HETEROSPECIFIC FACILITATION OF FOREST-BOUNDARY CROSSING BY MOBBING UNDERSTORY BIRDS IN NORTH-CENTRAL FLORIDA

Abstract

Abstract Perception of predation risk by animals living in habitat mosaics moderates movement behaviors, potentially influencing the connectivity of landscapes. Perception of risk varies with environmental factors, which opens the possibility of managing connectivity for animals in fragmented landscapes. Observing understory forest birds wintering in north-central Florida, we tested the hypothesis that the presence of the Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor), a vigilant, socially dominant flocking species, would increase the propensity of multispecies flocks engaged in mobbing to cross forest boundaries and move into open areas. Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) calls were broadcast next to an owl model at sites within continuous oak forest habitats (control) or just outside of forest in either old-field habitats with clustered saplings and shrub cover (shrub treatment) or in early successional habitats (open treatment; 11 trials in each habitat). In both treatments (forest adjacent to open or shrub), ...