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Competition for resources mediated by intrinsic social dominance in sympatric finches
Author(s) -
BrazillBoast James
Publication year - 2013
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.2012.01264.x
Subject(s) - sympatric speciation , dominance (genetics) , limiting , ecology , biology , population , aggression , competition (biology) , geography , zoology , social psychology , demography , psychology , mechanical engineering , engineering , biochemistry , sociology , gene
Gouldian E rythrura gouldiae and L ong‐tailed F inches P oephila acuticauda are morphologically and ecologically similar sympatric species, for which social dominance relationships are likely to determine access to critical limiting resources. Building on previous research showing that L ong‐tailed F inches dominate competition for nest‐sites, I staged dyadic contests for food between the two species in captivity in order to test social dominance dynamics under controlled conditions. L ong‐tailed F inches were likely to dominate interactions with G ouldian F inches and expressed higher levels of aggression while competing for access to food. These results suggest a stable dominance relationship between the two species which could be affecting G ouldian F inches' access to food resources in the wild, potentially constraining their ability to recover from recent population declines.