No evidence of sex‐biased dispersal in an island population of Common Blackbirds Turdus merula. (23rd July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Engler, Jan O.; Sacher, Thomas; Elle, Ortwin; Coppack, Timothy; Bairlein, Franz; Hartley, Ian
• Is Part Of: Ibis. Volume 156:Number 4(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 885
• Page End: 891
• Publication Date: 2014-07-23
• Subjects: Birds -- Periodicals; 598
• DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12176
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0019-1019

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ibi12176-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Natal dispersal has major consequences for the dynamics and genetic structure of populations. Female‐biased natal dispersal, otherwise the norm in birds, is overridden when the place to move is limited, as on isolated islands. This effect was confirmed for the fist time in a European study system, the Common Blackbird breeding on Heligoland Island. Spatially restricted and sexually uniform natal dispersal may be a prerequisite for successful establishment of populations on remote islands or isolated habitat fragments, and this could play a major role in speciation processes.</p> </abstract>