Spatial Partitioning Between Warbler Species

Weber State University, Department of Zoology

Professor Brooks

By: Tyson Ferguson

Sunday, March 27, 2022

tysonferguson@mail.weber.edu

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Introduction

Resource partitioning is the division of limited resources by species to help avoid

competition in an ecological niche. Resource partitioning has three categories: Spatial

partitioning, Temporal partitioning, and Trophic partitioning. Spatial partitioning is the physical

partitioning of communities, habitats, or areas. In a study that was conducted, it was found that

Canyon wrens (Catherpes mexicanus) prefer rocky plains, and Rock wrens (Salpinctes

obsoletus) prefer vegetation as well both defend their territories (Warning & Benedict, 2015).

Temporal partitioning occurs when species differ in their competitive abilities based on

environmental conditions such as time (two or more species separated by time within their

environment). Similarly, a study conducted shows that temporal partitioning helps facilitate bat

species' coexistence in water-stressed environments (Adams & Thibault, 2006). Finally, trophic

partitioning is the division of living things into what they are eating. A study found that the S.

tephronota and the S. neumayer have character displacement in their beaks, allowing them to eat

different types of food, making them separate through trophic partitioning (Mohammadi et al.,

2016).

My study that was conducted focused on spatial partitioning. The goal of the study was to

observe the House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) and the Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

species to determine whether spatial partitioning existed between them. The study used different

feeding locations in trees, introduced a layered bird feeder, and observed feeding patterns

amongst both species. Then it was hypothesized that spatial partitioning would not occur

between the species and predicted that both species would use all layers of the bird feeder

equally.

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Materials and methods

Study Site and Bird Species

For a means of testing resource partitioning between the House Finch (Haemorhous

mexicanus) and the Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis). For 24 semesters, we observed feeding

patterns by setting up a leveled feeder in a group of trees on a north-facing hill, which consisted

of Gamble Oak trees (Quercus gambelii). It was on the campus of Weber State University. The

leveled feeder was four metal trays hanging from a Gamble Oaktree. The trays were filled with

Black oil sunflower seeds (Helianthus annuus), with more Sunflower seeds underneath them.

Each tray was 33 cm long, 24 cm wide, and 2 cm tall. From the ground to the fourth tray, it was

58 cm. From the fourth tray to the third tray, it was 35 cm. From the third tray to the second tray

was 63 cm. From the second tray to the first tray, it was 38 cm apart. The overall height of the

bird feeder was 1.39 m, and from the first tray to the ground, it was 1.94 m.

Observing Birds

The feeder was observed 10 miles away through binoculars for 45 minutes on a walkway

each semester. Each species was counted based on how many times each species attended the

bird feeder. The birds were distinguished using Sibley Birds West: Field Guide to Birds of

Western North America. 2nd edition. The Birdfeeder was split up into three levels. The first two

trays were part of the "Upper" level. The bottom two trays were part of the "Middle" level. The

ground was called the "Ground" level. A bird would move around the tray and eat some seeds

and leave. There was no way to track the birds, so if a bird came, it was counted whether or not it

was already there.

Data Analysis

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 To analyze the observed data, the students used the chi-square test to observe how many

times each species visited the feeding levels, over 24 semesters, to our expectation compared to

the expectations of each species visits to each level. The expectation was that the three levels

would be used equally (33% of observations per level). To detect if there was resource

partitioning, the students determined two things. The first was that each species preferred or

avoided certain feeding levels. The second was that the preferred and avoided levels differed

between the species.

Results

The House finches visited the feeding levels Significantly different from the expected

(χ²=1254.16, DF = 2, P < 0.05). The Dark-eyed Junco visits were similar to the expected (χ²=

463.92., DF = 2, P < 0.05). The House Finch visited the Upper level the most, the Middle

roughly the amount expected, and the Ground level the least. The Dark-eyed Junco visited the

Ground level the most, the Middle level approximately the same as the amount expected, and the

Upper level the least. Both species differed in feeding preference because the House Finch

visited the Upper and middle levels. In contrast, the Dark-Eyed Junco visited mostly the Ground

level and the Middle level (Fig. 1). This indicates that it is spatial partitioning.

Discussion

The results from the observed data show that the House Finch visited the Upper and

middle level more times than they visited the ground level. The Dark-eyed Junco visited the

Ground and Middle level more times than they visited the Upper level. The results show spatial

partitioning between the Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) and Black-capped Chickadee

(Poecile atricapillus) of both these species. However, they differ in the distribution of feeding

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location, used all locations for feeding (Correia & Halkin, 2018). A different study about

songbirds showed that Boreal Chickadees avoided areas being heavily foraged by other species

(Cumming, E E., 2004). The results that show that there is spatial partitioning can be compared

to another study of partitioning that found partitioning between two different species similar to

findings of how Canyon wrens prefer rocky plains, and Rock wrens prefer vegetation, as well as

they both defend their territories (Warning & Benedict, 2015). This indicates that the

hypothesis(H0) that the House Finch and the Dark-eyed Junco would visit the feeding levels

evenly is not supported by our results. Possible future studies would include adding another bird

feeder at a different location, like the Davis Campus, to observe both locations.

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 References

Adams, R.A. & Thibault, K.M. (2006). Temporal resource partitioning by bats at water holes.

J. Zool. 270, 466-472.

Correia, J. & Halkin, S.L. (2018). Potential winter niche partitioning between Tufted Titmice

(Baeolophus bicolor) and Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus). Wilson J.

Ornithol. 130, 684-695.

Cumming, E.E. (2004) Habitat segregation among songbirds in old-growth boreal

mixedwood forest. Can. Field Nat. 118, 45-55.

Mohammadi, A., Kaboli, M., Ashrafi S., Mofidi-Neyestanak, M., Yousefi, M., Rezaei, A. &

Stuart, Y. (2016). Trophic niche partitioning between two Rock Nuthatches (Sita

tephronota & Sitta neumayer) in a contact zone in Iran. J. Zool. 299, 116-124.

Warning, N. & Benedict, L., (2015). Overlapping home ranges and microhabitat partitioning

among Canyon Wrens (Catherpes mexicanus) and Rock Wrens (Salpinctes obsoletus).

Wilson J. Ornithol. 127, 395-401.

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Figure 1. Percentage of visits from the House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus, total of 4298) and

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis, total of 1238) to the three feeding levels at the Weber State

University campus in Ogden, Utah. Feeding levels consisted of Upper (the two bird feeder trays

farthest from the ground), Middle, (the lower two bird feeder trays) and Ground (the area

underneath the bird feeder; ground level). Species of birds were observed with binoculars from a

10m distance by the Zoology 1110 class for every spring semester from 2009-2022 (total of 24

semesters).