The effect of behavioral interactions on the structure and maintenance of blackbird winter roosts / by E. Duke Whedbee, Jr.
| Author/creator | Whedbee, E. Duke author. |
| Other author | Ash, Andrew N. (Andrew Nenzel), 1949- degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of Biology. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 1983. |
| Description | iv, 42 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Summary | The purpose of this study is to seek understanding of the factors controlling the formation and maintenance of winter blackbird roosts in terms of behavioral interactions that exist between the species involved. The roost is composed of essentially four species; three of which are native resident icterids, and one introduced sturnid. These species are: the common grackle, Quiscalus quiscula Linnaeus; the redwinged blackbird, Agelaius phoenicius Linnaeus; the bronzed-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater Boddaert; and the European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus. Observations were made of the behavioral interactions that occur, with ancillary data collected concerning roost population size, distribution and composition during 1980 and 1981. Chi-Square analysis of the results indicates that while each species possesses a common behavioral catalogue, as described within the literature, each species also exhibits a new behavior labeled "snub" which is passive in nature and thus is highly important to the formation and maintenance of the roost. A dominance hierarchy based upon the different roosting strategies utilized by each species to gain and maintain a roost position was established. This hierarchy indicates that accommodation is important in the formation of the roost. The main effect of aggressive behavior is to induce segregation of the species within the roost. Use of accommodative behavior allows those species that are clearly subordinate in dominance to still attain success in roosting and thus gain any benefit accruing from roost participation at a minimal expenditure of energy. |
| General note | "Presented to the faculty of the Department of Biology ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree Master of Science in Biology." |
| General note | Advisor: Andrew N. Ash |
| Dissertation note | M.S. East Carolina University 1983 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 40-42). |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |
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