Determinants and consequences of territory quality in the Bar-throated Apalis Apalis thoracica

• Main Author: Chaskda, Adams Adamanyiwa
• Other Authors: Hockey, Phil A R
• Format: Doctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Cape Town 2014
• Subjects: Zoology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/10257

Includes bibliographical references. === The underlying principles of territoriality propose that competition for resources compels individuals to defend areas (territories) that give them exclusive access to critical resources. The theory suggests that only high-quality individuals succeed in occupying areas rich in these resources with consequent benefits in terms of higher reproductive success and/or chances of survival. The main aims of this study were: i) to determine the ecological factors influencing variation in territory size and quality among Bar-throated Apalises Apalis thoracica; ii) to investigate the consequences of these factors for reproductive effort and reward, pair stability and survival; and iii) to investigate the signalling properties of the species' black breast band (a prominent 'badge' emblazoned across the white underparts) in relation to both male and territory quality.