A new bully on the block: Does urbanization promote Bewick’s wren (Thryomanes bewickii) aggressive exclusion of Pacific wrens (Troglodytes pacificus)?

Abstract

Human conversion of land cover alters biotic communities and sets the stage for ongoing change as species interact within new environments. We studied the response of a native forest specialist, the Pacific wren (Troglodytes pacificus), to immediate and ongoing environmental changes facilitated by urbanization. We found evidence of a synergistic effect of native land cover loss followed by increased aggressive interactions with a native generalist, the Bewick’s wren (Thryomanes bewickii), resulting in the decline of Pacific wrens in urbanizing environments. Pacific wren relative abundance decreased dramatically during and after development, while Bewick’s wrens increased and persisted at greater abundance post-relative to pre-development. Breeding territories of the two species overlapped minimally, suggesting spatial segregation either by differential resource use or territorial aggression. A comparison of territory characteristics revealed the species generally used different resources, although territory composition was increasingly similar at urbanizing sites where the species co-occurred. Territorial playback experiments confirmed that the two species interact aggressively. Analyses of body size, body condition and reproductive success did not suggest Bewick’s wrens negatively impact fitness of Pacific wrens at sites where they co-occurred. In established subdivisions (>10years old) Bewick’s wrens appear to limit the abundance of Pacific wrens, however this was not yet the case at sites we studied immediately after development. Although the results of this study are not conclusive, our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that new environmental gradients and communities created by urbanization increase competitive interactions among native species.