title: Switching behavior, coexistence and diversification: comparing empirical community-wide evidence with theoretical predictions.
abstract: Theory shows that the presence of behavioural switching between alternative resources can contribute to coexistence when competitors differ in trophic-related traits. In addition, switching can generate disruptive selection on such traits in a low-diversity community, increasing the number of species. Both of these processes should produce communities in which species differ in their values of the trophic trait, and display corresponding differences in the time-course of their switching from one resource to another. Here we present evidence for widespread switching behaviour for a diverse Mediterranean scrubland bird community. We show that species differ in a beak character related to their relative use of insect and fruit resource channels, and that the timing of switching is correlated with the relative use of resources. These patterns are consistent with theoretical predictions, suggesting a possible role of switching behaviour in promoting avian coexistence and diversification.
authors.affiliation: Integrative Ecology Group, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Pabellón del Perú, Av. María Luisa s/n 41013, Sevilla, Spain. jofrecarnicer@ebd.csic.es
authors.forename: Jofre
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carnicer
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Abrams
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jordano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005638:Fruit; D017952:Ganglia, Invertebrate; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D008954:Models, Biological; D012621:Seasons; D012919:Social Behavior; D013997:Time Factors