Avian Niche

Bianca Pavia

Avian Niche Paper

October 26, 2012

U42580038

Results:

Table 1: Relative Abundance of Birds

Birds | Big | Small | High | Low | Open | Closed |

Black-capped Chickadee | 0.570 | 0.514 | 0.608 | 0.275 | 0.879 | 0.482 |

White-Breasted Nuthatch | 0.051 | 0.083 | 0.057 | 0.038 | 0.105 | 0.042 |

Tufted-Titmouse | 0.379 | 0.403 | 0.335 | 0.688 | 0.016 | 0.476 |

The data presented in Table 1 represents the number of birds in each species that went to the specific bird feeders in the two different habitat types, which were open and closed. Within the two habitat types there was two different feeder heights, high and low, as well as two different seed types, big and small.

Table 2: Statistical Summary of calculated χ2

Birds | Big vs. Small | High vs. Low | Open vs. Closed |

Black-capped Chickadee | 209 | 258.6 | 44.4 |

White-Breasted Nuthatch | 13.4 | 22 | 1.4 |

Tufted-Titmouse | 129.6 | 63.4 | 223 |

The data presented in Table 2 represents the χ2 value of each bird for each of the differences in bird feeders. The calculated chi squared is based off of the data we observed during the laboratory, and it compares the difference between the expected and the observed values. Once the χ2 value is calculated, it shows that the observed data is statistically nonrandom if the χ2 value is large, but if it is small then it is random.

Figure 1: Relative Aggression of Birds

Aggression A: Species 2 avoids species 1, but both remain at feeder.

Aggression B: Species 2 avoids species 1 by leaving the feeder without feeding.

Aggression C: Species 1 moves toward or pecks at species 2, but does not leave.

Aggression D: Species 1 moves toward or pecks at species 2, causing 2 to leave the feeder.

Aggression E: Species 1 actively chases species 2 away from the feeder, following its pursuit of 2.

The data in Table 1 refers to the relative aggression of the three birds, Chickadee, Nuthatch, and Titmouse that we observed during the laboratory....