Niche segregation, competition, and urbanization.

ABSTRACT: Urbanization of species is an ongoing process where successful urban colonizers usually obtain large fitness benefits. Mechanisms proposed to explain associations between urbanization and life-history traits are based on behavioral flexibility in food and habitat use and reduced fear responses. We test the novel hypothesis that interspecific competition for proximity to humans is driving urbanization. We recorded the distance during the breeding season to human habitation for 50 pairs of closely related bird species, where one was closely associated with humans while the other species was not. The degree of urbanization was larger as was range size and abundance in the species more closely associated to humans. Flight initiation distance was shorter, and species closely associated with hum

SUBMITTER: Pape Moller A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5905556 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature