Affinity for natal environments by dispersers impacts reproduction and explains geographical structure of a highly mobile bird.

ABSTRACT: Understanding dispersal and habitat selection behaviours is central to many problems in ecology, evolution and conservation. One factor often hypothesized to influence habitat selection by dispersers is the natal environment experienced by juveniles. Nonetheless, evidence for the effect of natal environment on dispersing, wild vertebrates remains limited. Using 18 years of nesting and mark-resight data across an entire North American geographical range of an endangered bird, the snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis), we tested for natal effects on breeding-site selection by dispersers and its consequences for reproductive success and population structure. Dispersing snail kites were more likely to nest in wetlands of the same habitat type (lacustrine or palustrine) as their natal wetland, ind

SUBMITTER: Fletcher RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4571708 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature