Meeting Abstract

P3.21  Monday, Jan. 6 15:30  Habitat fragmentation and avian behavior: a 3-year study examining the underlying complexities of population number and behavioral aggression across habitat size and shape. COOPER, L.N.*; STEELE, L.; SCHROEDER, A.; O’BRIEN, S.; Radford University, Radford, VA; Marian University, Indianapolis, IN; Marian University, Indianapolis, IN; Radford University, Radford, VA lncooper@radford.edu

Fragmentation of habitat is currently a major issue in wildlife sustainability & management. Fragmented habitat can manifest in numerous ways such as loss of amount of habitat, decreases in connectedness of habitat, and/or increase in edge effects due to the change in shape of remaining habitat. Avian species are highly subject to the effects of human disturbances such as fragmentation because they need to defend territories to maintain effective breeding and foraging home ranges. To understand the pressure human disturbance puts on a local avian species of songbird, we examined the effects of fragmentation on territorial aggression of the song sparrow (Melospiza melodia). Specifically, our study compared not only the degree of territorial aggression displayed between individuals living in fragmented and non-fragmented habitats, but also the suite of types of aggressive behaviors. Additionally we sought to understand the relationship between fragmentation and density of individuals in each habitat type. Overall this study demonstrates the complex relationship of fragmentation and population dynamics, specifically highlighting how site density and aggression affect habitat structure.