Species interactions limit the occurrence of urban-adapted birds in cities.

ABSTRACT: Urbanization represents an extreme transformation of more natural systems. Populations of most species decline or disappear with urbanization, and yet some species persist and even thrive in cities. What determines which species persist or thrive in urban habitats? Direct competitive interactions among species can influence their distributions and resource use, particularly along gradients of environmental challenge. Given the challenges of urbanization, similar interactions may be important for determining which species persist or thrive in cities; however, their role remains poorly understood. Here, we use a global dataset to test among three alternative hypotheses for how direct competitive interactions and behavioral dominance may influence the breeding occurrence of birds in cities. W

SUBMITTER: Martin PR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6298125 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature