New study shows that swans sacrifice rest time to compete for the best feeding spots.
To understand how mute and whooper swans spent their time and energy, scientists observed their behavior.
They discovered a “trade-off” between aggression and rest, which means that “increased aggression is accomplished at the expense of resting,” after observing four critical behaviors: aggression, foraging, maintenance (preening, cleaning, and oiling feathers), and resting.
The work by the University of Exeter and WWT could help nature reserve managers create less aggressive ecosystems.
“These swans use aggression if there’s competition over foraging areas,” said Dr Paul Rose, from the University of Exeter and WWT.
“Our findings show this this requires a trade-off, and that both species reduce resting time to allow for this aggression.
“This was the strongest trade-off we found, but there was also a trade-off for both species between foraging and resting.
“However, there was no apparent trade-off between some behaviours, such as aggression and foraging, and aggression and maintenance.”
The swans were observed in real time via a webcam located at Scotland’s WWT Caerlaverock nature reserve.
Whooper swans, like the ones observed in this study, are migratory birds that spend the winter in Caerlaverock.
Since mute swans don’t have the same urgent need to store fat before migrating as whooper swans do, Dr. Rose claimed that this allows them to be more “flexible” in their behavior.
By offering the birds enough places to feed, we can lower the need for aggressiveness near prime feeding areas, giving them more time to relax, according to Dr. Rose.
“This can help to ensure that migratory species don’t ‘push out’ non-migratory species when they mix in the same wintering locations.
“Our study also demonstrates how remotely collected data can be used to investigate fundamental questions in behavioural research.”
Dr Kevin Wood, of WWT, added: “At WWT we get lots of questions from our visitors about the aggressiveness of swans.
“This new study helps us to understand how swans’ behaviour changes when they engage in their disputes.”
Image Credit: PAUL ROSE
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