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Byrd AJ, Talbott KM, Smiley TM, Verrett TB, Gross MS, Hladik ML, Ketterson ED, Becker DJ. Determinants of spring migration departure dates in a New World sparrow: Weather variables reign supreme. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10874. [PMID: 38390000 PMCID: PMC10883105 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Numerous factors influence the timing of spring migration in birds, yet the relative importance of intrinsic and extrinsic variables on migration initiation remains unclear. To test for interactions among weather, migration distance, parasitism, and physiology in determining spring departure date, we used the Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) as a model migratory species known to harbor diverse and common haemosporidian parasites. Prior to spring migration departure from their wintering grounds in Indiana, USA, we quantified the intrinsic variables of fat, body condition (i.e., mass ~ tarsus residuals), physiological stress (i.e., ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes), cellular immunity (i.e., leukocyte composition and total count), migration distance (i.e., distance to the breeding grounds) using stable isotopes of hydrogen from feathers, and haemosporidian parasite intensity. We then attached nanotags to determine the timing of spring migration departure date using the Motus Wildlife Tracking System. We used additive Cox proportional hazard mixed models to test how risk of spring migratory departure was predicted by the combined intrinsic measures, along with meteorological predictors on the evening of departure (i.e., average wind speed and direction, relative humidity, and temperature). Model comparisons found that the best predictor of spring departure date was average nightly wind direction and a principal component combining relative humidity and temperature. Juncos were more likely to depart for spring migration on nights with largely southwestern winds and on warmer and drier evenings (relative to cooler and more humid evenings). Our results indicate that weather conditions at take-off are more critical to departure decisions than the measured physiological and parasitism variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison J Byrd
- Environmental Resilience Institute Indiana University Bloomington Indiana USA
- Department of Biology Indiana University Bloomington Indiana USA
| | | | - Tara M Smiley
- Department of Ecology and Evolution Stony Brook University Stony Brook New York USA
| | - Taylor B Verrett
- School of Biological Sciences University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma USA
| | - Michael S Gross
- U.S. Geological Survey California Water Science Center Sacramento California USA
| | - Michelle L Hladik
- U.S. Geological Survey California Water Science Center Sacramento California USA
| | - Ellen D Ketterson
- Environmental Resilience Institute Indiana University Bloomington Indiana USA
- Department of Biology Indiana University Bloomington Indiana USA
| | - Daniel J Becker
- School of Biological Sciences University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma USA
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Scridel D, Pirrello S, Imperio S, Cecere JG, Albanese G, Andreotti A, Arveda G, Borghesi F, La Gioia G, Massa L, Mengoni C, Micheloni P, Mucci N, Nardelli R, Nissardi S, Volponi S, Zucca C, Serra L. Weather, sex and body condition affect post-fledging migration behaviour of the greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2023; 11:51. [PMID: 37612593 PMCID: PMC10464070 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-023-00409-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding which intrinsic and extrinsic factors dictate decision-making processes such as leaving the natal area or not (migratory vs resident strategy), departure time, and non-breeding destination are key-issues in movement ecology. This is particularly relevant for a partially migratory meta-population in which only some individuals migrate. METHODS We investigated these decision making-processes for 40 juvenile greater flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus fledged in three Mediterranean colonies and equipped with GPS-GSM devices. RESULTS Contrary to the body size and the dominance hypotheses, juveniles in better body condition were more likely to migrate than those in worse conditions, which opted for a residence strategy. Flamingo probability of departure was not associated with an increase in local wind intensity, but rather with the presence of tailwinds with departure limited to night-time mostly when the wind direction aligned with the migratory destination. Moreover, a positive interaction between tailwind speed and migration distance suggested that juveniles opted for stronger winds when initiating long-distance journeys. In contrast to previous studies, the prevailing seasonal winds were only partially aligned with the migratory destination, suggesting that other factors (e.g., adults experience in mix-aged flocks, availability of suitable foraging areas en route, density-dependence processes) may be responsible for the distribution observed at the end of the first migratory movement. We found potential evidence of sex-biased timing of migration with females departing on average 10 days later and flying ca. 10 km/h faster than males. Female flight speed, but not male one, was positively influenced by tailwinds, a pattern most likely explained by sexual differences in mechanical power requirements for flight (males being ca. 20% larger than females). Furthermore, juveniles considerably reduced their flight speeds after 400 km from departure, highlighting a physiological threshold, potentially linked to mortality risks when performing long-distance non-stop movements. CONCLUSION These results suggest that not only intrinsic factors such as individual conditions and sex, but also extrinsic factors like weather, play critical roles in triggering migratory behaviour in a partially migratory metapopulation. Furthermore, social factors, including conspecific experience, should be taken into consideration when evaluating the adaptive processes underlying migration phenology, flight performance, and final destination selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Scridel
- Area Avifauna Migratrice (BIO-AVM), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy.
- CNR-IRSA National Research Council-Water Research Institute, via del Mulino 19, 20861, Brugherio, MB, Italy.
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, TS, Italy.
| | - Simone Pirrello
- Area Avifauna Migratrice (BIO-AVM), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Simona Imperio
- Area Avifauna Migratrice (BIO-AVM), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Jacopo G Cecere
- Area Avifauna Migratrice (BIO-AVM), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Andreotti
- Area Avifauna Migratrice (BIO-AVM), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | | | - Fabrizio Borghesi
- Servizio Tutela Ambiente e Territorio, Ufficio Zone Naturali, Comune di Ravenna, via Berlinguer 30, 48121, Ravenna, RA, Italy
| | - Giuseppe La Gioia
- Associazione Ornitologia Mediterranea, via Saponaro 7, 73100, Lecce, LE, Italy
| | - Luisanna Massa
- Parco Naturale Regionale Molentargius Saline, via La Palma n 9, 09126, Cagliari, CA, Italy
| | - Chiara Mengoni
- Area per la Genetica della Conservazione (BIO-CGE), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca. Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Pierfrancesco Micheloni
- Area Avifauna Migratrice (BIO-AVM), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Nadia Mucci
- Area per la Genetica della Conservazione (BIO-CGE), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca. Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Riccardo Nardelli
- Area Avifauna Migratrice (BIO-AVM), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Sergio Nissardi
- Anthus s.n.c., via Luigi Canepa 22, 09129, Cagliari, CA, Italy
| | - Stefano Volponi
- Area per i pareri tecnici e per le strategie di conservazione e gestione del patrimonio faunistico nazionale (BIO-CFN), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Carla Zucca
- Anthus s.n.c., via Luigi Canepa 22, 09129, Cagliari, CA, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Serra
- Area Avifauna Migratrice (BIO-AVM), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
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Rüppel G, Hüppop O, Schmaljohann H, Brust V. The urge to breed early: Similar responses to environmental conditions in short- and long-distance migrants during spring migration. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10223. [PMID: 37408622 PMCID: PMC10318620 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Birds migrating different distances experience different temporal, energetic, physiological, and physical constraints throughout migration, which is reflected in their migration strategy. Consequently, we predict different behavioral decisions to similar environmental cues between short- and long-distance migrants, which has been documented for autumn migration. Here, we focus on the question whether trade-off decisions regarding departure, routing, and landing when alternating between migratory endurance flights and stopovers also differ during spring migration. As early arrivals at the breeding grounds should be ultimately favored regardless of migration distance, selection may favor more similar behavioral decisions in spring than in autumn. We radio-tagged short- and long-distance migratory songbirds at stopover sites along the German North Sea coast during spring and automatically tracked their migratory behavior using a large-scale network of receiver stations. Once departed, birds could either cross the sea or detour along the coast. We corrected for spatially biased detection data, using a hierarchical multistate model to assess how birds respond to variation in environmental conditions in their day-to-day departure decisions and route selection. The day-to-day departure probability was higher in long-distance migrants independently of the routing decision. Irrespective of migration distance, all species more likely departed under light winds and rainless conditions, while the influence of air pressure change and relative humidity was species-specific. By accounting for detection probabilities, we estimated that about half of all individuals of each species crossed the sea but did not find differences between short- and long-distance migrants. Offshore flights were more likely when winds blew offshore and began earlier within the night compared with onshore flights. Our results suggest that selection more similarly affects birds of different migration distances in spring than in autumn. These findings put the focus toward how ultimate mechanisms may shape departure and routing decisions differently between migration seasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Rüppel
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”WilhelmshavenGermany
| | - Ommo Hüppop
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”WilhelmshavenGermany
| | - Heiko Schmaljohann
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”WilhelmshavenGermany
- Institute for Biology and Environmental SciencesCarl von Ossietzky University OldenburgOldenburgGermany
| | - Vera Brust
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”WilhelmshavenGermany
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Cooper NW, Dossman BC, Berrigan LE, Brown JM, Cormier DA, Bégin-Marchand C, Rodewald AD, Taylor PD, Tremblay JA, Marra PP. Atmospheric pressure predicts probability of departure for migratory songbirds. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2023; 11:23. [PMID: 37122025 PMCID: PMC10150475 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-022-00356-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Weather can have both delayed and immediate impacts on animal populations, and species have evolved behavioral adaptions to respond to weather conditions. Weather has long been hypothesized to affect the timing and intensity of avian migration, and radar studies have demonstrated strong correlations between weather and broad-scale migration patterns. How weather affects individual decisions about the initiation of migratory flights, particularly at the beginning of migration, remains uncertain. METHODS Here, we combine automated radio telemetry data from four species of songbirds collected at five breeding and wintering sites in North America with hourly weather data from a global weather model. We use these data to determine how wind profit, atmospheric pressure, precipitation, and cloud cover affect probability of departure from breeding and wintering sites. RESULTS We found that the probability of departure was related to changes in atmospheric pressure, almost completely regardless of species, season, or location. Individuals were more likely to depart on nights when atmospheric pressure had been rising over the past 24 h, which is predictive of fair weather over the next several days. By contrast, wind profit, precipitation, and cloud cover were each only informative predictors of departure probability in a single species. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that individual birds actively use weather information to inform decision-making regarding the initiation of departure from the breeding and wintering grounds. We propose that birds likely choose which date to depart on migration in a hierarchical fashion with weather not influencing decision-making until after the departure window has already been narrowed down by other ultimate and proximate factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan W Cooper
- Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, MRC 5503, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20013, USA.
| | - Bryant C Dossman
- Department of Biology and McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, 37th and O Streets NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Lucas E Berrigan
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
- Motus Wildlife Tracking System, Birds Canada, Port Rowan, ON, N0E 1M0, Canada
| | - J Morgan Brown
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, 169 Titanium Way, Whitehorse, YT, Y1A 0E9, Canada
| | - Dominic A Cormier
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Camille Bégin-Marchand
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1550 Av. D'Estimauville, Québec, QC, G1J 0C3, Canada
| | - Amanda D Rodewald
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Philip D Taylor
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Junior A Tremblay
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1550 Av. D'Estimauville, Québec, QC, G1J 0C3, Canada
| | - Peter P Marra
- Department of Biology and McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, 37th and O Streets NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
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5
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Rüppel G, Hüppop O, Lagerveld S, Schmaljohann H, Brust V. Departure, routing and landing decisions of long-distance migratory songbirds in relation to weather. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:221420. [PMID: 36778957 PMCID: PMC9905979 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Migrating birds flexibly adjust their individual migratory decisions, i.e. departing, routing and landing, based on intrinsic (e.g. energy stores) and extrinsic (e.g. landscape features and weather) factors modulating the endogenous stimuli. So far, these decisions have mostly been studied separately. Notably, we lack information on which factors landing decisions during active flight are based on. Therefore, we simultaneously recorded all three decisions in free-flying long-distance migratory songbirds in a coastal stopover area via regional-scale radio-telemetry and related them to the prevailing weather. Birds departed under favourable weather conditions resulting in specific nights with increased departure probability. Once departed, birds could either fly offshore or take a route along the coast, which was predicted by wind support. Radio-tracking revealed that departed individuals more likely interrupted their migratory endurance flight under overcast or headwind conditions. Studying departure, routing and landing decisions in concert, we highlight the importance of weather as a common driver across all migratory decisions. By radio-tracking individuals between stopovers, we provide evidence that avoidance of adverse weather conditions is an important function of stopover. Understanding how birds adjust migratory decisions and how they affect the timing of migration and survival is key to link migration performance to individual fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Rüppel
- Institute of Avian Research ‘Vogelwarte Helgoland’, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Ommo Hüppop
- Institute of Avian Research ‘Vogelwarte Helgoland’, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | | | - Heiko Schmaljohann
- Institute of Avian Research ‘Vogelwarte Helgoland’, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Vera Brust
- Institute of Avian Research ‘Vogelwarte Helgoland’, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
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6
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Dossman BC, Rodewald AD, Studds CE, Marra PP. Migratory birds with delayed spring departure migrate faster but pay the costs. Ecology 2023; 104:e3938. [PMID: 36458375 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Migratory birds that experience poor overwintering conditions are often late to arrive at the breeding grounds, which is known to depress individual fitness. Despite the importance of this carryover effect, few studies have investigated how individuals can modify migratory behaviors en route to reduce delays on arrival and whether accelerating migration incurs survival costs. To examine this, we used Motus Wildlife Tracking System to track individual American redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla) as they migrated from wintering grounds in Southwest Jamaica through Florida en route to their breeding areas. We leveraged long-term data on spring departure timing and breeding latitude to quantify the relative departure dates (early vs. delayed) of tagged individuals, which we then related to individual migration rates and apparent annual survival. Compared to those initiating migration earlier, individuals that departed relatively late (10-day delay) migrated at a 43% faster rate, which decreased their annual survival by 6.3%. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that spring migrants use speed to compensate for departure delays despite incurring survival costs. This compensatory behavior may potentially underly differential survival during spring migration and may be particularly widespread across short-lived migratory birds generally considered time-constrained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryant C Dossman
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.,Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Amanda D Rodewald
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.,Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Colin E Studds
- Department of Geography and Environmental Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Peter P Marra
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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Maggini I, Noakes MJ, Hawkes LA, Hegemann A. Editorial: Ecophysiological adaptations associated with animal migration. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1022173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Lupi S, Morbey YE, MacDougall-Shackleton SA, Kaiya H, Fusani L, Guglielmo CG. Experimental ghrelin administration affects migratory behaviour in a songbird. Horm Behav 2022; 141:105139. [PMID: 35299118 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Twice a year, billions of birds take on drastic physiological and behavioural changes to migrate between breeding and wintering areas. On migration, most passerine birds regularly stop over along the way to rest and refuel. Endogenous energy stores are not only the indispensable fuel to complete long distance flights, but are also important peripheral signals that once integrated in the brain modulate crucial behavioural decisions, such as the decision to resume migration after a stopover. A network of hormones signals metabolic fuel availability to the brain in vertebrates, including the recently discovered gut-hormone ghrelin. Here, we show that ghrelin takes part in the control of migratory behaviour during spring migration in a wild migratory passerine. We manipulated blood concentrations of ghrelin of 53 yellow-rumped warblers (Setophaga coronata coronata) caught during stopover and automatically radio-tracked their migratory behaviour following release. We found that injections of acylated and unacylated ghrelin rapidly induced movements away from the release site, indicating that the ghrelin system acts centrally to mediate stopover departure decisions. The effects of the hormone manipulation declined within 8 h following release, and did not affect the overall rate of migration. These results provide experimental evidence for a pivotal role of ghrelin in the modulation of behavioural decisions during migration. In addition, this study offers insights into the regulatory functions of metabolic hormones in the dialogue between gut and brain in birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Lupi
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1A, 1160 Vienna, Austria; Department of Biology, Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada.
| | - Yolanda E Morbey
- Department of Biology, Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada.
| | - Scott A MacDougall-Shackleton
- Department of Psychology, Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada.
| | - Hiroyuki Kaiya
- Department of Biochemistry, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, 6-1 Kishibe-shinmachi, Suita 564-8565, Japan.
| | - Leonida Fusani
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1A, 1160 Vienna, Austria; Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Christopher G Guglielmo
- Department of Biology, Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada.
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Herbert JA, Mizrahi D, Taylor CM. Migration tactics and connectivity of a Nearctic-Neotropical migratory shorebird. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:819-830. [PMID: 35118651 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
During long-distance spring migrations, birds may rest and refuel at numerous stopover sites while minimizing the time to reach the breeding grounds. If habitat is limited along the migration route, pre-breeding birds optimize flight range by having longer stopovers at higher quality sites compared to poorer quality sites. Stopover duration also depends on distance remaining to breeding grounds, ecological barriers, and individual characteristics. We assessed spring migration tactics and connectivity of a Nearctic-Neotropical migratory shorebird, the semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), at two sites with known relative habitat quality on the Northern Gulf of Mexico (NGOM) coast, the first land encountered after crossing the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). We used automated radio telemetry (Motus) to estimate stopover duration and probability of departure. Migration speed was estimated for individuals detected at subsequent receivers on the Motus Network. To measure migratory connectivity, we used morphometrics and the Motus network to assign general breeding regions. Additionally, feather stable isotope ratios of C and N provided coarse information about over-wintering regions. Stopover duration declined with higher fuel loads at capture as expected under a time-minimizing strategy. After accounting for fuel load, stopover duration was approximately 40% longer at the higher quality site. We found no detectable effect of age, sex, or breeding location on stopover behavior. Probability of departure was strongly affected by humidity and also by tailwind and weather conditions. Birds stopping at the higher-quality site had earlier apparent arrival to the breeding grounds. The Louisiana coast is an apparent stopover hub for this species, since the individuals were departing to range-wide breeding regions and isotope values suggested birds were also using widespread wintering regions. Our study shows how high-quality, coastal wetlands along the NGOM coast serve a critical role in the annual cycle of a migratory shorebird. Stopover behavior indicated that high quality habitat may be limited for this species during spring migration. As threats to the GOM coast increase, protection of these already limited wetlands is vitally important.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Herbert
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA, USA, 70118
| | - David Mizrahi
- New Jersey Audubon Society, Cape May Bird Observatory Center for Research and Education, Cape May Court House, NJ, USA
| | - Caz M Taylor
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA, USA, 70118
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Deakin JE, Guglielmo CG, Morbey YE. Effect of the Social Environment on Spring Migration Timing of a Songbird. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.715418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The influence of the social environment on the timing of the annual cycle is poorly understood. Seasonally migratory birds are under pressure to accurately time their spring migration, and throughout the annual cycle, they may experience variability of the local sex-ratio. A population-level male-biased sex ratio is predicted to advance spring migration timing in males and is attributed to the increased intra-specific competition for access to females and/or breeding territories. The present study had two goals. First, to develop a method that utilizes digitally coded radio-transmitters to quantify the activity of flocked individuals in captivity. Second, to use this method to test the hypothesis that the social environment influences the spring migration traits of male yellow-rumped warblers (Setophaga coronata coronata). To accomplish this, birds were captured in the fall in Long Point, Ontario, and transferred to the Advanced Facility for Avian Research, London, Ontario. In the winter, they were assigned to a slightly male- or female-biased treatment and housed in flocks in large free-flight rooms. Throughout the experimental period, we took body mass measurements and standardized photos to monitor body condition and molt progression. To measure locomotor activity, the birds were outfitted with digitally coded radio-transmitters in April and photo-triggered to enter a migratory phenotype. The tagged birds were released at their capture site in May and the Motus Wildlife Tracking System was used to determine stopover departure timing and migratory movements. Sex ratio did not influence body mass or molt progression. However, males from the male-biased treatment had significantly less locomotor movement than those from the female-biased treatment. Additionally, a lower proportion of males from the male-biased treatment initiated migratory restlessness, an indicator of the urge to migrate. Overall, these findings suggest that the social environment can influence behavior of songbirds, but do not support the hypothesis that a male-biased sex ratio accelerates migration.
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Bégin-Marchand C, Desrochers A, Taylor PD, Tremblay JA, Berrigan L, Frei B, Morales A, Mitchell GW. Spatial structure in migration routes maintained despite regional convergence among eastern populations of Swainson's Thrushes. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2021; 9:23. [PMID: 33985582 PMCID: PMC8117314 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-021-00263-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Migratory connectivity links the different populations across the full cycle and across the species range and may lead to differences in survival among populations. Studies on spatial and temporal migratory connectivity along migration routes are rare, especially for small migratory animals. METHODS We used an automated radio-telemetry array to assess migratory connectivity en route and between early and later stages of the fall migration of the eastern populations of Swainson's Thrush, and to assess the variation of migration pace between consecutive detection from the different receiving stations along the migratory journey. We tracked 241 individuals from across eastern Canada to determine if populations were mixing around the Gulf of Mexico. We also tested the influence of tagging longitude, latitude and age on migration pace. RESULTS Migration routes varied and converged towards the northeast coast of the Gulf of Mexico, but in this region, populations maintained finer-scale spatial structure. Migration pace increased as birds progressed south, independent of age and tagging site. CONCLUSIONS We showed that for songbirds, migratory connectivity can be maintained at fine spatial scales despite the regional convergence of populations, highlighting the importance of detailed spatial tracking for identification of population specific migration routes. Overall, our study provides a portrait of migratory movements of eastern Swainson's Thrush and a framework for understanding spatial structure in migration routes for other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Bégin-Marchand
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1550 d'Estimauville, Québec, QC, G1J 0C3, Canada.
| | - André Desrochers
- Université Laval, 2325 Rue de l'Université, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Philip D Taylor
- Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
- Birds Canada, P.O. Box 6227, 17 Waterfowl Lane, Sackville, NB, E4L 1G6, Canada
| | - Junior A Tremblay
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1550 d'Estimauville, Québec, QC, G1J 0C3, Canada
- Université Laval, 2325 Rue de l'Université, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Lucas Berrigan
- Birds Canada, P.O. Box 6227, 17 Waterfowl Lane, Sackville, NB, E4L 1G6, Canada
| | - Barbara Frei
- McGill Bird Observatory, The Migration Research Foundation, Inc., PO Box 10005, Ste Anne de Bellevue, QC, H9X 0A6, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 351 boul. Saint-Joseph, Gatineau, QC, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Ana Morales
- McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Ste., Anne de Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Greg W Mitchell
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1125 Colonel By Rd., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
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12
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Ferretti A, Maggini I, Fusani L. How to recover after sea crossing: the importance of small islands for passerines during spring migration. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2021.1886181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ferretti
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstr. 14, Vienna 1090, Austria
- Konrad-Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstr. 1, Vienna 1160, Austria
| | - Ivan Maggini
- Konrad-Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstr. 1, Vienna 1160, Austria
| | - Leonida Fusani
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstr. 14, Vienna 1090, Austria
- Konrad-Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstr. 1, Vienna 1160, Austria
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13
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Zenzal TJ, Ward MP, Diehl RH, Buler JJ, Smolinsky J, Deppe JL, Bolus RT, Celis‐Murillo A, Moore FR. Retreat, detour or advance? Understanding the movements of birds confronting the Gulf of Mexico. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.07834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Theodore J. Zenzal
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center Lafayette LA USA
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, Univ. of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg MS USA
| | - Michael P. Ward
- Dept of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Illinois Urbana IL USA
| | - Robert H. Diehl
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center Bozeman MT USA
| | - Jeffrey J. Buler
- Dept of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, Univ. of Delaware Newark DE USA
| | - Jaclyn Smolinsky
- Dept of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, Univ. of Delaware Newark DE USA
- Cherokee Nation System Solutions, contracted to the US Geol. Surv., Wetland and Aguatic Res. Center Lafayette LA USA
| | | | | | | | - Frank R. Moore
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, Univ. of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg MS USA
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14
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Beauchamp AT, Guglielmo CG, Morbey YE. Stopover refuelling, movement and departure decisions in the white-throated sparrow: The influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors during spring migration. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:2553-2566. [PMID: 32770676 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Differential migration timing between sex or age classes is an example of how migratory movement strategies can differ among subgroups within a population. However, in songbirds, evidence for intrinsic differences in en route migratory behaviour is often mixed, suggesting that the local environmental context may play a role in accentuating or diminishing patterns. We evaluated how multiple intrinsic and extrinsic variables influenced refuelling rates, local movement behaviour and departure decisions in the white-throated sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis during spring migration. This species exhibits a unique genetically based plumage dimorphism, providing a unique class of individual in which to evaluate patterns and processes of differential migration, in addition to sex, age and migration distance. At a migratory stopover site, plasma metabolite analysis was used to quantify individual variation in stopover refuelling rate. In after second year adults, automated and manual radio telemetry was used to quantify daily activity timing, daily movement distances, stopover duration and departure time. Arrival timing to the stopover site was determined using capture data. Non-breeding and previous breeding/natal latitude were determined using analysis of hydrogen isotopes in claws and feathers. Males arrived at the stopover site 11 days on average before females, but no difference in migration timing was observed between plumage morph or age classes. After second year, adults with more southern previous breeding latitudes arrived at stopover earlier, whereas second year birds making their first return migration arrived at stopover in an inverse relationship to non-breeding latitude. Stopover refuelling rate did not differ between ages, sexes or plumage morphs, and daily departure probability of adults was higher under warmer temperatures and favourable tailwinds. White-striped morphs moved greater distances during stopover, initiated daily activity earlier in the morning and departed for migration earlier in the evening than tan-striped morphs. Our results show that while individual phenotype can influence some aspects of local stopover-scale movement behaviour, evidence for differential stopover behaviour was weak. Differential migration timing is unlikely to result from intrinsic differences in en route refuelling rate and departure decisions, especially because the latter is strongly influenced by meteorological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T Beauchamp
- Department of Biology, Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Christopher G Guglielmo
- Department of Biology, Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Yolanda E Morbey
- Department of Biology, Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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Schmaljohann H, Klinner T. A quasi-experimental approach using telemetry to assess migration-strategy-specific differences in the decision-making processes at stopover. BMC Ecol 2020; 20:36. [PMID: 32641125 PMCID: PMC7346510 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-020-00307-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Migrant birds travel between their breeding areas and wintering grounds by alternating energetically and physiologically demanding flights with periods of rest and fuelling, so-called stopovers. An important intrinsic factor influencing the decision to resume migration is the amount of energy stores available for the next flight. Correlative studies with free-flying birds and experimental studies with caged birds have shown that the amount of energy stores affects the day-to-day, within-day and the directional decision of departure. The methodological advantages of both the correlative and experimental approach are combined when radio-tagging many individuals on the same day and subsequently determining the departure decisions at a high spatiotemporal resolution. Making use of such a quasi-experimental approach with an automated radio-tracking system at stopover, we studied the effect of energy stores on departure decisions and whether they vary between species of different migration strategies experiencing contrasting time constraints. For this, we chose a long-distance migrant, the common redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), and a medium-distance migrant, the European robin (Erithacus rubecula), because the former has to travel at relatively higher speed to reach its wintering ground in a reasonable time at the expense of relatively higher energetic costs for travelling than the latter. Results Common redstarts with higher energy stores were more likely to resume migration than their conspecifics with lower energy stores, whereas this pattern was absent in the European robins. The amount of energy stores significantly affected the timing of departure within the day, with large energy stores yielding early departures in both species. Departure directions from the stopover site during the first night after capture were oriented towards the seasonally appropriate direction but were not affected by variation in energy stores. Conclusions We demonstrate the importance of variation in energy stores on the departure decisions and that it may affect species with different migration strategies dissimilarly in autumn. Nevertheless, knowledge of other intrinsic factors, such as feeding conditions, health status and physiological consequences of previous flights, is additionally required to better understand the departure decisions of migrants, as this is the key to providing an overall assessment of the decision-making process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko Schmaljohann
- Institute for Biology und Environmental Sciences (IBU), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany. .,Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
| | - Thomas Klinner
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
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16
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Packmor F, Klinner T, Woodworth BK, Eikenaar C, Schmaljohann H. Stopover departure decisions in songbirds: do long-distance migrants depart earlier and more independently of weather conditions than medium-distance migrants? MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2020; 8:6. [PMID: 32047634 PMCID: PMC7006082 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-020-0193-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Songbirds following distinct migration strategies (e.g. long- vs. short- to medium-distance migrants) often differ in their speed of migration during autumn and, thus, are assumed to face different time constraints. During migration, most songbird species alternate migratory flights with stopover periods. Many of them restrict these migratory flights to the night, i.e., they are nocturnal migrants. At stopover, nocturnal migrants need to select a specific night (night-to-night decision) and time of night (within-night decision) to resume migration. These departure decisions, which largely determine the speed of migration, are jointly affected by a set of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, i.e., departure cues. Here we aim to assess whether the set of intrinsic and extrinsic factors and the magnitude of their respective effects on stopover departure decisions differs between nocturnally migrating songbird species, depending on their migration strategy and associated time constraints. METHODS We radio-tracked migrating Northern Wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe; long-distance migrant), European robins (Erithacus rubecula) and Common Blackbirds (Turdus merula; both medium-distance migrants) during autumn stopover and analysed their night-to-night and within-night departure timing in relation to intrinsic and extrinsic factors. RESULTS Species generally differed in their departure timing on both temporal scales, with shortest stopovers and earliest nocturnal departures in the long-distance migrant. Some factors, such as day of year, fuel load, cloud cover and crosswind, had consistent effects on stopover departure decisions in all three species. However, species differed in the effects of tailwind assistance, change in atmospheric pressure and air temperature on their stopover departure decisions. Whereas night-to-night decisions were affected by these extrinsic factors in either both or one of the medium-distance migrants, such effects were not found in the long-distance migrant. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the general timing of departures in songbirds is affected by the species-specific migration strategy and associated time constraints. Further, they imply that the assessment and usage of specific extrinsic factors, i.e., weather conditions, as departure cues is adjusted based on this migration strategy, with the long-distance migrants being least selective at departure. Other intrinsic and extrinsic factors, however, seem to be used as departure cues independent of migration strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Packmor
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, LL57 2UW UK
| | - Thomas Klinner
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Bradley K. Woodworth
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Cas Eikenaar
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Heiko Schmaljohann
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- Institute for Biology und Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
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17
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Ferretti A, Maggini I, Lupi S, Cardinale M, Fusani L. The amount of available food affects diurnal locomotor activity in migratory songbirds during stopover. Sci Rep 2019; 9:19027. [PMID: 31836848 PMCID: PMC6910983 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55404-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Migratory passerine birds fly long distances twice a year alternating nocturnal flights with stopovers to rest and replenish energy stores. The duration of each stopover depends on several factors including internal clocks, meteorological conditions, and environmental factors such as availability of food. Foraging entails energetic costs, and if birds need to refuel efficiently, they should modulate their activity in relation to food availability. We investigated how food availability influences locomotor activity in migrating birds of six passerine species at a spring stopover site in the central Mediterranean Sea. We selected birds with low fat scores which we expected to be strongly motivated to refuel. We simulated stopover sites of different quality by providing temporarily caged birds with different amounts of food to simulate scarce to abundant food. We analysed the diurnal locomotory activity as a proxy for food searching effort. Low food availability resulted in an increased diurnal locomotor activity in almost all species, while all birds showed low intensity of nocturnal migratory restlessness. In conclusion, our study shows that food availability in an important determinant of behaviour of migratory birds at stopover sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ferretti
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria. .,Konrad-Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Ivan Maggini
- 0000 0000 9686 6466grid.6583.8Konrad-Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sara Lupi
- 0000 0000 9686 6466grid.6583.8Konrad-Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Massimiliano Cardinale
- 0000 0000 8578 2742grid.6341.0Department of Aquatic Resources, Marine Research Institute, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Turistgatan 5, 45330 Lysekil, Sweden
| | - Leonida Fusani
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria. .,Konrad-Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria.
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18
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Kamm MD, Lloyd-Evans TL, Handmaker M, Reed JM. A half-century of changes in migratory landbird numbers along coastal Massachusetts. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222232. [PMID: 31491014 PMCID: PMC6731022 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We analyzed data from across five decades of passerine bird banding at Manomet in Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA. This included 172,609 captures during spring migration and 253,265 during fall migration, from 1969 to 2015. Migration counts are prone to large interannual variation and trends are often difficult to interpret, but have the advantage of sampling many breeding populations in a single locale. We employed a Bayesian state-space modeling approach to estimate patterns in abundance over time while accounting for observation error, and a hierarchical clustering method to identify species groups with similar trends over time. Although continent-wide there has been an overall decrease in landbird populations over the past 40 years, we found a variety of patterns in abundance over time. Consistent with other studies, we found an overall decline in numbers of birds in the aggregate, with most species showing significant net declines in migratory cohort size in spring, fall, or both (49/73 species evaluated). Other species, however, exhibited different patterns, including abundance increases (10 species). Even among increasing and declining species, the specific trends varied in shape over time, forming seven distinct clusters in fall and ten in spring. The remaining species followed largely independent and irregular pathways. Overall, life-history traits (dependence on open habitat, nesting on or near the ground, migratory strategy, human commensal, spruce budworm specialists) did a poor job of predicting species groupings of abundance patterns in both spring and fall, but median date of passage was a good predictor of abundance trends during spring (but not fall) migration. This suggests that some species with very similar patterns of abundance were unlikely to be responding to the same environmental forces. Changes in abundance at this banding station were generally consistent with BBS trend data for the same geographic region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D. Kamm
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | | | | | - J. Michael Reed
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, United States of America
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19
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Nadal J, Ponz C, Comas C, Margalida A. Time, geography and weather provide insights into the ecological strategy of a migrant species. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 649:1096-1104. [PMID: 30308881 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Farmland and migratory bird populations are in decline. The Common quail (Coturnix coturnix) provides an exception to this trend and its populations have remained stable over the last two decades. However, some basic facts regarding quail biology and ecology, such as the geographic distribution of age and sex classes during the summer, remain poorly understood. We analyzed 43,194 Spanish quail ringing records from 1961 to 2014 to assess the effects of geography and weather conditions on the probability that individuals will be ringed during the various stages of their annual cycle (arrival -spring migration-, stationary breeding period, departure -autumn migration- and winter) for the different quail age-sex classes over time. We found that spatial distribution of the age and sex classes can be explained by date, latitude, longitude, altitude, rainfall, and temperature. Our results suggest that date accounts for most of the variation in the distribution of quail age classes, followed by the weather variables, and then latitude, and altitude. Similarly, date also accounts for most of the variation in the distribution of the two sexes. These results could partially explain why this species has avoided population decline, since its ecological strategy is based on its temporal and spatial distribution combined with the segregation of age and sex groups. We hypothesize that the distribution of quail age and sex classes follows variations in weather and habitat suitability to exploit seasonal and geographic variations in resource availability. The migratory and nomadic movements of quail, combined with the occurrence of multiple breeding attempts within a single season, may also allow these birds to overcome the impacts of predators and anthropogenic environmental change. Conservation and management efforts should therefore take account of these age and sex related temporal and spatial patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Nadal
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Wildlife, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
| | - Carolina Ponz
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Wildlife, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Carles Comas
- Department of Mathematics, Agrotecnio Center, University of Lleida, 25001 Lleida, Spain
| | - Antoni Margalida
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Wildlife, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain; Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, IREC (CSIC.UCLM-JCCM), 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
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20
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Gómez C, Guerrero SL, FitzGerald AM, Bayly NJ, Hobson KA, Cadena CD. Range‐wide populations of a long‐distance migratory songbird converge during stopover in the tropics. ECOL MONOGR 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Camila Gómez
- Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva de Vertebrados Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas Universidad de Los Andes Bogota 111711 Colombia
- SELVA: Investigación para la Conservación en el Neotrópico Bogota 111311 Colombia
| | - Sara L. Guerrero
- Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva de Vertebrados Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas Universidad de Los Andes Bogota 111711 Colombia
| | - Alyssa M. FitzGerald
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology State University of New York Albany New York 12222 USA
- University of California, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz California 95064 USA
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Institute, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Santa Cruz California 95064 USA
| | - Nicholas J. Bayly
- SELVA: Investigación para la Conservación en el Neotrópico Bogota 111311 Colombia
| | | | - Carlos Daniel Cadena
- Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva de Vertebrados Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas Universidad de Los Andes Bogota 111711 Colombia
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21
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Dick MF, Guglielmo CG. Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids influence flight muscle oxidative capacity but not endurance flight performance in a migratory songbird. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2019; 316:R362-R375. [PMID: 30624975 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00206.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The migratory flights of birds are primarily fueled by fat; however, certain fatty acids may also enhance flight performance and the capacity to oxidize fat. The natural doping hypothesis posits that n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) increase membrane fluidity and aerobic and fatty acid oxidative enzymes in the flight muscles, which enables prolonged endurance flight. Support for this hypothesis is mixed, and there is no empirical evidence for increased flight performance. We fed yellow-rumped warblers ( Setophaga coronata coronata) diets enriched in either n-3 or n-6 long-chain PUFA or low in long-chain PUFA and evaluated flight muscle metabolism and endurance performance in a wind tunnel flights lasting up to 6 h. Fatty acid profiles of muscle phospholipids confirmed enrichment of the targeted dietary fatty acids, whereas less substantial differences were observed in adipose triacylglycerol. Contrary to the predictions, feeding n-3 PUFA decreased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-β mRNA abundance and muscle oxidative enzyme activities. However, changes in muscle metabolism were not reflected in whole animal performance. No differences were observed in flight performance among diet treatments in terms of endurance capacity, energy costs, or fuel composition. These measures of flight performance were more strongly influenced by body mass and flight duration. Overall, we found no support for the natural doping hypothesis in a songbird. Furthermore, we caution against extending changes in flight muscle metabolic enzymes or fatty acid composition to changes to migratory performance without empirical evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morag F Dick
- Department of Biology, Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario , London, Ontario , Canada
| | - Christopher G Guglielmo
- Department of Biology, Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario , London, Ontario , Canada
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22
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Ward MP, Benson TJ, Deppe J, Zenzal TJ, Diehl RH, Celis-Murillo A, Bolus R, Moore FR. Estimating apparent survival of songbirds crossing the Gulf of Mexico during autumn migration. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2018.1747. [PMID: 30355710 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Many migratory bird species are declining, and the migratory period may limit populations because of the risk in traversing large geographical features during passage. Using automated radio-telemetry, we tracked 139 Swainson's thrushes (Catharus ustulatus) departing coastal Alabama, USA and crossing the Gulf of Mexico to arrive in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico during autumn. We estimated apparent survival and examined how extrinsic (weather variables and day of year) and intrinsic (fat load, sex and age) factors influenced survival using a mark-recapture approach. We also examined how favourability of winds for crossing the Gulf varied over the past 25 years. Fat load, day of year and wind profit were important factors in predicting which individuals survived crossing the Gulf. Survival estimates varied with wind profit and fat, but generally, fat birds departing on days with favourable wind profits had an apparent survival probability of greater than 0.90, while lean individuals with no or negative wind profits had less than 0.33. The proportion of favourable nights varied within and among years, but has increased over the last 25 years. While conservation strategies cannot improve extrinsic factors, they can provide opportunities for birds to refuel before crossing large geographical features through protecting and creating high-quality stopover sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Ward
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA .,Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Thomas J Benson
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Jill Deppe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL, USA.,National Audubon Society, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Theodore J Zenzal
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA.,School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MI, USA
| | - Robert H Diehl
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Antonio Celis-Murillo
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA.,U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD, USA
| | - Rachel Bolus
- Department of Biology, Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UT, USA
| | - Frank R Moore
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MI, USA
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Zenzal TJ, Moore FR, Diehl RH, Ward MP, Deppe JL. Migratory hummingbirds make their own rules: the decision to resume migration along a barrier. Anim Behav 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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24
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Huang AC, Bishop CA, McKibbin R, Drake A, Green DJ. Wind conditions on migration influence the annual survival of a neotropical migrant, the western yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens auricollis). BMC Ecol 2017; 17:29. [PMID: 28797249 PMCID: PMC5553749 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-017-0139-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Long-distance migratory birds in North America have undergone precipitous declines over the past half-century. Although the trend is clear, for many migrating species underpinning the exact causes poses a challenge to conservation due to the numerous stressors that they encounter. Climate conditions during all phases of their annual cycle can have important consequences for their survival. Here, using 15 years of capture-recapture dataset, we determined the effects of various climate factors during the breeding, wintering, and migrating stages on the annual survival of a western yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens auricollis) population breeding in southwestern Canada. Results El Niño effects over the entire annual cycle had little influence on the annual apparent survival of yellow-breasted chats. However, we found evidence that wind conditions during migration, specifically average westerly wind speed or the frequency of storm events, had significant adverse effects on adult annual apparent survival. In comparison, precipitation levels on wintering ground had little to no influence on adult annual apparent survival, whereas growing degree days on the breeding ground had moderate but positive effects. Conclusions In the face of climate change and its predicted impacts on climate processes, understanding the influence of weather conditions on the survival of migrating birds can allow appropriate conservation strategies to be adopted for chats and other declining neotropical migrants. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12898-017-0139-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C Huang
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Delta, BC, Canada. .,Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Wildlife Ecology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
| | - Christine A Bishop
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Delta, BC, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Wildlife Ecology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - René McKibbin
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Delta, BC, Canada
| | - Anna Drake
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - David J Green
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Wildlife Ecology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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Gómez C, Bayly NJ, Norris DR, Mackenzie SA, Rosenberg KV, Taylor PD, Hobson KA, Daniel Cadena C. Fuel loads acquired at a stopover site influence the pace of intercontinental migration in a boreal songbird. Sci Rep 2017; 7:3405. [PMID: 28611372 PMCID: PMC5469819 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03503-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-distance migratory organisms are under strong selection to migrate quickly. Stopovers demand more time than flying and are used by individuals to refuel during migration, but the effect of fuel loads (fat) acquired at stopover sites on the subsequent pace of migration has not been quantified. We studied stopover behaviour of Grey-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) at a site in northern Colombia and then tracked their migration using an intercontinental radio-telemetry array. Tracking confirmed long-distance flights of more than 3000 km, highlighting the key importance of a single stopover site to the migration strategy of this species. Our results suggest that these songbirds behave as time-minimizers as predicted by optimal migration theory, and that fuel loads acquired at this South American stopover site, together with departure date, carry-over to influence the pace of migration, contributing to differences in travel time of up to 30 days in birds subsequently detected in the U. S. and Canada. Such variation in the pace of migration arising from a single stopover site, likely has important fitness consequences and suggests that identifying important fuelling sites will be essential to effectively conserve migratory species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Gómez
- Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva de Vertebrados, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia. .,SELVA: Investigación para la conservación en el Neotropico, Bogotá, Colombia.
| | - Nicholas J Bayly
- SELVA: Investigación para la conservación en el Neotropico, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - D Ryan Norris
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Philip D Taylor
- Bird Studies Canada, Port Rowan, Ontario, Canada.,Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Keith A Hobson
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.,Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carlos Daniel Cadena
- Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva de Vertebrados, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
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Schmaljohann H, Eikenaar C. How do energy stores and changes in these affect departure decisions by migratory birds? A critical view on stopover ecology studies and some future perspectives. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2017; 203:411-429. [PMID: 28332031 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-017-1166-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Revised: 03/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
In birds, accumulating energy is far slower than spending energy during flight. During migration, birds spend, therefore, most of the time at stopover refueling energy used during the previous flight. This elucidates why current energy stores and actual rate of accumulating energy are likely crucial factors influencing bird's decision when to resume migration in addition to other intrinsic (sex, age) and extrinsic (predation, weather) factors modulating the decision within the innate migration program. After first summarizing how energy stores and stopover durations are generally determined, we critically review that high-energy stores and low rates of accumulating energy were significantly related to high departure probabilities in several bird groups. There are, however, also many studies showing no effect at all. Recent radio-tracking studies highlighted that migrants leave a site either to resume migration or to search for a better stopover location, so-called "landscape movements". Erroneously treating such movements as departures increases the likelihood of type II errors which might mistakenly suggest no effect of either trait on departure. Furthermore, we propose that energy loss during the previous migratory flight in relation to bird's current energy stores and migration strategy significantly affects its urge to refuel and hence its departure decision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko Schmaljohann
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
| | - Cas Eikenaar
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
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Müller F, Taylor PD, Sjöberg S, Muheim R, Tsvey A, Mackenzie SA, Schmaljohann H. Towards a conceptual framework for explaining variation in nocturnal departure time of songbird migrants. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2016; 4:24. [PMID: 27833750 PMCID: PMC5066284 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-016-0089-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Most songbird migrants travel between their breeding areas and wintering grounds by a series of nocturnal flights. The exact nocturnal departure time for these flights varies considerably between individuals even of the same species. Although the basic circannual and circadian rhythms of songbirds, their adaptation to migration, and the factors influencing the birds' day-to-day departure decision are reasonably well studied, we do not understand how birds time their departures within the night. These decisions are crucial, because the nocturnal departure time defines the potential flight duration of the migratory night. The distances covered during the nocturnal migratory flights in the course of migration in turn directly affect the overall speed of migration. To understand the factors influencing the arrival of the birds in the breeding/wintering areas, we need to investigate the mechanisms that control nocturnal departure time. Here, we provide the first conceptual framework for explaining the variation commonly observed in this migratory trait. The basic schedule of nocturnal departure is likely regulated by both the circannual and circadian rhythms of the innate migration program. We postulate that the endogenously controlled schedule of nocturnal departures is modified by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. So far there is only correlative evidence that birds with a high fuel load or a considerable increase in fuel load and significant wind (flow) assistance towards their migratory goal depart early within the night. In contrast, birds migrating with little fuel and under unfavorable wind conditions show high variation in their nocturnal departure time. The latter may contain an unknown proportion of nocturnal movements not directly related to migratory flights. Excluding such movements is crucial to clearly identify the main drivers of the variation in nocturnal departure time. In general we assume that the observed variation in the nocturnal departure time is explained by individually different reactions norms of the innate migration program to both intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Müller
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Philip D. Taylor
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6 Canada
- Bird Studies Canada, 115 Front Street, Port Rowan, ON N0E 1M0 Canada
| | - Sissel Sjöberg
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Biology Building, Sölvegatan 35, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Rachel Muheim
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Biology Building, Sölvegatan 35, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Arseny Tsvey
- Biological Station Rybachy, Zoological Institute RAS, RU-238535 Rybachy, Kaliningrad region Russia
| | | | - Heiko Schmaljohann
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
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