Grouping Behaviour and Anti-Predator Responses in the Helmeted Guineafowl <i>Numida meleagris</i>
Little is known about landbird group dynamics in response to predation. Here, we describe the interactions between the Helmeted Guineafowl (<i>Numida meleagris</i>) and its predators regarding the survival advantages grouping behaviour may provide. Livestream webcam observations were con...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-10-01
|
| Series: | Birds |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/5/4/47 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850049481137979392 |
|---|---|
| author | Johann H. van Niekerk Giovanni Forcina Rodrigo Megía-Palma |
| author_facet | Johann H. van Niekerk Giovanni Forcina Rodrigo Megía-Palma |
| author_sort | Johann H. van Niekerk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Little is known about landbird group dynamics in response to predation. Here, we describe the interactions between the Helmeted Guineafowl (<i>Numida meleagris</i>) and its predators regarding the survival advantages grouping behaviour may provide. Livestream webcam observations were conducted in Madikwe Game Reserve (South Africa) from August 2020 to August 2021. Emphasis was placed on predator–prey interaction and its effect on group size and structure in a spatial framework. We hypothesise that while grouping is crucial for a number of daily activities in this highly social species, it might turn into a higher predatory pressure. We found, indeed, that the probability of attacks by black-backed jackals (<i>Lupulella mesomelas</i>) significantly increased with guineafowl group size, unlike what happened with raptors. Moreover, when attacked by jackals, the birds responded by standing close to each other. These results suggest, in line with the proposed hypothesis, that a trade-off occurs between the defensive function of grouping in this galliform and the probability of jackal attack that increases as a function of prey group size. Nevertheless, we argue that Helmeted Guineafowl cooperative social groups also play a role as a defensive strategy against predators, with the many-eyes and dilution effects likely compensating for the higher predatory pressure. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8ec2c0ea5e81446588f7a5e15f4161c5 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2673-6004 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Birds |
| spelling | doaj-art-8ec2c0ea5e81446588f7a5e15f4161c52025-08-20T02:53:43ZengMDPI AGBirds2673-60042024-10-015468570210.3390/birds5040047Grouping Behaviour and Anti-Predator Responses in the Helmeted Guineafowl <i>Numida meleagris</i>Johann H. van Niekerk0Giovanni Forcina1Rodrigo Megía-Palma2Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, P. O. Box 392, Pretoria 0003, South AfricaGlobal Change Ecology and Evolution Research Group (GloCEE), Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad de Alcalá (UAH), 28805 Alcalá de Henares, SpainGlobal Change Ecology and Evolution Research Group (GloCEE), Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad de Alcalá (UAH), 28805 Alcalá de Henares, SpainLittle is known about landbird group dynamics in response to predation. Here, we describe the interactions between the Helmeted Guineafowl (<i>Numida meleagris</i>) and its predators regarding the survival advantages grouping behaviour may provide. Livestream webcam observations were conducted in Madikwe Game Reserve (South Africa) from August 2020 to August 2021. Emphasis was placed on predator–prey interaction and its effect on group size and structure in a spatial framework. We hypothesise that while grouping is crucial for a number of daily activities in this highly social species, it might turn into a higher predatory pressure. We found, indeed, that the probability of attacks by black-backed jackals (<i>Lupulella mesomelas</i>) significantly increased with guineafowl group size, unlike what happened with raptors. Moreover, when attacked by jackals, the birds responded by standing close to each other. These results suggest, in line with the proposed hypothesis, that a trade-off occurs between the defensive function of grouping in this galliform and the probability of jackal attack that increases as a function of prey group size. Nevertheless, we argue that Helmeted Guineafowl cooperative social groups also play a role as a defensive strategy against predators, with the many-eyes and dilution effects likely compensating for the higher predatory pressure.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/5/4/47antipredator modelcollective behaviourterrestrial and aerial predation<i>Lupulella mesomelas</i>predator–prey ecology |
| spellingShingle | Johann H. van Niekerk Giovanni Forcina Rodrigo Megía-Palma Grouping Behaviour and Anti-Predator Responses in the Helmeted Guineafowl <i>Numida meleagris</i> Birds antipredator model collective behaviour terrestrial and aerial predation <i>Lupulella mesomelas</i> predator–prey ecology |
| title | Grouping Behaviour and Anti-Predator Responses in the Helmeted Guineafowl <i>Numida meleagris</i> |
| title_full | Grouping Behaviour and Anti-Predator Responses in the Helmeted Guineafowl <i>Numida meleagris</i> |
| title_fullStr | Grouping Behaviour and Anti-Predator Responses in the Helmeted Guineafowl <i>Numida meleagris</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Grouping Behaviour and Anti-Predator Responses in the Helmeted Guineafowl <i>Numida meleagris</i> |
| title_short | Grouping Behaviour and Anti-Predator Responses in the Helmeted Guineafowl <i>Numida meleagris</i> |
| title_sort | grouping behaviour and anti predator responses in the helmeted guineafowl i numida meleagris i |
| topic | antipredator model collective behaviour terrestrial and aerial predation <i>Lupulella mesomelas</i> predator–prey ecology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/5/4/47 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT johannhvanniekerk groupingbehaviourandantipredatorresponsesinthehelmetedguineafowlinumidameleagrisi AT giovanniforcina groupingbehaviourandantipredatorresponsesinthehelmetedguineafowlinumidameleagrisi AT rodrigomegiapalma groupingbehaviourandantipredatorresponsesinthehelmetedguineafowlinumidameleagrisi |