Effect of conspecific neighbors on the foraging activity levels of the wintering Oriental Storks (Ciconia boyciana): Benefits of social information.

ABSTRACT: Animals prefer to aggregate in patches with high abundance and availability of food resources. Group foragers typically receive information about food resources by monitoring external events and the behavior of neighbors. The Information Centre Hypothesis proposes that aggregations increase foraging activity levels as a result of social information provided by conspecifics. Increasing the foraging rate has as a result decreasing time devoted to anti-predator vigilance and may intensify competition among group members. Studies have shown that foraging activities are influenced by factors other than flock size, such as the number and foraging intensity of neighbors. To test these hypotheses, we examined the effect of number and foraging intensity of neighbors on the foraging activity levels

SUBMITTER: Cheng L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7548187 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature