TERRITORIAL BEHAVIOR IN BIRDS: POPULATION POPULATION REGULATION REGULATION , COSTS AND BENEFITS .

Abstract

Several hypotheses have been suggested to explain territorial behavior in birds population regulation, costs and benefits. The majority of them are associated with finding food, sexual partners and appropriate breeding sites. In the present paper we describe factors related to territorial behavior that interfere with population dynamics and breeding success in birds. We discuss costs and benefits of territoriality, including interactions between territorial and floating individuals. We highlight the importance of knowledge about territorial behavior for the development of effective conservation programs of threatened bird species.