When to stay, when to go: trade-offs for southern African arid-zone birds in times of drought

dc.contributor.authorDean, W R J
dc.contributor.authorBarnard, P
dc.contributor.authorAnderson, M D
dc.date.accessioned2018-02-02T06:46:37Z
dc.date.available2018-02-02T06:46:37Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.date.updated2016-01-13T07:22:06Z
dc.description.abstractArid environments remind one of the punctuated equilibrium theory of evolution : they experience long periods of stasis and low productivity, interrupted with episodic rainfall which spurs reproduction and movement. Birds, as highly dispersive organisms, are among the most dramatic indicators of these fluctuations. Here we review birds' two main strategies, residency and nomadism, and the trade-offs faced by individuals in uncertain times. In general, wet years stimulate higher densities of nests (i.e. smaller territories), larger clutch sizes, unseasonal breeding, and at some times of year, higher breeding success. Rainfall above a certain threshold triggers breeding in resident species and an influx of nomadic species which breed and then move on. The environmental cues which trigger nomadism are sometimes poorly understood, but include distant thunderstorms for aquatic species, and perhaps for insectivores. Environmental cues that draw nomadic granivores to areas that have had recent rain are not known.
dc.identifier.apacitationDean, W. R. J., Barnard, P., & Anderson, M. D. (2009). When to stay, when to go: trade-offs for southern African arid-zone birds in times of drought. <i>South African Journal of Science</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27225en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationDean, W R J, P Barnard, and M D Anderson "When to stay, when to go: trade-offs for southern African arid-zone birds in times of drought." <i>South African Journal of Science</i> (2009) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27225en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationDean, W. J., Barnard, P., & Anderson, M. D. (2009). When to stay, when to go: trade-offs for southern African arid-zone birds in times of drought. South African Journal Of Science, 105(1/2), 24-28.
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Dean, W R J AU - Barnard, P AU - Anderson, M D AB - Arid environments remind one of the punctuated equilibrium theory of evolution : they experience long periods of stasis and low productivity, interrupted with episodic rainfall which spurs reproduction and movement. Birds, as highly dispersive organisms, are among the most dramatic indicators of these fluctuations. Here we review birds' two main strategies, residency and nomadism, and the trade-offs faced by individuals in uncertain times. In general, wet years stimulate higher densities of nests (i.e. smaller territories), larger clutch sizes, unseasonal breeding, and at some times of year, higher breeding success. Rainfall above a certain threshold triggers breeding in resident species and an influx of nomadic species which breed and then move on. The environmental cues which trigger nomadism are sometimes poorly understood, but include distant thunderstorms for aquatic species, and perhaps for insectivores. Environmental cues that draw nomadic granivores to areas that have had recent rain are not known. DA - 2009 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town J1 - South African Journal of Science LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2009 T1 - When to stay, when to go: trade-offs for southern African arid-zone birds in times of drought TI - When to stay, when to go: trade-offs for southern African arid-zone birds in times of drought UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27225 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/27225
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationDean WRJ, Barnard P, Anderson MD. When to stay, when to go: trade-offs for southern African arid-zone birds in times of drought. South African Journal of Science. 2009; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27225.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.sourceSouth African Journal of Science
dc.source.urihttps://www.sajs.co.za/
dc.subject.otherAvian-nomadism
dc.subject.otherArid environments
dc.subject.otherKaroo-Namib Desert
dc.subject.otherKalahari
dc.subject.otherBreeding
dc.titleWhen to stay, when to go: trade-offs for southern African arid-zone birds in times of drought
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
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