Spatio-temporal variation in the wintering associations of an alpine bird.

ABSTRACT: Many animals make behavioural changes to cope with winter conditions, being gregariousness a common strategy. Several factors have been invoked to explain why gregariousness may evolve during winter, with individuals coming together and separating as they trade off the different costs and benefits of living in groups. These trade-offs may, however, change over space and time as a response to varying environmental conditions. Despite its importance, little is known about the factors triggering gregarious behaviour during winter and its change in response to variation in weather conditions is poorly documented. Here, we aimed at quantifying large-scale patterns in wintering associations over 23 years of the white-winged snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis nivalis. We found that individua

SUBMITTER: Del Mar Delgado M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8150025 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature