Risk of predation: a critical force driving habitat quality perception and foraging behavior of granivorous birds in a Nigerian forest reserve
| dc.contributor.author | Abdulwahab, Umarfarooq A | |
| dc.contributor.author | Osinubi, Samuel T | |
| dc.contributor.author | Abalaka, Jacinta | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2019-10-10T09:12:21Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2019-10-10T09:12:21Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2019-09-04 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2019-09-08T03:48:21Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | Abstract Background Understanding the factors that influence the foraging behavior and perception of habitat quality by animals has long been the focus in ecology. Due to the direct effect resource acquisition has on an individual’s fitness and species’ survival, predation risk is considered widely to be a major driver of foraging decision. The objectives of this study were to investigate how predation risk is perceived by granivorous bird species with respect to different habitat and microhabitat types, time of day and food types in Amurum Forest Reserve, Nigeria, with a view to direct future conservation planning. Methods For 3 months, we conducted field experiments to measure giving-up densities (GUD, the amount of food left behind in artificial patches after birds cease to forage in it) and how it differs with habitat types, microhabitats, times of day, and food types. General linear mixed-effect models (GLMMs) were fitted to investigate the differences in GUD with respect to the aforementioned variables. Model selection was done based on the Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC). Results There was no significant difference in GUDs across habitats. However, there was a significant difference in GUDs between microhabitats. Higher food remnants were recorded in the open than in cover microhabitats, as birds exploited food patches in the cover more. Time of day influenced foraging behavior in the birds. They foraged more in the morning than afternoon across all three habitats except for the gallery forest where birds foraged less in the morning. Higher GUDs were recorded in open than cover microhabitats both in the morning and the afternoon. Birds had a preference for rice, millet, and groundnut respectively. Conclusion The differences in GUDs were very indicative of differences in foraging behavior and perception of resource availability in response to perceived predation risk. Therefore, this study suggests that the understanding of foraging decisions can be a veritable method for assessing habitat quality as perceived by animals. | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | Abdulwahab, U. A., Osinubi, S. T., & Abalaka, J. (2019). Risk of predation: a critical force driving habitat quality perception and foraging behavior of granivorous birds in a Nigerian forest reserve. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30568 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | Abdulwahab, Umarfarooq A, Samuel T Osinubi, and Jacinta Abalaka "Risk of predation: a critical force driving habitat quality perception and foraging behavior of granivorous birds in a Nigerian forest reserve." (2019) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30568 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Avian Research. 2019 Sep 04;10(1):33 | |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Journal Article AU - Abdulwahab, Umarfarooq A AU - Osinubi, Samuel T AU - Abalaka, Jacinta AB - Abstract Background Understanding the factors that influence the foraging behavior and perception of habitat quality by animals has long been the focus in ecology. Due to the direct effect resource acquisition has on an individual’s fitness and species’ survival, predation risk is considered widely to be a major driver of foraging decision. The objectives of this study were to investigate how predation risk is perceived by granivorous bird species with respect to different habitat and microhabitat types, time of day and food types in Amurum Forest Reserve, Nigeria, with a view to direct future conservation planning. Methods For 3 months, we conducted field experiments to measure giving-up densities (GUD, the amount of food left behind in artificial patches after birds cease to forage in it) and how it differs with habitat types, microhabitats, times of day, and food types. General linear mixed-effect models (GLMMs) were fitted to investigate the differences in GUD with respect to the aforementioned variables. Model selection was done based on the Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC). Results There was no significant difference in GUDs across habitats. However, there was a significant difference in GUDs between microhabitats. Higher food remnants were recorded in the open than in cover microhabitats, as birds exploited food patches in the cover more. Time of day influenced foraging behavior in the birds. They foraged more in the morning than afternoon across all three habitats except for the gallery forest where birds foraged less in the morning. Higher GUDs were recorded in open than cover microhabitats both in the morning and the afternoon. Birds had a preference for rice, millet, and groundnut respectively. Conclusion The differences in GUDs were very indicative of differences in foraging behavior and perception of resource availability in response to perceived predation risk. Therefore, this study suggests that the understanding of foraging decisions can be a veritable method for assessing habitat quality as perceived by animals. DA - 2019-09-04 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Food availability KW - Foraging behavior KW - Giving-up density KW - Habitat quality KW - Predation risk LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2019 T1 - Risk of predation: a critical force driving habitat quality perception and foraging behavior of granivorous birds in a Nigerian forest reserve TI - Risk of predation: a critical force driving habitat quality perception and foraging behavior of granivorous birds in a Nigerian forest reserve UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30568 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-019-0173-6 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30568 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | Abdulwahab UA, Osinubi ST, Abalaka J. Risk of predation: a critical force driving habitat quality perception and foraging behavior of granivorous birds in a Nigerian forest reserve. 2019; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30568. | en_ZA |
| dc.language.rfc3066 | en | |
| dc.rights.holder | The Author(s) | |
| dc.subject | Food availability | |
| dc.subject | Foraging behavior | |
| dc.subject | Giving-up density | |
| dc.subject | Habitat quality | |
| dc.subject | Predation risk | |
| dc.title | Risk of predation: a critical force driving habitat quality perception and foraging behavior of granivorous birds in a Nigerian forest reserve | |
| dc.type | Journal Article |