Open AccessGreen woodhoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus territories remain stable despite group‐size fluctuations
Author(s) -
Radford Andrew N.,
Du Plessis Morné A.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of avian biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.022
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1600-048X
pISSN - 0908-8857
DOI - 10.1111/j.0908-8857.2004.03235.x
Subject(s) - biology , foraging , limiting , seasonal breeder , group (periodic table) , ecology , cooperative breeding , mechanical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
Cooperatively breeding groups may be constrained in size by the territory available to them, or territories may be expanded to accommodate extra group members. Here, we show that there was no relationship between the number of adult green woodhoopoes Phoeniculus purpureus in a group and the size of its territory. Furthermore, territories were remarkably stable between seasons, with no significant changes in area, despite fluctuating group sizes. These results suggest that food was not limiting at the group sizes found in this study: sufficient resources were available within existing territories for groups that were expanding in size. Following an increase in group membership, a larger proportion of the available area was utilised. Groups also used a larger area in the non‐breeding season compared to when breeding: in the latter instance, foraging was concentrated in the vicinity of the nest.