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The capacity to escape from predators inPasser domesticus: An experimental study

Das Fluchtvermögen von Haussperlingen gegenü ber Räubern (Passer domesticus): eine experimentelle Studie

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Summary

An experiment was performed simulating the effect of an aerial predator chasing house sparrows (Passer domesticus). For this, 82 sparrows were captured in an aviary using a sweep net and assigned a capture order. Morphological measurements were also taken. It was assumed that the capture order of the sparrows correlated positively with their flight ability. Older individuals and those with longer wings were captured later, while birds with longer tails were captured in the first trials. This suggests that predation could be a selective pressure on longer wings and shorter tails. The effect of age is probably due to the greater flight experience acquired by older sparrows. A relationship appeared between male badge size and flight ability, males with larger badge sizes having higher capture orders. Capture order did not correlate with sex, mass or tarsus length.

Zusammenfassung

An Haussperlingen (Passer domesticus) wurde experimentell geprüft, wie sie sich gegenüber einem Luftrduber verhalten. Dazu wurden 82 Vögel in einer Voliere mit einem Kescher gefangen, ihre Fangreihenfolge notiert und sie wurden vermessen. Es wurde die Annahme geprüft, dass die Reihenfolge beim Fang Ausdruck der Fähigkeit ist, einem Räuber auszuweichen. Ältere Vögel und solche mit langeren Flügeln wurden spater gefangen, während solche mit längeren Schwanzen schon zu Beginn gefangen wurden. Daraus wird vermutet, dass der Predationsdruck Vögel mit langeren Flügeln und kiirzeren Schwänzen selektioniert. Ältere Vögel sind zudem noch geübter. Männchen mit ausgeprägterem Kehlfleck wurden später gefangen, was wohl ihre bessere Flugfähigkeit ausdrückt. Keine Zusammenhänge gab es zwischen der Reihenfolge beim Fang und dem Geschlecht, der Körpermasse und der Tarsuslänge.

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Moreno-Rueda, G. The capacity to escape from predators inPasser domesticus: An experimental study. J Ornithol 144, 438–444 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02465506

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