Boundary effects on dispersal between habitat patches by forest birds (Parus major, P. caeruleus)

ISSN： 0921-2973

Source： Landscape Ecology, Vol.17, Iss.6, 2002-08, pp. : 509-515

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Abstract

The behaviour of individuals in response to patch boundaries is acrucial element in many dispersal models. Diffusion-based models of dispersalpredict that both the likelihood and direction of dispersal from a habitatpatchare influenced by the starting position of a disperser in relation to the patchboundary. An alternative view is that the decision to disperse between patchesis uncoupled from movements within the patch of departure. The latter situationis most likely in the case of relatively mobile animals living in small patcheswith strongly reflecting boundaries. I tested the relationship betweenproximityto a boundary and natal dispersal in Great and Blue Tits born in relativelysmall (7-11 ha) forest patches with high population density innorthern Belgium. Birdsthat were born closer to the forest edge were not more likely to be recruitedoutside than inside the natal patch. However, Great Tits showed a significanttendency to emigrate in the direction of the nearest patch border. No sucheffect was found in Blue Tits. A possible explanation is that in Great Tits thedirection of dispersal, but not the decision to emigrate, is influenced by aprocess of familiarization with the area around the natal territory, includingareas across the patch border.