Threat-sensitive anti-predator defence in precocial wader, the northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus.

ABSTRACT: Birds exhibit various forms of anti-predator behaviours to avoid reproductive failure, with mobbing-observation, approach and usually harassment of a predator-being one of the most commonly observed. Here, we investigate patterns of temporal variation in the mobbing response exhibited by a precocial species, the northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus). We test whether brood age and self-reliance, or the perceived risk posed by various predators, affect mobbing response of lapwings. We quantified aggressive interactions between lapwings and their natural avian predators and used generalized additive models to test how timing and predator species identity are related to the mobbing response of lapwings. Lapwings diversified mobbing response within the breeding season and depending on pre

SUBMITTER: Krolikowska N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5039224 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature