Choice of colony size in birds.

Most populations of colonial birds exhibit extensive variation in colony size. Field studies over the last decade have shown that individual birds breeding in colonies of certain sizes are apparently more successful than those settling in colonies of other sizes, yet size variation persists. Enough information is now available to suggest four explanations for how birds choose colonies and why colonies vary in size.

[1]  G. Orians.  Social Stimulation within Blackbird Colonies , 1961 .

[2]  F. Cuthbert.  Reproductive success and colony-site tenacity in caspian terns , 1988 .

[3]  G. Robertson.  Population-Size and Breeding Success of the Gentoo Penguin, Pygoscelis-Papua, at Macquarie Island , 1986 .

[4]  W. Hamilton,et al.  Heritable true fitness and bright birds: a role for parasites? , 1982, Science.

[5]  Scott K. Robinson,et al.  COLONIALITY IN THE YELLOW-RUMPED CACIQUE AS A DEFENSE AGAINST NEST PREDATORS , 1985 .

[6]  J. Burger,et al.  Colony Site Dynamics and Habitat Use in Atlantic Coast Seabirds , 1981 .

[7]  R. Friedenberg,et al.  Electrostatic field calculations of charge and dipole models of membrane systems , 1969, Acta biotheoretica.

[8]  S. Beissinger,et al.  Reproduction and Demography of the Florida Everglade (Snail) Kite , 1989 .

[9]  A. Møller.  Advantages and disadvantages of coloniality in the swallow, Hirundo rustica , 1987, Animal Behaviour.

[10]  M. Brown,et al.  Ectoparasitism as a Cost of Coloniality in Cliff Swallows (Hirundo Pyrrhonota) , 1986 .

[11]  H. S. Horn,et al.  The Adaptive Significance of Colonial Nesting in the Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus Cyanocephalus) , 1968 .

[12]  S. Robinson.  Competitive and mutualistic interactions among females in a neotropical oriole , 1986, Animal Behaviour.

[13]  C. R. Brown,et al.  Cliff Swallow Colonies as Information Centers , 1986, Science.

[14]  Charles R. Brown,et al.  Enhanced Foraging Efficiency Through Information Centers: A Benefit of Coloniality in Cliff Swallows , 1988 .

[15]  Gareth A. Jones.  Colonization patterns in Sand Martins Riparia riparia , 1987 .

[16]  C. Fry.  The bee-eaters. , 1984 .

[17]  M. D. Beecher,et al.  Parent-offspring recognition in bank swallows (Riparia riparia): I. Natural history , 1981, Animal Behaviour.

[18]  R. D. Alexander,et al.  The evolution of social behavior , 1974 .

[19]  M. Andersson,et al.  Colonial breeding reduces nest predation in the common gull (Larus canus) , 1984, Animal Behaviour.

[20]  R. Tenaza.  Behavior and Nesting Success Relative to Nest Location in Adelie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) , 1971 .

[21]  I. Ahlén,et al.  Breeding Ecology of an Eider Population on Spitsbergen , 1970 .

[22]  W. Shields,et al.  BARN SWALLOW COLONIALITY: A NET COST FOR GROUP BREEDING IN THE ADIRONDACKS?' , 1987 .

[23]  Malcolm L. Hunter,et al.  Determinants of great blue heron colony distribution in coastal Maine , 1987 .

[24]  G. A. Parker,et al.  Ideal free distributions when individuals differ in competitive ability: phenotype-limited ideal free models , 1986, Animal Behaviour.

[25]  J. A. Spendelow,et al.  National atlas of coastal waterbird colonies in the contiguous United States, 1976--1982 , 1988 .

[26]  P. Sherman,et al.  ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF BANK SWALLOW (RIPARIA RIPARIA) COLONIALITY , 1976 .

[27]  Barbara D. Snapp,et al.  Colonial Breeding in the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) and Its Adaptive Significance , 1976 .

[28]  P. R. Evans,et al.  Breeding Behaviour, Productivity and Survival of Colonial and Non-Colonial Shelducks Tadorna tadorna , 1982 .

[29]  R. Furness,et al.  Seabird colony distributions suggest competition for food supplies during the breeding season , 1984, Nature.