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Flocking in birds increases annual adult survival in a global analysis

  • Behavioral ecology – original research
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Abstract

Adaptive hypotheses for the evolution of group foraging in animals typically invoke enhanced foraging efficiency and reduced predation risk. Net benefits of group foraging in different species should translate into a survival advantage for group members. Despite numerous interspecific studies in birds and mammals, few have documented a survival advantage for group foraging species. Using a large dataset in birds (> 1100 species worldwide), I investigated whether annual adult apparent survival was higher in species that forage in flocks than in solitary species. Using a phylogenetic framework to account for relatedness among species and controlling for known correlates of adult survival in birds such as body size, clutch size, latitude, and diet, I documented a positive effect of flocking on annual adult apparent survival. The increase in survival was less pronounced in occasionally flocking species suggesting that the benefits of group foraging can depend on the frequency of its use. The results highlight how group foraging can increase fitness in animals.

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Dataset is available in Supplementary Information.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. St-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, Canada

    Guy Beauchamp

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  1. Guy Beauchamp
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GB conceived, designed, and executed this study and wrote the manuscript. No other person is entitled to authorship.

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Correspondence to Guy Beauchamp.

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I declare that I have no conflicts of interest.

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Additional information

Communicated by Kathryn E. Sieving.

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Beauchamp, G. Flocking in birds increases annual adult survival in a global analysis. Oecologia 197, 387–394 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-021-05023-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-021-05023-5

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