{"id":{"repo_id":"uwo","oai_identifier":"oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/29870"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/uwo/oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/29870","repository":{"repo_id":"uwo","name":"Western University","base_url":"https://uwo.scholaris.ca/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Niche segregation among three sympatric species of swallows in southern Ontario","abstract":"Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica), Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) and Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) breed sympatrically in southern Ontario but it is unclear how these species differ ecologically, and their coexistence implies niche segregation. I investigated potential interspecific differences in nestling diet and post-fledging movements. Using DNA barcoding of nestling feces and stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ15N, δ2H) of nestling feathers, I found evidence of differences in dietary sources of provisioned young. Barn Swallows showed evidence of provisioning more terrestrial-based prey, Cliff Swallows provisioned an intermediate diet, and Tree Swallows the most aquatic-based diet. To determine post-fledging movements, fledglings were tracked using automated telemetry.Cliff Swallow fledglings differed from the other two species in their post-fledging residency time at the natal site. This information may help to identify potential factors contributing to differential declines operating on the breeding grounds.","abstract_html":"Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica), Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) and Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) breed sympatrically in southern Ontario but it is unclear how these species differ ecologically, and their coexistence implies niche segregation. I investigated potential interspecific differences in nestling diet and post-fledging movements. Using DNA barcoding of nestling feces and stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ15N, δ2H) of nestling feathers, I found evidence of differences in dietary sources of provisioned young. Barn Swallows showed evidence of provisioning more terrestrial-based prey, Cliff Swallows provisioned an intermediate diet, and Tree Swallows the most aquatic-based diet. To determine post-fledging movements, fledglings were tracked using automated telemetry.Cliff Swallow fledglings differed from the other two species in their post-fledging residency time at the natal site. This information may help to identify potential factors contributing to differential declines operating on the breeding grounds.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Bumelis, Kaelyn H"],"institution":"The University of Western Ontario","degree_name":"M Sc","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":"Biology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Hobson, Keith A."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2020,"date_issued":"2020-01-23","date_published":"2020-01-23","updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:56:14Z","subjects":["niche segregation","diet","stable isotopes","DNA barcoding","aerial insectivore","post-fledging movement"],"languages":["en_ca"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/29870","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Hobson, Keith A."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Bumelis, Kaelyn H"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-07-10T18:34:36Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2025-07-10T18:34:36Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2020-01-23"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["The University of Western Ontario"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Biology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["M Sc"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["niche segregation","diet","stable isotopes","DNA barcoding","aerial insectivore","post-fledging movement"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en_ca"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/29870"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["The thesis cover page in the PDF document includes references to Western University’s previous institutional repository platform, known as Scholarship@Western, and links to that platform (beginning with ir.lib.uwo.ca). In citing or referring to this thesis, use the DOI or handle from this page instead. Sample citation: Author name, \"Thesis title.\" (Year). Western University Open Repository. https://doi.org/10.71858/123456."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica), Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) and Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) breed sympatrically in southern Ontario but it is unclear how these species differ ecologically, and their coexistence implies niche segregation. I investigated potential interspecific differences in nestling diet and post-fledging movements. Using DNA barcoding of nestling feces and stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ15N, δ2H) of nestling feathers, I found evidence of differences in dietary sources of provisioned young. Barn Swallows showed evidence of provisioning more terrestrial-based prey, Cliff Swallows provisioned an intermediate diet, and Tree Swallows the most aquatic-based diet. To determine post-fledging movements, fledglings were tracked using automated telemetry.Cliff Swallow fledglings differed from the other two species in their post-fledging residency time at the natal site. This information may help to identify potential factors contributing to differential declines operating on the breeding grounds."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Niche segregation among three sympatric species of swallows in southern Ontario"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Hobson, Keith A."],"dc:creator":["Bumelis, Kaelyn H"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-07-10T18:34:36Z"],"dc:date.available":["2025-07-10T18:34:36Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2020-01-23"],"dc:description":["The thesis cover page in the PDF document includes references to Western University’s previous institutional repository platform, known as Scholarship@Western, and links to that platform (beginning with ir.lib.uwo.ca). In citing or referring to this thesis, use the DOI or handle from this page instead. Sample citation: Author name, \"Thesis title.\" (Year). Western University Open Repository. https://doi.org/10.71858/123456."],"dc:description.abstract":["Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica), Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) and Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) breed sympatrically in southern Ontario but it is unclear how these species differ ecologically, and their coexistence implies niche segregation. I investigated potential interspecific differences in nestling diet and post-fledging movements. Using DNA barcoding of nestling feces and stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ15N, δ2H) of nestling feathers, I found evidence of differences in dietary sources of provisioned young. Barn Swallows showed evidence of provisioning more terrestrial-based prey, Cliff Swallows provisioned an intermediate diet, and Tree Swallows the most aquatic-based diet. To determine post-fledging movements, fledglings were tracked using automated telemetry.Cliff Swallow fledglings differed from the other two species in their post-fledging residency time at the natal site. This information may help to identify potential factors contributing to differential declines operating on the breeding grounds."],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/29870"],"dc:language.iso":["en_ca"],"dc:publisher":["The University of Western Ontario"],"dc:subject":["niche segregation","diet","stable isotopes","DNA barcoding","aerial insectivore","post-fledging movement"],"dc:title":["Niche segregation among three sympatric species of swallows in southern Ontario"],"dc:type":["thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Biology"],"thesis:degree_name":["M Sc"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:56:14Z"}