The ecological significance of extremely large flocks of birds.

ABSTRACT: Population size is generally limited by resource availability during and outside the breeding season. Therefore, maximum size of flocks may provide important information on population regulation and the influence of diet and trophic level on maximal degree of sociality. We hypothesized that (a) flock size should increase with nutrient availability; (b) flock size should decrease with latitude because productivity is higher at lower latitude; (c) aquatic habitats should have larger flocks than terrestrial habitats because the former are less accessible; (d) smaller species should have larger flocks because they require overall less food; (e) human-impacted species that live in perturbed habitats should have smaller flocks than other species; (f) flock size should decrease with increasing tr

SUBMITTER: Moller AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6580271 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature