The habitat connectivity hypothesis of escape in urban woodland birds.

ABSTRACT: Habitat destruction and fragmentation increasingly bring humans into close proximity with wildlife, particularly in urban contexts. Animals respond to humans using nuanced anti-predator responses, especially escape, with responses influenced by behavioral and life history traits, the nature of the risk, and aspects of the surrounding environment. Although many studies examine associations between broad-scale habitat characteristics (i.e., habitat type) and escape response, few investigate the influence of fine-scale aspects of the local habitat within which escape occurs. We test the "habitat connectivity hypothesis," suggesting that given the higher cost of escape within less connected habitats (due to the lack of protective cover), woodland birds should delay escape (tolerate more risk)

SUBMITTER: Radvan M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10047614 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar-Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature