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European birds adjust their flight initiation distance to road speed limits.

European birds adjust their flight initiation distance to road speed limits.

Authors :
Legagneux P
Ducatez S
Source :
Biology letters [Biol Lett] 2013 Aug 21; Vol. 9 (5), pp. 20130417. Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 Aug 21 (Print Publication: 2013).
Publication Year :
2013

Abstract

Behavioural responses can help species persist in habitats modified by humans. Roads and traffic greatly affect animals' mortality not only through habitat structure modifications but also through direct mortality owing to collisions. Although species are known to differ in their sensitivity to the risk of collision, whether individuals can change their behaviour in response to this is still unknown. Here, we tested whether common European birds changed their flight initiation distances (FIDs) in response to vehicles according to road speed limit (a known factor affecting killing rates on roads) and vehicle speed. We found that FID increased with speed limit, although vehicle speed had no effect. This suggests that birds adjust their flight distance to speed limit, which may reduce collision risks and decrease mortality maximizing the time allocated to foraging behaviours. Mobility and territory size are likely to affect an individuals' ability to respond adaptively to local speed limits.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1744-957X
Volume :
9
Issue :
5
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Biology letters
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
23966595
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2013.0417