Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2025
Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster V7
Höfundar / Authors: Kristrún Thanyathon Rodpitak (1), Gunnar Þór Hallgrímsson (1,2), Snæbjörn Pálsson (1,2)
Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: Háskóli Íslands
Kynnir / Presenter: Kristrún Thanyathon Rodpitak
The fundamentals for niche segregation suggest that species must exploit their resources differently to coexist. This can be accomplished through differences in diet, habitat or temporal activity. The role of these factors can vary between different bird species. The redwing, Turdus iliacus coburni and the blackbird, Turdus merula are two closely related species, both breeding in Iceland. Redwings have been breeding in Iceland for centuries whereas blackbirds only started breeding around the turn of the 21st century. The effects of blackbirds on the native redwing have not yet been studied. Both of these species can be found in great abundance in urban areas in Iceland sharing the same resources. Whether the interactions between blackbirds and redwings have led to niche segregation is unknown. Studying their breeding time, nesting sites, foraging areas and diet during the breeding season can reveal if niche segregation is present as interspecific competition is considered to be greatest during this period. The study was conducted in Fossvogskirkjugarður, a cemetery in Reykjavík, where information about the timing of breeding seasons, nest sites and foraging sites along with data about their dietary composition from DNA faecal analysis through barcoding, was collected to detect any differentiations. Differences in any of these factors would indicate the presence of niche segregation in some aspects of the niche dimensions between these sympatric species.