Range expansion by Passer montanus in North America

Biological Invasions
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Abstract

Passer montanus became established in a small area of central North America following its introduction in 1870. P. montanus underwent minimal range expansion in the first 100 years following introduction. However, the North American population of P. montanus is now growing in size and expanding in geographic distribution, having expanded approximately 125 km to the north by 1970. We quantify the distance of spread by P. montanus from its introduction site in the greater St. Louis, Missouri-Illinois, USA area, using distributional (presence) data from the National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count surveys for the period of 1951 to 2014. Linear regressions of the average annual range center of P. montanus confirmed significant shifts to the north at a rate of 3.3 km/year (P < 0.001) km/year. Linear regressions of the linear and angular distance of range center indicates significant northern movement (change in angle of mean range center; P < 0.001) since 1951. Our results quantify the extent of a northward range expansion, and suggesting a probable spread of this species northward.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Range expansion by Passer montanus in North America
Series title Biological Invasions
DOI 10.1007/s10530-016-1273-4
Volume 19
Issue 1
Year Published 2017
Language English
Publisher Springer
Publisher location Berlin
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Seattle
Description 5 p.
First page 5
Last page 9
Other Geospatial North America
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