Rezanov A. G., Rezanov A. A. Comparative analysis of the behavior of sparrows...

Vestnik of Orenburg State Pedagogical University. Electronic Scientific Journal. 2020. № 4(36). P. 196—208

03.00.00 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

UDC 59:598.294.2:574.3:57.02

Rezanov Aleksandr Gennadievich, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor
Moscow City University
Rezanov Andrey Aleksandrovich, Candidate of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor
Moscow City University

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE BEHAVIOR OF SPARROWS (Passer domesticus, P. montanus) IN THE JOINT SEARCH AND GETTING OF FOOD ITEMS OF NATURAL ORIGIN

Abstract

The article presents new materials of comparative analysis of quantitative indicators of behavior of House Passer domesticus and Tree P. montanus sparrow in the terrestrial joint search and getting of food items. The research was carried out in the parks of Moscow, as well as in the city of Korolev (Moscow region) in 2006—2007 and in 2017—2019 in conditions excluding anthropogenic feeding. Only mixed feeding clusters were selected for observation, which allowed assessing and comparing the behavior of birds in conditions of identical forage situation. The amount of collected and analyzed material (in 2006—2007, the total timing of feeding behavior using a voice recorder was 100 minutes for each species, in 2017—2019 — 40 minutes of recorded behavior using video recording) allows to make the assumption that with joint feeding on a qualitative level, the behavior of sparrows is similar. Differences have been identified only in terms of quantitative indicators and, accordingly, in the efficiency of feed sources. The noted discrepancies in quantitative indicators recorded in specific situations, apparently, cannot be considered a real mechanism of ecological segregation. Yet success in one kind means failure in another. Competition cannot be considered a simple use of the same natural resource (food, for example) by organisms. A negative impact can only be discussed in cases when this resource is in short supply, which adversely affects the interacting populations. In the natural environment, the conditions for the “aquarium effect” are not always there. This “effect” means limited spatial, food and other resources, which leads to the so-called competitive exclusion of G. F. Gauze. In the situations we observed, no visible competitive interactions, both interspecific and intraspecific, were revealed. Obviously, with sufficient spatial and food resources, competitive relations are smoothed out and conflict situations do not arise. At the same time, the comparative analysis of the diverse feeding behavior of sparrows in general allows to conclude that in these species there is a noticeable divergence and differentiation of their spatial trophic ecological niches, which, in principle, can be considered as the main mechanism of ecological segregation.

Key words

House sparrow Passer domesticus, Tree sparrow P. montanus, feeding behaviour, comparative analysis, ecological segregation.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32516/2303-9922.2020.36.10

The full text of the article PDF (Russian)

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Bibliography link to this article:

Rezanov A. G., Rezanov A. A. Comparative analysis of the behavior of sparrows (Passer domesticus, P. montanus) in the joint search and getting of food items of natural origin. Vestnik of Orenburg State Pedagogical University. Electronic Scientific Journal, 2020, no. 4 (36), pp. 196—208. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32516/2303-9922.2020.36.10.