Is dispersal distance of birds proportional to territory size?

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Abstract
Recent research has demonstrated that dispersal distance and the square root of home-range size covary pro- portionately across mammal species. I tested whether these findings could be generalized to another taxon. Breeding territories of some bird species are analogous to mammalian home ranges, so I tested whether dispersal distance and territory size in these birds covaried and were proportional. Variables were log 10-transformed before analysis. When considered independently of body mass, median natal dispersal distance and breeding territory size were positively re - lated (F(1,29) = 8.91, R2 = 0.23, P = 0.005). Median dispersal distance was proportionally related to the square root of territory size by a multiple of 12. This relationship was especially strong for non-migrants ( F(1,15) = 49.84, R2 = 0.77, P =3 .87 ×1 0 -6). Maximum natal dispersal distance and breeding territory size also covaried when body size effects were removed, but this relationship was only significant when migrants were removed from the sample (F(1,24) = 5.66, R2 = 0.19, P = 0.025). Maximum dispersal distance did not have a proportional relationship with territory size. This could result from sampling error or from real processes (e.g., relatively shorter dispersals by birds with large territo - ries). The proportional relationship between median dispersal distance and territory size can be used as a cross-species scaling rule. Résumé : Les résultats de recherches récentes ont démontré que la distance parcourue pendant la dispersion et la racine carrée de la taille de l'aire vitale sont en co-variation proportionnelle chez tous les mammifères. J'ai tenté de déterminer si cela se vérifie chez un autre taxon. Les territoires de reproduction de certaines espèces d'oiseaux sont analogues à des aires vitales de mammifères, alors j'ai essayé de voir si la distance de dispersion et la taille des terri- toires sont en co-variation et si elles sont proportionnelles. Les variables ont subi une transformation logarithmique (log10) avant d'être analysées. Considérées indépendamment de la taille du corps, la distance médiane parcourue pen- dant la dispersion à partir du nid et la taille du territoire de reproduction sont en corrélation positive ( F(1,29) = 8,91,