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SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR IN THE PARTRIDGE PERDIX PERDIX
Author(s) -
Jenkins David
Publication year - 1961
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.1961.tb02431.x
Subject(s) - agonistic behaviour , intraspecific competition , population density , density dependence , population , ecology , cover (algebra) , biology , zoology , demography , social psychology , psychology , aggression , mechanical engineering , sociology , engineering
Summary 1. Some aspects of Partridge behaviour (see Contents) are described, and, using defined criteria, activities are divided into: (a) those resulting primarily from intraspecific interaction (agonistic behaviour); (6) those occurring independently of interaction, mainly feeding and courting. Some activities, notably preening and resting, were found to occur under both heads, and were classified with group (a) because they were thought sometimes to be displacement activities. An index is described to measure the proportion of time spent feeding and courting, and hence, inversely, the amount of interaction, under different circumstances. The behaviour of birds in different environments is compared. 2. It is possible to correlate the degree of interaction with population density and ground cover in different fields. There was less interaction when the birds were living at low density, or where the ground cover prevented them seeing each other. In good cover, and also in low–density areas, the size of home ranges was relatively small and they did not overlap; in areas where density was high and ground cover poor, home ranges were larger and overlapped. Birds in good cover interacted little with each other, even at a high population density; but others, living at similar population densities, interacted continuously if the cover was poor. Intermediate situations are also described. 3. The possible importance of agonistic behaviour with regard to dispersion and population control is discussed briefly. 4. A correlation was observed between chick mortality in two summers and the interaction observed among adults during the previous winters.