Los cernícalos usan dos tipos distintos de información social intraespecífica cuando eligen sitios de reproducción

Abstract

Parejo, D., Silva, N., Danchin, E., Aviles, J.M. 2017. Kestrels rely on two different types of social information from conspecifics when choosing breeding habitats. Ecosistemas 26(3): 39-47. Doi.: 10.7818/ECOS.2017.26-3.06 Breeding habitat selection is strongly influenced by social information, which is that extracted from the behaviour and performance of other individuals. Also, signals shaped by selection to convey information may be used by unintended receivers as a particular form of social information that has been neglected in a breeding habitat selection context so far. Here, we first tested experimentally whether Eurasian kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) rely on social information provided by conspecifics’ performance by studying the impact of patch scale manipulations of the local reproductive success of conspecifics on their habitat selection during two consecutive years. Second, we provide correlative evidence for the use of plumage coloration of conspecifics as a potential source of social information in the same context of breeding habitat choice in the species. For this purpose, we collected information on individual plumage colouration during one year and analysed its relationship with the habitat choices of individuals in the following year. Our results show that Eurasian kestrels rely on conspecific breeding performance during their emigration decisions, and might rely on female plumage colouration as a signal of resident females’ quality for emigration and immigration decisions. That is, both sources of information, conspecific performance and signals indicating quality, may be used in habitat selection decisions by this species