Truncated power laws reveal a link between low-level behavioral processes and grouping patterns in a colonial bird.

PloS One
Roger JovaniJ L Tella

Abstract

Departures from power law group size frequency distributions have been proposed as a useful tool to link individual behavior with population patterns and dynamics, although examples are scarce for wild animal populations. We studied a population of Lesser kestrels (Falco naumanni) breeding in groups (colonies) from one to ca. 40 breeding pairs in 10,000 km(2) in NE Spain. A 3.5 fold steady population increase occurred during the eight-year study period, accompanied by a geographical expansion from an initial subpopulation which in turn remained stable in numbers. This population instability was mainly driven by first-breeders, which are less competitive at breeding sites, being relegated to breed solitarily or in small colony sizes, and disperse farther than adults. Colony size frequency distributions shifted from an initial power law to a truncated power law mirroring population increase. Thus, we hypothesized that population instability was behind the truncation of the power law. Accordingly, we found a power law distribution through years in the initial subpopulation, and a match between the power law breakpoint (at ca. ten pairs) and those colony sizes from which the despotic behavior of colony owners started to impair the ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jun 8, 2011·The Journal of Animal Ecology·David Serrano, José L Tella
Feb 20, 2014·PloS One·Maria Angela Echeverry-GalvisRajmonda Sulo-Caceres

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