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Spatial Distribution of House Sparrow Nests (Passer domesticus, Passeriformes, Passeridae) in Western and Central Siberia

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Abstract

Mapping of the nests of house sparrows was carried out in 14 sampling areas in Western and Central Siberia. Quantitative assessments of nest interpositions were analyzed using the distance to the nearest neighboring nest. Cartographic visualization showed a cluster distribution of the nests. The average cluster size in different areas varied from 2.7 to 8.1 nests per cluster. No correlation was found either between their size and geographical location or their population density. No aggregations of higher rank were identified. The clusters recognized were defined as individual colonies. The distribution patterns of the frequencies of the distances to the nearest neighbor were found to be strongly exponential. Slightly more than half of all nests were located closer than 10 m to the nearest neighboring nest, and about three-quarters were located closer than 20 m. The maximum distance to the nearest neighbor inside a single colony did not exceed 80 m. No reliable indicators of isolated nesting in the house sparrow were identified. Colonies were distributed independently of one another, the distance between adjacent colonies being less where the population density was higher. Territories with closely spaced colonies could alternate with unpopulated, but suitable areas (sometimes of significant sizes).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of the Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 630091, Novosibirsk, Russia

    V. A. Yudkin & I. G. Frolov

  2. Novosibirsk State University, 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia

    V. A. Yudkin, I. G. Frolov & E. S. Sleptsova

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  1. V. A. Yudkin
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  2. I. G. Frolov
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  3. E. S. Sleptsova
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Correspondence to V. A. Yudkin.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. This article does not contain any studies involving animals or human participants performed by any of the authors.

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Translated by L. Solovyova

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Yudkin, V.A., Frolov, I.G. & Sleptsova, E.S. Spatial Distribution of House Sparrow Nests (Passer domesticus, Passeriformes, Passeridae) in Western and Central Siberia. Biol Bull Russ Acad Sci 48, 1084–1093 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359021070311

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359021070311

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