PAPER: Space sharing affects on hihi phenotypes

Consequences of space sharing on individual phenotypes in the New Zealand hihi

July 2020

Rutschmann A, de Villemereuil P, Brekke P, Ewen JG, Anderson N, Santure AW 2020. Consequences of space sharing on individual phenotypes in the New Zealand hihi. Evolutionary Ecology 34(5): 821-839.

ABSTRACT

In heterogeneous habitats, individuals sharing a larger part of their home-range are also likely to live in a very similar environment. This ‘common environment’ effect can generate phenotypic similarities between neighbours and lead to the structuring of phenotypes through the habitat. In this study, we used an intensely monitored population of hihi (or stitchbird, Notiomystis cincta) from New Zealand, to assess whether home-range overlap and genetic relatedness between birds could generate phenotypic resemblance for a wide panel of morphological and life-history traits.

KEYWORDS

Stitchbird; Animal model; Spatial matrix; Heritability; Common environment; Phenotypic variation