| Abstract: | Nest-defense behavior was studied at seven Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) colonies in southern coastal New Jersey during June and July 1981. Data were collected weekly on numbers of adults, nests, eggs, and young in relation to the frequency and intensity of dive attacks on a human intruder by nesting terns. I explored the relationships between attack behavior and colony size/density, seasonality, and brood survival. The results provide little support for social facilitation since neither colony size (range 30-250 nests) nor density was related to mean attack frequency; however, in larger colonies, fewer birds participated in dive attacks. Although the intensity of attacks was strongly seasonal, patterns were very different among colonies and peak attack rates did not always coincide with peak hatching periods. Defense levels declined late in the season in most colonies regardless of whether brood survival was high or low. Colonies with individuals that attacked early in the season had higher overall nesting success than in colonies where individuals showed little early season aggression. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 5220776 |
| Citation Author: | Erwin, R.M. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
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| Citation End Page: | 142 |
| Citation Issue: | 2 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Journal of Field Ornithology |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 8 |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | 135-142 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Correlates of nest-defense behavior of common terns; 1988; Article; Journal; Journal of Field Ornithology; Erwin, R.M. |
| Citation Start Page: | 135 |
| Citation Volume: | 59 |
| Citation Year: | 1988 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Correlates of nest-defense behavior of common terns; 1988; Article; Journal; Journal of Field Ornithology; Erwin, R.M. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DOCUMENT): | http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/JFO/v059n02/p0135-p0142.pdf |
| Date Other: | Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:19 -0500 |
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