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Aloni I, Markman S, Ziv Y. February precipitation in the wintering grounds of the lesser whitethroat, Sylvia curruca: is it a cue for migration onset? ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2017; 4:160755. [PMID: 28386431 PMCID: PMC5367318 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies report shifts in bird migration phenology, presumably owing to global warming. However, most studies focus on migration patterns in the Northern Hemisphere. In this study, we investigated associations between weather conditions in African wintering grounds of the lesser whitethroat, Sylvia curruca, and spring arrival time in Eilat, Israel. Using multivariate regression models, we analysed a 30-year dataset in order to examine correlations between median springtime arrival and 46 climate variables of the wintering quarters. The model obtained exhibited a highly statistical fit, involving mean precipitation in February and March with negative effects and number of wet days during November-February. February precipitation levels were also the major factor associated with the interquartile range of arrival time. Interestingly and contrary to published results, annual or seasonal precipitation showed no correlation with spring arrival time, nor did temperature. Moreover, winter in this region falls into dry season with negligible rainfall quantities. Hence, it is unlikely that precipitation effect on habitat productivity is a driving force of migration, as suggested by other studies. Instead, we propose that precipitation in February acts as a cue for the birds, indicating the approach of spring and migration time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irith Aloni
- Spatial Ecology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Shai Markman
- Department of Biology and The Environment, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa - Oranim, Oranim, Israel
| | - Yaron Ziv
- Spatial Ecology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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52
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Thorup K, Tøttrup AP, Willemoes M, Klaassen RHG, Strandberg R, Vega ML, Dasari HP, Araújo MB, Wikelski M, Rahbek C. Resource tracking within and across continents in long-distance bird migrants. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2017; 3:e1601360. [PMID: 28070557 PMCID: PMC5214581 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1601360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Migratory birds track seasonal resources across and between continents. We propose a general strategy of tracking the broad seasonal abundance of resources throughout the annual cycle in the longest-distance migrating land birds as an alternative to tracking a certain climatic niche or shorter-term resource surplus occurring, for example, during spring foliation. Whether and how this is possible for complex annual spatiotemporal schedules is not known. New tracking technology enables unprecedented spatial and temporal mapping of long-distance movement of birds. We show that three Palearctic-African species track vegetation greenness throughout their annual cycle, adjusting the timing and direction of migratory movements with seasonal changes in resource availability over Europe and Africa. Common cuckoos maximize the vegetation greenness, whereas red-backed shrikes and thrush nightingales track seasonal surplus in greenness. Our results demonstrate that the longest-distance migrants move between consecutive staging areas even within the wintering region in Africa to match seasonal variation in regional climate. End-of-century climate projections indicate that optimizing greenness would be possible but that vegetation surplus might be more difficult to track in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasper Thorup
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders P Tøttrup
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikkel Willemoes
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Raymond H G Klaassen
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, SE-22362 Lund, Sweden.; Dutch Montagu's Harrier Foundation, P.O. Box 46, 9679ZG Scheemda, Netherlands.; Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700CC Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Roine Strandberg
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, SE-22362 Lund, Sweden
| | - Marta Lomas Vega
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hari P Dasari
- Centro de Geofisica de Évora, Universidade de Évora, 7000 Évora, Portugal.; Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Miguel B Araújo
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.; Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Calle José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain.; CIBIO-InBIO, Universidade de Évora, Largo dos Colegiais, 7000 Évora, Portugal
| | - Martin Wikelski
- Department of Migration and Immuno-Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Radolfzell, Germany.; Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Carsten Rahbek
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.; Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, U.K
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53
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Ouwehand J, Both C. African departure rather than migration speed determines variation in spring arrival in pied flycatchers. J Anim Ecol 2016; 86:88-97. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Janne Ouwehand
- Conservation Ecology Group; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences; University of Groningen; P.O. Box 11103 NL-9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Christiaan Both
- Conservation Ecology Group; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences; University of Groningen; P.O. Box 11103 NL-9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
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54
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Kelly JF, Horton KG, Stepanian PM, Beurs KM, Fagin T, Bridge ES, Chilson PB. Novel measures of continental‐scale avian migration phenology related to proximate environmental cues. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey F. Kelly
- Oklahoma Biological Survey University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
- Department of Biology University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
| | - Kyle G. Horton
- Oklahoma Biological Survey University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
- Department of Biology University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
- Advanced Radar Research Center University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
| | - Phillip M. Stepanian
- Advanced Radar Research Center University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
- School of Meteorology University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
| | - Kirsten M. Beurs
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
| | - Todd Fagin
- Oklahoma Biological Survey University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
| | - Eli S. Bridge
- Oklahoma Biological Survey University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
| | - Phillip B. Chilson
- Advanced Radar Research Center University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
- School of Meteorology University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
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55
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Graham CH, Supp SR, Powers DR, Beck P, Lim MCW, Shankar A, Cormier T, Goetz S, Wethington SM. Winter conditions influence biological responses of migrating hummingbirds. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine H. Graham
- Ecology and Evolution Department Stony Brook University Stony Brook New York 11794 USA
| | - Sarah R. Supp
- Ecology and Evolution Department Stony Brook University Stony Brook New York 11794 USA
| | - Donald R. Powers
- Biology Department George Fox University Newberg Oregon 97132 USA
| | - Pieter Beck
- Woods Hole Research Center Falmouth Massachusetts 02540 USA
| | - Marisa C. W. Lim
- Ecology and Evolution Department Stony Brook University Stony Brook New York 11794 USA
| | - Anusha Shankar
- Ecology and Evolution Department Stony Brook University Stony Brook New York 11794 USA
| | - Tina Cormier
- Woods Hole Research Center Falmouth Massachusetts 02540 USA
| | - Scott Goetz
- Woods Hole Research Center Falmouth Massachusetts 02540 USA
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56
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Schlaich AE, Klaassen RHG, Bouten W, Bretagnolle V, Koks BJ, Villers A, Both C. How individual Montagu's Harriers cope with Moreau's Paradox during the Sahelian winter. J Anim Ecol 2016; 85:1491-1501. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Almut Ellinor Schlaich
- Dutch Montagu's Harrier Foundation; PO Box 46 9679ZG Scheemda The Netherlands
- Conservation Ecology Group; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences; University of Groningen; PO Box 11103 9700CC Groningen The Netherlands
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; UMR 7372; CNRS & Université de la Rochelle; 79360 Villiers-en-Bois France
| | - Raymond H. G. Klaassen
- Dutch Montagu's Harrier Foundation; PO Box 46 9679ZG Scheemda The Netherlands
- Conservation Ecology Group; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences; University of Groningen; PO Box 11103 9700CC Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Willem Bouten
- Computational Geo-Ecology; Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics; University of Amsterdam; PO Box 94248 1090GE Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Vincent Bretagnolle
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; UMR 7372; CNRS & Université de la Rochelle; 79360 Villiers-en-Bois France
- LTER ‘Zone Atelier Plaine & Val de Sèvre’; Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; CNRS; 79360 Villiers-en-Bois France
| | - Ben Johannes Koks
- Dutch Montagu's Harrier Foundation; PO Box 46 9679ZG Scheemda The Netherlands
| | - Alexandre Villers
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; UMR 7372; CNRS & Université de la Rochelle; 79360 Villiers-en-Bois France
| | - Christiaan Both
- Conservation Ecology Group; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences; University of Groningen; PO Box 11103 9700CC Groningen The Netherlands
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57
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Population decline is linked to migration route in the Common Cuckoo. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12296. [PMID: 27433888 PMCID: PMC4960304 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Migratory species are in rapid decline globally. Although most mortality in long-distance migrant birds is thought to occur during migration, evidence of conditions on migration affecting breeding population sizes has been completely lacking. We addressed this by tracking 42 male Common Cuckoos from the rapidly declining UK population during 56 autumn migrations in 2011–14. Uniquely, the birds use two distinct routes to reach the same wintering grounds, allowing assessment of survival during migration independently of origin and destination. Mortality up to completion of the Sahara crossing (the major ecological barrier encountered in both routes) is higher for birds using the shorter route. The proportion of birds using this route strongly correlates with population decline across nine local breeding populations. Knowledge of variability in migratory behaviour and performance linked to robust population change data may therefore be necessary to understand population declines of migratory species and efficiently target conservation resources. Whether conditions experienced on long-distance migrations affect breeding populations is not clear. Here, the authors tracked migrating Common Cuckoos from the UK to Africa and show that route choices affect mortality during migration, and population decline in this nocturnally migrating bird.
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58
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Water Availability of São Francisco River Basin Based on a Space-Borne Geodetic Sensor. WATER 2016. [DOI: 10.3390/w8050213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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59
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Tracking Animal Dispersal: From Individual Movement to Community Assembly and Global Range Dynamics. Trends Ecol Evol 2016; 31:204-214. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2016.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Revised: 11/12/2015] [Accepted: 01/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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60
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Bridge ES, Ross JD, Contina AJ, Kelly JF. Do molt-migrant songbirds optimize migration routes based on primary productivity? Behav Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arv199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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61
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McKinnon EA, Stanley CQ, Stutchbury BJM. Carry-Over Effects of Nonbreeding Habitat on Start-to-Finish Spring Migration Performance of a Songbird. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141580. [PMID: 26529241 PMCID: PMC4631350 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
For migratory animals, conditions during the nonbreeding period may carry-over to influence spring migration performance. Animals in low-quality habitats are predicted to be in poorer condition, show later migration timing, and travel at slower speeds. This can result in subsequent negative effects on fitness. We tested the hypothesis that nonbreeding season body condition and habitat quality carry-over to affect spring migration performance of a long-distance migratory songbird, the Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina). We tracked individual birds between multiple breeding sites in North America and nonbreeding sites in Central America. First, we compared body condition of nonbreeding birds migrating to the same general region of the breeding range with spring migration performance (timing, speed, and duration) obtained from light-level geolocators. Second, we assessed the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) as a proxy for nonbreeding habitat quality, and predicted that birds from wetter habitat or in wetter years (higher NDVI) would show improved migration performance relative to birds from drier sites. We found no evidence of individual-level carry-over effects of nonbreeding season body condition on spring migration performance. Lower NDVI of nonbreeding habitat resulted in delayed spring migration departure, but this effect disappeared by arrival at breeding sites. Birds occupying drier nonbreeding sites migrated faster and for fewer days, compensating for their relatively late departure. We also documented a broader pattern in NDVI and migration timing and distance, in that birds that occupied the wettest areas in the southern part of the nonbreeding range departed significantly later and migrated farther. Our results suggest that individual carry-over effects of nonbreeding habitat quality may be compensated for by a faster and shorter migration strategy. At a broad scale, consistently later spring timing and longer migration distances were associated with the wettest areas (the highest quality habitats) of the Wood Thrush non-breeding range. This supports the theory that high-quality habitats offset the costs of farther migration, resulting in a leap-frog migration pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A. McKinnon
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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62
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Tian H, Zhou S, Dong L, Van Boeckel TP, Pei Y, Wu Q, Yuan W, Guo Y, Huang S, Chen W, Lu X, Liu Z, Bai Y, Yue T, Grenfell B, Xu B. Climate change suggests a shift of H5N1 risk in migratory birds. Ecol Modell 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2014.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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63
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Pillar AG, Wilson S, Flood NJ, Reudink MW. Population response to environmental productivity throughout the annual cycle in a migratory songbird. POPUL ECOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10144-014-0467-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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64
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Young BE, Dubois NS, Rowland EL. Using the climate change vulnerability index to inform adaptation planning: Lessons, innovations, and next steps. WILDLIFE SOC B 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Erika L. Rowland
- Wildlife Conservation Society301 Willson AvenueBozemanMT59715USA
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65
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Hahn S, Emmenegger T, Lisovski S, Amrhein V, Zehtindjiev P, Liechti F. Variable detours in long-distance migration across ecological barriers and their relation to habitat availability at ground. Ecol Evol 2014; 4:4150-60. [PMID: 25505540 PMCID: PMC4242566 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2014] [Revised: 08/28/2014] [Accepted: 09/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Migration detours, the spatial deviation from the shortest route, are a widespread phenomenon in migratory species, especially if barriers must be crossed. Moving longer distances causes additional efforts in energy and time, and to be adaptive, this should be counterbalanced by favorable condition en route. We compared migration patterns of nightingales that travelled along different flyways from their European breeding sites to the African nonbreeding sites. We tested for deviations from shortest routes and related the observed and expected routes to the habitat availability at ground during autumn and spring migration. All individuals flew detours of varying extent. Detours were largest and seasonally consistent in western flyway birds, whereas birds on the central and eastern flyways showed less detours during autumn migration, but large detours during spring migration (eastern flyway birds). Neither migration durations nor the time of arrival at destination were related to the lengths of detours. Arrival at the breeding site was nearly synchronous in birds flying different detours. Flying detours increased the potential availability of suitable broad-scale habitats en route only along the western flyway. Habitat availability on observed routes remained similar or even decreased for individuals flying detours on the central or the eastern flyway as compared to shortest routes. Thus, broad-scale habitat distribution may partially explain detour performance, but the weak detour-habitat association along central and eastern flyways suggests that other factors shape detour extent regionally. Prime candidate factors are the distribution of small suitable habitat patches at local scale as well as winds specific for the region and altitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Hahn
- Department of Bird Migration, Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Tamara Emmenegger
- Department of Bird Migration, Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Simeon Lisovski
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University Geelong, Vic., Australia
| | - Valentin Amrhein
- Zoological Institute, University of Basel Basel, Switzerland ; Research Station Petite Camargue Alsacienne Saint-Louis, France
| | - Pavel Zehtindjiev
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Felix Liechti
- Department of Bird Migration, Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach, Switzerland
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66
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Abstract
As a response to climate warming, many animals and plants have been found to shift phenologies, such as appearance in spring or timing of reproduction. However, traditional measures for shifts in phenology that are based on observational data likely are biased due to a large influence of population size, observational effort, starting date of a survey, or other causes that may affect the probability of detecting a species. Understanding phenological responses of species to climate change, however, requires a robust measure that could be compared among studies and study years. Here, we developed a new method for estimating arrival and departure dates based on site-occupancy models. Using simulated data, we show that our method provided virtually unbiased estimates of phenological events even if detection probability or the number of sites occupied by the species is changing over time. To illustrate the flexibility of our method, we analyzed spring arrival of two long-distance migrant songbirds and the length of the flight period of two butterfly species, using data from a long-term biodiversity monitoring program in Switzerland. In contrast to many birds that migrate short distances, the two long-distance migrant songbirds tended to postpone average spring arrival by -0.5 days per year between 1995 and 2012. Furthermore, the flight period of the short-distance-flying butterfly species apparently became even shorter over the study period, while the flight period of the longer-distance-flying butterfly species remained relatively stable. Our method could be applied to temporally and spatially extensive data from a wide range of monitoring programs and citizen science projects, to help unravel how species and communities respond to global warming.
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67
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Cohen EB, Hostetler JA, Royle JA, Marra PP. Estimating migratory connectivity of birds when re-encounter probabilities are heterogeneous. Ecol Evol 2014; 4:1659-70. [PMID: 24967083 PMCID: PMC4063466 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 03/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the biology and conducting effective conservation of migratory species requires an understanding of migratory connectivity – the geographic linkages of populations between stages of the annual cycle. Unfortunately, for most species, we are lacking such information. The North American Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) houses an extensive database of marking, recaptures and recoveries, and such data could provide migratory connectivity information for many species. To date, however, few species have been analyzed for migratory connectivity largely because heterogeneous re-encounter probabilities make interpretation problematic. We accounted for regional variation in re-encounter probabilities by borrowing information across species and by using effort covariates on recapture and recovery probabilities in a multistate capture–recapture and recovery model. The effort covariates were derived from recaptures and recoveries of species within the same regions. We estimated the migratory connectivity for three tern species breeding in North America and over-wintering in the tropics, common (Sterna hirundo), roseate (Sterna dougallii), and Caspian terns (Hydroprogne caspia). For western breeding terns, model-derived estimates of migratory connectivity differed considerably from those derived directly from the proportions of re-encounters. Conversely, for eastern breeding terns, estimates were merely refined by the inclusion of re-encounter probabilities. In general, eastern breeding terns were strongly connected to eastern South America, and western breeding terns were strongly linked to the more western parts of the nonbreeding range under both models. Through simulation, we found this approach is likely useful for many species in the BBL database, although precision improved with higher re-encounter probabilities and stronger migratory connectivity. We describe an approach to deal with the inherent biases in BBL banding and re-encounter data to demonstrate that this large dataset is a valuable source of information about the migratory connectivity of the birds of North America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily B Cohen
- Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Jeffrey A Hostetler
- Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park Washington, District of Columbia
| | - J Andrew Royle
- U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Laurel, Maryland
| | - Peter P Marra
- Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park Washington, District of Columbia
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68
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Rolland J, Jiguet F, Jønsson KA, Condamine FL, Morlon H. Settling down of seasonal migrants promotes bird diversification. Proc Biol Sci 2014; 281:20140473. [PMID: 24759866 PMCID: PMC4043101 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.0473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
How seasonal migration originated and impacted diversification in birds remains largely unknown. Although migratory behaviour is likely to affect bird diversification, previous studies have not detected any effect. Here, we infer ancestral migratory behaviour and the effect of seasonal migration on speciation and extinction dynamics using a complete bird tree of life. Our analyses infer that sedentary behaviour is ancestral, and that migratory behaviour evolved independently multiple times during the evolutionary history of birds. Speciation of a sedentary species into two sedentary daughter species is more frequent than speciation of a migratory species into two migratory daughter species. However, migratory species often diversify by generating a sedentary daughter species in addition to the ancestral migratory one. This leads to an overall higher migratory speciation rate. Migratory species also experience lower extinction rates. Hence, although migratory species represent a minority (18.5%) of all extant birds, they have a higher net diversification rate than sedentary species. These results suggest that the evolution of seasonal migration in birds has facilitated diversification through the divergence of migratory subpopulations that become sedentary, and illustrate asymmetrical diversification as a mechanism by which diversification rates are decoupled from species richness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Rolland
- Centre de Mathématiques Appliquées (Ecole Polytechnique), CNRS, UMR 7641 Route de Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau, France
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, UMR 7204 MNHN-CNRS-UPMC, Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation, CP51, 55 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France
- Institut de Biologie de l’École Normale Supérieure, CNRS UMR 8197, École Normale Supérieure, 46 rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris
| | - Frédéric Jiguet
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, UMR 7204 MNHN-CNRS-UPMC, Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation, CP51, 55 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Knud Andreas Jønsson
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot SL5 7PY, UK
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Fabien L. Condamine
- Centre de Mathématiques Appliquées (Ecole Polytechnique), CNRS, UMR 7641 Route de Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau, France
| | - Hélène Morlon
- Centre de Mathématiques Appliquées (Ecole Polytechnique), CNRS, UMR 7641 Route de Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau, France
- Institut de Biologie de l’École Normale Supérieure, CNRS UMR 8197, École Normale Supérieure, 46 rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris
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69
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Paxton KL, Cohen EB, Paxton EH, Németh Z, Moore FR. El Niño-Southern Oscillation is linked to decreased energetic condition in long-distance migrants. PLoS One 2014; 9:e95383. [PMID: 24788978 PMCID: PMC4008376 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2013] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Predicting how migratory animals respond to changing climatic conditions requires knowledge of how climatic events affect each phase of the annual cycle and how those effects carry-over to subsequent phases. We utilized a 17-year migration dataset to examine how El Niño-Southern Oscillation climatic events in geographically different regions of the Western hemisphere carry-over to impact the stopover biology of several intercontinental migratory bird species. We found that migratory birds that over-wintered in South America experienced significantly drier environments during El Niño years, as reflected by reduced Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values, and arrived at stopover sites in reduced energetic condition during spring migration. During El Niño years migrants were also more likely to stopover immediately along the northern Gulf coast of the southeastern U.S. after crossing the Gulf of Mexico in small suboptimal forest patches where food resources are lower and migrant density often greater than larger more contiguous forests further inland. In contrast, NDVI values did not differ between El Niño and La Niña years in Caribbean-Central America, and we found no difference in energetic condition or use of coastal habitats for migrants en route from Caribbean-Central America wintering areas. Birds over-wintering in both regions had consistent median arrival dates along the northern Gulf coast, suggesting that there is a strong drive for birds to maintain their time program regardless of their overall condition. We provide strong evidence that not only is the stopover biology of migratory landbirds influenced by events during the previous phase of their life-cycle, but where migratory birds over-winter determines how vulnerable they are to global climatic cycles. Increased frequency and intensity of ENSO events over the coming decades, as predicted by climatic models, may disproportionately influence long-distance migrants over-wintering in South America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina L. Paxton
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Emily B. Cohen
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Migratory Bird Center, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Eben H. Paxton
- Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, United States Geological Survey, Hawaii National Park, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Zoltán Németh
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Frank R. Moore
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States of America
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70
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Trierweiler C, Klaassen RHG, Drent RH, Exo KM, Komdeur J, Bairlein F, Koks BJ. Migratory connectivity and population-specific migration routes in a long-distance migratory bird. Proc Biol Sci 2014; 281:20132897. [PMID: 24430850 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.2897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge about migratory connectivity, the degree to which individuals from the same breeding site migrate to the same wintering site, is essential to understand processes affecting populations of migrants throughout the annual cycle. Here, we study the migration system of a long-distance migratory bird, the Montagu's harrier Circus pygargus, by tracking individuals from different breeding populations throughout northern Europe. We identified three main migration routes towards wintering areas in sub-Saharan Africa. Wintering areas and migration routes of different breeding populations overlapped, a pattern best described by 'weak (diffuse) connectivity'. Migratory performance, i.e. timing, duration, distance and speed of migration, was surprisingly similar for the three routes despite differences in habitat characteristics. This study provides, to our knowledge, a first comprehensive overview of the migration system of a Palaearctic-African long-distance migrant. We emphasize the importance of spatial scale (e.g. distances between breeding populations) in defining patterns of connectivity and suggest that knowledge about fundamental aspects determining distribution patterns, such as the among-individual variation in mean migration directions, is required to ultimately understand migratory connectivity. Furthermore, we stress that for conservation purposes it is pivotal to consider wintering areas as well as migration routes and in particular stopover sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Trierweiler
- Dutch Montagu's Harrier Foundation, , PO Box 46, Scheemda 9679 ZG, The Netherlands, Animal Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, , PO Box 11103, Groningen 9700 CC, The Netherlands, Behavioural Ecology and Self-organization, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, , PO Box 11103, Groningen 9700 CC, The Netherlands, Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', , An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven 26386, Germany
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71
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Narrow-front loop migration in a population of the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus, as revealed by satellite telemetry. PLoS One 2014; 9:e83515. [PMID: 24421890 PMCID: PMC3885432 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2013] [Accepted: 11/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Narrow migration corridors known in diurnal, social migrants such as raptors, storks and geese are thought to be caused by topographical leading line effects in combination with learning detailed routes across generations. Here, we document narrow-front migration in a nocturnal, solitary migrant, the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus, using satellite telemetry. We tracked the migration of adult cuckoos from the breeding grounds in southern Scandinavia (n = 8), to wintering sites in south-western Central Africa (n = 6) and back to the breeding grounds (n = 3). Migration patterns were very complex; in addition to the breeding and wintering sites, six different stopover sites were identified during the 16,000 km annual route that formed a large-scale clockwise loop. Despite this complexity, individuals showed surprisingly similar migration patterns, with very little variation between routes. We compared observed tracks with simulated routes based on vector orientation (with and without effects of barriers on orientation and survival). Observed distances between routes were often significantly smaller than expected if the routes were established on the basis of an innate vector orientation programme. Average distance between individuals in eastern Sahel after having migrated more than 5,000 km for example, was merely 164 km. This implies that more sophisticated inherent guiding mechanisms, possibly involving elements of intermediate goal area navigation or more elaborate external cues, are necessary to explain the complex narrow-front migration pattern observed for the cuckoos in this study.
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72
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Lemke HW, Tarka M, Klaassen RHG, Åkesson M, Bensch S, Hasselquist D, Hansson B. Annual cycle and migration strategies of a trans-Saharan migratory songbird: a geolocator study in the great reed warbler. PLoS One 2013; 8:e79209. [PMID: 24205374 PMCID: PMC3799637 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2013] [Accepted: 09/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent technological advancements now allow us to obtain geographical position data for a wide range of animal movements. Here we used light-level geolocators to study the annual migration cycle in great reed warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), a passerine bird breeding in Eurasia and wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. We were specifically interested in seasonal strategies in routes and schedules of migration. We found that the great reed warblers (all males, no females were included) migrated from the Swedish breeding site in early August. After spending up to three weeks at scattered stopover sites in central to south-eastern Europe, they resumed migration and crossed the Mediterranean Sea and Sahara Desert without lengthy stopovers. They then spread out over a large overwintering area and each bird utilised two (or even three) main wintering sites that were spatially separated by a distinct mid-winter movement. Spring migration initiation date differed widely between individuals (1-27 April). Several males took a more westerly route over the Sahara in spring than in autumn, and in general there were fewer long-distance travels and more frequent shorter stopovers, including one in northern Africa, in spring. The shorter stopovers made spring migration on average faster than autumn migration. There was a strong correlation between the spring departure dates from wintering sites and the arrival dates at the breeding ground. All males had a high migration speed in spring despite large variation in departure dates, indicating a time-minimization strategy to achieve an early arrival at the breeding site; the latter being decisive for high reproductive success in great reed warblers. Our results have important implications for the understanding of long-distance migrants' ability to predict conditions at distant breeding sites and adapt to rapid environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilger W. Lemke
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Laboratory, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maja Tarka
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Laboratory, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Raymond H. G. Klaassen
- Montagu’s Harrier Foundation and Animal Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, Groningen University, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Mikael Åkesson
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Staffan Bensch
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Laboratory, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Dennis Hasselquist
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Laboratory, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Bengt Hansson
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Laboratory, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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73
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Gordo O, Tryjanowski P, Kosicki JZ, Fulín M. Complex phenological changes and their consequences in the breeding success of a migratory bird, the white storkCiconia ciconia. J Anim Ecol 2013; 82:1072-86. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2010] [Accepted: 03/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Gordo
- Department of Zoology & Physical Anthropology; Complutense University of Madrid; José Antonio Novais 2; E-28040; Madrid; Spain
| | - Piotr Tryjanowski
- Institute of Zoology; Poznań University of Life Science; Wojska Polskiego 71C; 61-625; Poznań; Poland
| | - Jakub Z. Kosicki
- Department of Avian Biology and Ecology; Faculty of Biology; Adam Mickiewicz University; Umultowska 89; 61-614; Poznań; Poland
| | - Miroslav Fulín
- East-Slovakian Museum Košice; Hviezdoslavova 3; SK-041 36; Košice; Slovakia
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Fraser KC, Silverio C, Kramer P, Mickle N, Aeppli R, Stutchbury BJM. A trans-hemispheric migratory songbird does not advance spring schedules or increase migration rate in response to record-setting temperatures at breeding sites. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64587. [PMID: 23741345 PMCID: PMC3669305 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2012] [Accepted: 04/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The decline of long distance migratory songbirds has been linked to an increasing mismatch between spring arrival date and timing of food availability caused by climate change. It is unclear to what extent individuals can adjust migration timing or en route rate in response to annual variation in temperature at breeding sites. We tracked the ca. 7300 km spring migration of 52 purple martins Progne subis from the Amazon basin to two breeding sites in eastern North America. Spring 2012 was the warmest on record in eastern North America, but contrary to predictions, this did not result in earlier departure, faster migration, or earlier arrival at breeding areas compared with earlier years. Temperatures and rainfall in the Amazon basin at the time of departure were not higher in 2012, and conditions along migration routes did not give consistent signals of a warmer spring at the breeding site. Once in North America, individuals likely had limited opportunity to speed up their migration because this final portion of the journey was already very rapid (570 km/d; 4–5 d in duration). Migration timing over the entire journey was best predicted by breeding latitude and sex and was not sensitive to ecological cues (temperature and rainfall amount) at departure from South American overwintering sites or en route, in contrast to recent studies of other songbirds. Our results provide the first direct evidence for a mismatch between higher spring temperatures at breeding sites and departure schedules of individual songbirds, and suggest phenotypic responses to short-term climatic warming may be limited for some species. Further direct-tracking data with greater geographic and temporal scope is needed to test for individual plasticity in response to temperature and rainfall along migratory routes for this, and other, species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin C Fraser
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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75
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Increased endoparasite infection in late-arriving individuals of a trans-saharan passerine migrant bird. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61236. [PMID: 23620731 PMCID: PMC3631203 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2012] [Accepted: 03/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Earlier migration in males than in females is the commonest pattern in migrating passerines and is positively related to size dimorphism and dichromatism. The early arrival of males is a costly trait that may confer reproductive advantages in terms of better territories and/or mates. Given the physiological cost of migration, early migrants are those in best condition and accordingly the prevalence, load, and/or diversity of parasites is expected to increase in both sexes for late migrants. To test this hypothesis, we sampled 187 trans-Saharan migrant garden warblers Sylvia borin and 64 resident serins Serinus serinus (as a control for potential circannual patterns in parasite load) during spring migration in Spain. We assessed the prevalence of blood parasites (Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, and Leucocytozoon) and the prevalence and load of intestinal parasites (mainly coccidians and spirurids). The relationship between parasite (prevalence, load, and richness) and the timing of passage through a stopover area was tested using generalized linear models. Protandry occurs in the monomorphic garden warbler and males migrated on average 5.5 days before females. Intestinal parasite richness increased with the date of migration. The timing of migration was unrelated to the presence or load of the other parasite groups analyzed. Our results support the idea that the timing of migration is a condition-dependent trait and suggests that multiple intestinal parasite infestations could delay migration in birds. Even in monomorphic species parasites may play a role in sexual selection by delaying the arrival of the most infected individuals at breeding grounds, thereby further increasing the benefits of mating with early-arriving individuals.
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