Relationships between morphology and habitat selection by male sedge warblers acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Abstract

The biometrics of 34 male Sedge Warblers were used to quantify morphological similarities between individuals in different habitats. The morphological dissimilarity values calculated for birds in bramble scrub (the preferred habitat as suggested by the small territory sizes observed) were smaller than in either mixed scrub (where territories were larger) or in reed beds, (where the territories were largest and territorial quality therefore implicitly poorer).Birds averaged larger in bramble and mixed scrub, compared to reed populations. Coupled with the greater similarity between individuals in the former habitats, it is suggested that competition in the more desirable scrub for territories favours larger and, presumably, socially dominant individuals. © 1985 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.