs, synchronous drifting of city ranges represents a rapid modification of behaviour since the urban niche first became occupied by foxes in the 1930s.
157 citations
139 citations
TL;DR: This study confronted pairs of adult females approaching hibernation with a choice between two foraging patches with differing prey delivery rates, and hypothesized that the behaviourally dominant individual would consistently occupy and defend the richer patch, resulting in greater foraging success, and consequently greater body mass gain, higher overwinter survivorship and greater initial fecundity the following spring.
29 citations
18 citations
Journal Article•
12 citations
TL;DR: It is supposed that the Great Reed Warbler has larger territories as a consequence of its stronger aggressiveness, and data seem to suggest that shifts in territories are also depending on interspecific interactions, even though intraspecific interactions have been confirmed to have the major weight in such a phenomenon.
Abstract: Observations carried out on an Acrocephalus community in north-western Italy during the breeding period have confirmed the occurrence of interspecific territoriality, with Acrocephalus arundinaceus aggressively dominant toward A. scirpaceus and A. palustris. The adaptive character of such an interspecific territoriality is discussed. Data seem to suggest that shifts in territories are also depending on interspecific interactions, even though intraspecific interactions have been confirmed to have the major weight in such a phenomenon. Great Reed Warbler territories resulted to be significantly larger than those of Marsh and Reed Warbler. It may be supposed that the Great Reed Warbler has larger territories as a consequence of its stronger aggressiveness.
8 citations
3 citations