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Hedenström A, Hedh L. Seasonal patterns and processes of migration in a long-distance migratory bird: energy or time minimization? Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240624. [PMID: 38835274 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Optimal migration theory prescribes adaptive strategies of energy, time or mortality minimization. To test alternative hypotheses of energy- and time-minimization migration we used multisensory data loggers that record time-resolved flight activity and light for positioning by geolocation in a long-distance migratory shorebird, the little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius. We could reject the hypothesis of energy minimization based on a relationship between stopover duration and subsequent flight time as predicted for a time minimizer. We found seasonally diverging slopes between stopover and flight durations in relation to the progress (time) of migration, which follows a time-minimizing policy if resource gradients along the migration route increase in autumn and decrease in spring. Total flight duration did not differ significantly between autumn and spring migration, although spring migration was 6% shorter. Overall duration of autumn migration was longer than that in spring, mainly owing to a mid-migration stop in most birds, when they likely initiated moult. Overall migration speed was significantly different between autumn and spring. Migratory flights often occurred as runs of two to seven nocturnal flights on adjacent days, which may be countering a time-minimization strategy. Other factors may influence a preference for nocturnal migration, such as avoiding flight in turbulent conditions, heat stress and diurnal predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Hedenström
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Linus Hedh
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
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2
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Lewden A, Bishop CM, Askew GN. How birds dissipate heat before, during and after flight. J R Soc Interface 2023; 20:20230442. [PMID: 38086401 PMCID: PMC10715914 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal flight uses metabolic energy at a higher rate than any other mode of locomotion. A relatively small proportion of the metabolic energy is converted into mechanical power; the remainder is given off as heat. Effective heat dissipation is necessary to avoid hyperthermia. In this study, we measured surface temperatures in lovebirds (Agapornis personatus) using infrared thermography and used heat transfer modelling to calculate heat dissipation by convection, radiation and conduction, before, during and after flight. The total non-evaporative rate of heat dissipation in flying birds was 12× higher than before flight and 19× higher than after flight. During flight, heat was largely dissipated by forced convection, via the exposed ventral wing areas, resulting in lower surface temperatures compared with birds at rest. When perched, both before and after exercise, the head and trunk were the main areas involved in dissipating heat. The surface temperature of the legs increased with flight duration and remained high on landing, suggesting that there was an increase in the flow of warmer blood to this region during and after flight. The methodology developed in this study to investigate how birds thermoregulate during flight could be used in future studies to assess the impact of climate change on the behavioural ecology of birds, particularly those species undertaking migratory flights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnès Lewden
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, IUEM, F-29280 Plouzané, France
| | | | - Graham N. Askew
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
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Ivy CM, Guglielmo CG. Migratory songbirds exhibit seasonal modulation of the oxygen cascade. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb245975. [PMID: 37534524 PMCID: PMC10482389 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Migratory flight requires birds to maintain intensive aerobic exercise for many hours or days. Maintaining O2 supply to flight muscles is therefore important during migration, especially since migratory songbirds have been documented flying at altitudes greater than 5000 m above sea level, where O2 is limited. Whether songbirds exhibit seasonal plasticity of the O2 cascade to maintain O2 uptake and transport during migratory flight is not well understood. We investigated changes in the hypoxic ventilatory response, haematology and pectoralis (flight) muscle phenotype of 6 songbird species from 3 families during migratory and non-migratory conditions. Songbirds were captured during southbound migration in southern Ontario, Canada. Half of the birds were assessed during migration, and the rest were transitioned onto a winter photoperiod to induce a non-migratory phenotype and measured. All species exhibited seasonal plasticity at various stages along the O2 cascade, but not all species exhibited the same responses. Songbirds tended to be more hypoxia tolerant during migration, withstanding 5 kPa O2 and breathed more effectively through slower, deeper breaths. Warblers had a stronger haemoglobin-O2 affinity during autumn migration (decrease of ∼4.7 Torr), while the opposite was observed in thrushes (increase of ∼2.6 Torr). In the flight muscle there was an ∼1.2-fold increase in the abundance of muscle fibres with smaller fibre transverse areas during autumn migration, but no changes in capillary:fibre ratio. These adjustments would enhance O2 uptake and transport to the flight muscle. Our findings demonstrate that in the O2 cascade there is no ideal migratory phenotype for all songbirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine M. Ivy
- Department of Biology, Advanced Facility for Avian Research, Western University, London, ON, Canada, N6A 3K7
| | - Christopher G. Guglielmo
- Department of Biology, Advanced Facility for Avian Research, Western University, London, ON, Canada, N6A 3K7
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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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Smith AD, Sanders FJ, Lefevre KL, Thibault JM, Kalasz KS, Handmaker MC, Smith FM, Keyes TS. Spring migration patterns of red knots in the Southeast United States disentangled using automated telemetry. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11138. [PMID: 37429880 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37517-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Red Knots use the Southeast United States as a stopover during north and southbound migration and during the winter. We examined northbound red knot migration routes and timing using an automated telemetry network. Our primary goal was to evaluate the relative use of an Atlantic migratory route through Delaware Bay versus an inland route through the Great Lakes en route to Arctic breeding grounds and to identify areas of apparent stopovers. Secondarily, we explored the association of red knot routes and ground speeds with prevailing atmospheric conditions. Most Red Knots migrating north from the Southeast United States skipped or likely skipped Delaware Bay (73%) while 27% of the knots stopped in Delaware Bay for at least 1 day. A few knots used an Atlantic Coast strategy that did not include Delaware Bay, relying instead on the areas around Chesapeake Bay or New York Bay for stopovers. Nearly 80% of migratory trajectories were associated with tailwinds at departure. Most knots tracked in our study traveled north through the eastern Great Lake Basin, without stopping, thus making the Southeast United States the last terminal stopover for some knots before reaching boreal or Arctic stopover sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam D Smith
- U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge System, Inventory and Monitoring Branch, Athens, GA, 30605, USA
- American Bird Conservancy, The Plains, VA, 20198, USA
| | - Felicia J Sanders
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, 220 Santee Gun Club Road, McClellanville, SC, 29458, USA.
| | - Kara L Lefevre
- Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL, 33965, USA
- Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, V2C 0C8, Canada
| | - Janet M Thibault
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC, 29412, USA
| | - Kevin S Kalasz
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Ecological Services Field Office, 28950 Watson Blvd, Big Pine Key, FL, 33043, USA
| | - Maina C Handmaker
- University of Massachusetts Amherst, 160 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Fletcher M Smith
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 1 Conservation Way, Brunswick, GA, 31520, USA
| | - Tim S Keyes
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 1 Conservation Way, Brunswick, GA, 31520, USA
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Gilg O, van Bemmelen RSA, Lee H, Park JY, Kim HJ, Kim DW, Lee WY, Sokolovskis K, Solovyeva DV. Flyways and migratory behaviour of the Vega gull (Larus vegae), a little-known Arctic endemic. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281827. [PMID: 36795774 PMCID: PMC9934386 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Large gulls are generalist predators that play an important role in Arctic food webs. Describing the migratory patterns and phenology of these predators is essential to understanding how Arctic ecosystems function. However, from all six large Arctic gull taxa, including three long-distance migrants, to date seasonal movements have been studied only in three and with small sample sizes. To document the flyways and migratory behaviour of the Vega gull, a widespread but little-studied Siberian migrant, we monitored 28 individuals with GPS loggers over a mean period of 383 days. Birds used similar routes in spring and autumn, preferring coastal to inland or offshore routes, and travelled 4000-5500 km between their breeding (Siberia) and wintering grounds (mainly the Republic of Korea and Japan). Spring migration mainly occurred in May, and was twice as fast and more synchronized among individuals than autumn migration. Migration bouts mainly occurred during the day and twilight, but rates of travel were always higher during the few night flights. Flight altitudes were nearly always higher during migration bouts than during other bouts, and lower during twilight than during night or day. Altitudes above 2000m were recorded during migrations, when birds made non-stop inland flights over mountain ranges and vast stretches of the boreal forest. Individuals showed high inter-annual consistency in their movements in winter and summer, indicating strong site fidelity to their breeding and wintering sites. Within-individual variation was similar in spring and autumn, but between individual variation was higher in autumn than in spring. Compared to previous studies, our results suggest that the timing of spring migration in large Arctic gulls is likely constrained by snowmelt at breeding grounds, while the duration of migration windows could be related to the proportion of inland versus coastal habitats found along their flyways ('fly-and-forage' strategy). Ongoing environmental changes are hence likely in short term to alter the timing of their migration, and in long term possibly affect the duration if e.g. the resource availability along the route changes in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Gilg
- UMR 6249 Chrono-Environnement, CNRS, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
- Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique (GREA), Francheville, France
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Hansoo Lee
- Korea Institute of Environmental Ecology (KOECO), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Young Park
- National Migratory Bird Research Center, National Institute of Biological Resources, Ongjin-gun, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwa-Jung Kim
- National Migratory Bird Research Center, National Institute of Biological Resources, Ongjin-gun, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Won Kim
- National Migratory Bird Research Center, National Institute of Biological Resources, Ongjin-gun, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Y. Lee
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Diana V. Solovyeva
- Laboratory of Ornithology, Institute of Biological Problems of the North, Magadan, Russia
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Clements SJ, Loghry JP, Ballard BM, Weegman MD. Carry‐over effects of weather and decision‐making on nest success of a migratory shorebird. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9581. [PMCID: PMC9745104 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J. Clements
- School of Natural Resources University of Missouri Columbia Missouri USA
| | - Jason P. Loghry
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Texas A&M University Kingsville Texas USA
| | - Bart M. Ballard
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Texas A&M University Kingsville Texas USA
| | - Mitch D. Weegman
- School of Natural Resources University of Missouri Columbia Missouri USA
- Department of Biology University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada
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8
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Pancerasa M, Ambrosini R, Romano A, Rubolini D, Winkler DW, Casagrandi R. Across the deserts and sea: inter-individual variation in migration routes of south-central European barn swallows (Hirundo rustica). MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2022; 10:51. [PMID: 36419202 PMCID: PMC9682807 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-022-00352-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The spatiotemporal organization of migratory routes of long-distance migrants results from trade-offs between minimizing the journey length and en route risk of migration-related mortality, which may be reduced by avoiding crossing inhospitable ecological barriers. Despite flourishing avian migration research in recent decades, little is still known about inter-individual variability in migratory routes, as well as the carry-over effects of spatial and temporal features of migration on subsequent migration stages. METHODS We reconstructed post- and pre-breeding migration routes, barrier crossing behaviour and non-breeding movements of the largest sample (N = 85) analysed to date of individual barn swallows breeding in south-central Europe, which were tracked using light-level geolocators. RESULTS Most birds spent their non-breeding period in the Congo basin in a single stationary area, but a small fraction of itinerant individuals reaching South Africa was also observed. Birds generally followed a 'clockwise loop migration pattern', moving through the central Mediterranean and the Sahara Desert during post-breeding (north to south) migration yet switching to a more western route, along the Atlantic coast of Africa, Iberia and western Mediterranean during the pre-breeding (south to north) migration. Southward migration was straighter and less variable, while northward migration was significantly faster despite the broader detour along the Atlantic coast and Iberia. These patterns showed limited sex-related variability. The timing of different circannual events was tightly linked with previous migration stages, considerably affecting migration route and speed of subsequent movements. Indeed, individuals departing late from Africa performed straighter and faster pre-breeding migrations, partly compensating for the initial departure delays, but likely at the cost of performing riskier movements across ecological barriers. CONCLUSIONS Different spatiotemporal migration strategies during post- and pre-breeding migration suggest that conditions en route may differ seasonally and allow for more efficient travelling along different migration corridors in either season. While highlighting patterns of inter-individual variability, our results support increasing evidence for widespread loop migration patterns among Afro-Palearctic avian migrants. Also, they suggest that carry-over effects acting across different phases of the annual cycle of migratory species can have major impacts on evolutionary processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Pancerasa
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico Di Milano, Via Ponzio 34/5, 20131, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Ambrosini
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Andrea Romano
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
- Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque, IRSA-CNR, Via del Mulino 19, 20861, Brugherio, MB, Italy
| | | | - Renato Casagrandi
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico Di Milano, Via Ponzio 34/5, 20131, Milan, Italy.
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Schwemmer P, Pederson R, Haecker K, Bocher P, Fort J, Mercker M, Jiguet F, Elts J, Marja R, Piha M, Rousseau P, Garthe S. Assessing potential conflicts between offshore wind farms and migration patterns of a threatened shorebird species. Anim Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- P. Schwemmer
- Research and Technology Centre (FTZ) University of Kiel Büsum Germany
| | - R. Pederson
- Research and Technology Centre (FTZ) University of Kiel Büsum Germany
| | - K. Haecker
- Research and Technology Centre (FTZ) University of Kiel Büsum Germany
| | - P. Bocher
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés Laboratory (LIENSs) La Rochelle University – CNRS La Rochelle France
| | - J. Fort
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés Laboratory (LIENSs) La Rochelle University – CNRS La Rochelle France
| | - M. Mercker
- Bionum GmbH – Consultants in Biological Statistics Hamburg Germany
| | - F. Jiguet
- UMR7204 CESCO, Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université Paris France
| | - J. Elts
- Birdlife Estonia Tartu Estonia
| | - R. Marja
- Birdlife Estonia Tartu Estonia
- 'Lendület' Landscape and Conservation Ecology Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research Vácrátót Hungary
| | - M. Piha
- Natural Resources Institute Finland Helsinkiarkus Finland
- Finnish Museum of Natural History Helsinki Finland
| | - P. Rousseau
- National Nature Reserve of Moëze‐Oléron LPO Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux Saint‐Froult France
| | - S. Garthe
- Research and Technology Centre (FTZ) University of Kiel Büsum Germany
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10
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Nussbaumer R, Schmid B, Bauer S, Liechti F. Favorable winds speed up bird migration in spring but not in autumn. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9146. [PMID: 35923938 PMCID: PMC9339755 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Wind has a significant yet complex effect on bird migration speed. With prevailing south wind, overall migration is generally faster in spring than in autumn. However, studies on the difference in airspeed between seasons have shown contrasting results so far, in part due to their limited geographical or temporal coverage. Using the first full‐year weather radar data set of nocturnal bird migration across western Europe together with wind speed from reanalysis data, we investigate variation of airspeed across season. We additionally expand our analysis of ground speed, airspeed, wind speed, and wind profit variation across time (seasonal and daily) and space (geographical and altitudinal). Our result confirms that wind plays a major role in explaining both temporal and spatial variabilities in ground speed. The resulting airspeed remains relatively constant at all scales (daily, seasonal, geographically and altitudinally). We found that spring airspeed is overall 5% faster in Spring than autumn, but we argue that this number is not significant compared to the biases and limitation of weather radar data. The results of the analysis can be used to further investigate birds' migratory strategies across space and time, as well as their energy use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Silke Bauer
- Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach Switzerland
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11
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Sachs G. Powered-Gliding/Climbing Flight. J Theor Biol 2022; 547:111146. [PMID: 35487281 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2022.111146] [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: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A new flight mode in birds that decreases the energy costs by reducing the fuel consumption is described. This flight mode consists basically of a powered-glide phase and a climb phase. These phases constitute a cycle that is continually performed. The powered-glide phase shows a reduced wing flapping for generating thrust at an intermediate level. Other than a glide with a fixed wing posture, there is an energy support in the powered glide. It is shown that powered-gliding/flapping flight provides a high energy efficiency in terms of a low fuel consumption. The powered-glide phase is determinative for achieving the low fuel consumption. Based on this effect, powered-gliding/climbing flight shows the lowest fuel consumption per range when compared with any other travel flight mode. This implies that powered-gliding/climbing flight shows a lower fuel consumption than the best cruise flight at constant altitude or the best cruise climb. There are birds that show continual altitude changes in long-distance flights rather than flying at a constant altitude. There is evidence based on observations and measurements that the descents in these altitude changes take place as powered glides. This suggests that long-distance flights with altitude changes consist of powered-glide/flapping flight with repeated cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gottfried Sachs
- TUM Senior Excellence Faculty, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
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12
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Lathouwers M, Artois T, Dendoncker N, Beenaerts N, Conway G, Henderson I, Kowalczyk C, Davaasuren B, Bayrgur S, Shewring M, Cross T, Ulenaers E, Liechti F, Evens R. Rush or relax: migration tactics of a nocturnal insectivore in response to ecological barriers. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4964. [PMID: 35322145 PMCID: PMC8943004 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09106-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
During their annual migration, avian migrants alternate stopover periods, for refuelling, with migratory flight bouts. We hypothesise that European Nightjars (Caprimulgus europaeus) adapt their daily migration tactics in association with biomes. We tracked the autumn migration of 24 European Nightjars, from breeding populations in Mongolia, Belgium and UK, using GPS-loggers and multi-sensor data loggers. We quantified crepuscular and nocturnal migration and foraging probabilities, as well as daily travel speed and flight altitude during active migration in response to biomes. Nightjars adopt a rush tactic, reflected in high daily travel speed, flight altitude and high migration probabilities at dusk and at night, when travelling through ecological barriers. Migration is slower in semi-open, hospitable biomes. This is reflected in high foraging probabilities at dusk, lower daily travel speed and lower migration probabilities at dusk. Our study shows how nightjars switch migration tactics during autumn migration, and suggest nightjars alternate between feeding and short migratory flight bouts within the same night when travelling through suitable habitats. How this may affect individuals’ fuel stores and whether different biomes provide refuelling opportunities en route remains to be investigated, to understand how future land-use change may affect migration patterns and survival probabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiel Lathouwers
- Research Group: Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Campus Diepenbeek, Agoralaan, Gebouw D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium. .,Department of Geography, Institute of Life, Earth and Environment (ILEE), University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000, Namur, Belgium.
| | - Tom Artois
- Research Group: Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Campus Diepenbeek, Agoralaan, Gebouw D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Dendoncker
- Department of Geography, Institute of Life, Earth and Environment (ILEE), University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000, Namur, Belgium
| | - Natalie Beenaerts
- Research Group: Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Campus Diepenbeek, Agoralaan, Gebouw D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Greg Conway
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU, UK
| | - Ian Henderson
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU, UK
| | - Céline Kowalczyk
- Research Group: Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Campus Diepenbeek, Agoralaan, Gebouw D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | | | - Soddelgerekh Bayrgur
- Department of Biology, Mongolian National University of Education, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - Mike Shewring
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.,MPS Ecology, Heol y Cyw, Bridgend, UK
| | | | - Eddy Ulenaers
- Agentschap Natuur en Bos, Regio Noord-Limburg, Herman Teirlinck Havenlaan 88 bus 75, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Felix Liechti
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, 6204, Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Ruben Evens
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner-Straße, 82319, Seewiesen, Germany.,Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
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13
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Linscott JA, Navedo JG, Clements SJ, Loghry JP, Ruiz J, Ballard BM, Weegman MD, Senner NR. Compensation for wind drift prevails for a shorebird on a long-distance, transoceanic flight. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2022; 10:11. [PMID: 35255994 PMCID: PMC8900403 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-022-00310-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Conditions encountered en route can dramatically impact the energy that migratory species spend on movement. Migratory birds often manage energetic costs by adjusting their behavior in relation to wind conditions as they fly. Wind-influenced behaviors can offer insight into the relative importance of risk and resistance during migration, but to date, they have only been studied in a limited subset of avian species and flight types. We add to this understanding by examining in-flight behaviors over a days-long, barrier-crossing flight in a migratory shorebird. METHODS Using satellite tracking devices, we followed 25 Hudsonian godwits (Limosa haemastica) from 2019-2021 as they migrated northward across a largely transoceanic landscape extending > 7000 km from Chiloé Island, Chile to the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. We identified in-flight behaviors during this crossing by comparing directions of critical movement vectors and used mixed models to test whether the resulting patterns supported three classical predictions about wind and migration. RESULTS Contrary to our predictions, compensation did not increase linearly with distance traveled, was not constrained during flight over open ocean, and did not influence where an individual ultimately crossed over the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico at the end of this flight. Instead, we found a strong preference for full compensation throughout godwit flight paths. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that compensation is crucial to godwits, emphasizing the role of risk in shaping migratory behavior and raising questions about the consequences of changing wind regimes for other barrier-crossing aerial migrants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Linscott
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
| | - Juan G Navedo
- Estacion Experimental Quempillén, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Ancud, Chiloé, Chile
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Sarah J Clements
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, 103 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Jason P Loghry
- Texas A&M University, Kingsville, 700 University Blvd., MSC 218, Kingsville, TX, 78363, USA
| | - Jorge Ruiz
- Estacion Experimental Quempillén, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Ancud, Chiloé, Chile
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Bart M Ballard
- Texas A&M University, Kingsville, 700 University Blvd., MSC 218, Kingsville, TX, 78363, USA
| | - Mitch D Weegman
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Nathan R Senner
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA
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14
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Rueda-Uribe C, Lötberg U, Åkesson S. Foraging on the wing for fish while migrating over changing landscapes: traveling behaviors vary with available aquatic habitat for Caspian terns. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2022; 10:9. [PMID: 35236399 PMCID: PMC8892754 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-022-00307-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Birds that forage while covering distance during migration should adjust traveling behaviors as the availability of foraging habitat changes. Particularly, the behavior of those species that depend on bodies of water to find food yet manage to migrate over changing landscapes may be limited by the substantial variation in feeding opportunities along the route. METHODS Using GPS tracking data, we studied how traveling behaviors vary with available foraging habitat during the long-distance migration of Caspian terns (Hydroprogne caspia), a bird with a specialized diet based on fish that needs bodies of water to forage. We measured individual variation in five traveling behaviors related to foraging along the route and used linear mixed effects models to test the following variables as predictors of traveling behaviors: proportion of overlap with water bodies, weather conditions, days at previous stopover and days of migration. Also, we tested if during traveling days flight height and speed varied with time of day and if birds were in areas with greater proportion of water bodies compared to what would be expected by chance from the landscape. RESULTS We found variation in migratory traveling behaviors that was mainly related to the proportion of overlap with water bodies and experienced tailwinds. Suggesting a mixed migratory strategy with fly-and-foraging, Caspian terns reduced travel speed, flew fewer hours of the day, had lower flight heights and increased diurnal over nocturnal migratory flight hours as the proportion of overlap with water bodies increased. Birds had lower flight speeds and higher flight heights during the day, were in foraging habitats with greater proportions of water than expected by chance but avoided foraging detours. Instead, route tortuosity was associated with lower wind support and cloudier skies. CONCLUSIONS Our findings show how birds may adjust individual behavior as foraging habitat availability changes during migration and contribute to the growing knowledge on mixed migratory strategies of stopover use and fly-and-forage.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Rueda-Uribe
- Department of Biology, Centre for Animal Movement Research, Lund University, Ecology Building, 223 62, Lund, Sweden.
| | - U Lötberg
- BirdLife Sweden, Stenhusa gård, Lilla Brunneby 106, 386 62, Mörbylånga, Sweden
| | - S Åkesson
- Department of Biology, Centre for Animal Movement Research, Lund University, Ecology Building, 223 62, Lund, Sweden.
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15
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Schmaljohann H, Eikenaar C, Sapir N. Understanding the ecological and evolutionary function of stopover in migrating birds. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:1231-1252. [PMID: 35137518 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Global movement patterns of migratory birds illustrate their fascinating physical and physiological abilities to cross continents and oceans. During their voyages, most birds land multiple times to make so-called 'stopovers'. Our current knowledge on the functions of stopover is mainly based on the proximate study of departure decisions. However, such studies are insufficient to gauge fully the ecological and evolutionary functions of stopover. If we study how a focal trait, e.g. changes in energy stores, affects the decision to depart from a stopover without considering the trait(s) that actually caused the bird to land, e.g. unfavourable environmental conditions for flight, we misinterpret the function of the stopover. It is thus important to realise and acknowledge that stopovers have many different functions, and that not every migrant has the same (set of) reasons to stop-over. Additionally, we may obtain contradictory results because the significance of different traits to a migrant is context dependent. For instance, late spring migrants may be more prone to risk-taking and depart from a stopover with lower energy stores than early spring migrants. Thus, we neglect that departure decisions are subject to selection to minimise immediate (mortality risk) and/or delayed (low future reproductive output) fitness costs. To alleviate these issues, we first define stopover as an interruption of migratory endurance flight to minimise immediate and/or delayed fitness costs. Second, we review all probable functions of stopover, which include accumulating energy, various forms of physiological recovery and avoiding adverse environmental conditions for flight, and list potential other functions that are less well studied, such as minimising predation, recovery from physical exhaustion and spatiotemporal adjustments to migration. Third, derived from these aspects, we argue for a paradigm shift in stopover ecology research. This includes focusing on why an individual interrupts its migratory flight, which is more likely to identify the individual-specific function(s) of the stopover correctly than departure-decision studies. Moreover, we highlight that the selective forces acting on stopover decisions are context dependent and are expected to differ between, e.g. K-/r-selected species, the sexes and migration strategies. For example, all else being equal, r-selected species (low survival rate, high reproductive rate) should have a stronger urge to continue the migratory endurance flight or resume migration from a stopover because the potential increase in immediate fitness costs suffered from a flight is offset by the expected higher reproductive success in the subsequent breeding season. Finally, we propose to focus less on proximate mechanisms controlling landing and departure decisions, and more on ultimate mechanisms to identify the selective forces shaping stopover decisions. Our ideas are not limited to birds but can be applied to any migratory species. Our revised definition of stopover and the proposed paradigm shift has the potential to stimulate a fruitful discussion towards a better evolutionary ecological understanding of the functions of stopover. Furthermore, identifying the functions of stopover will support targeted measures to conserve and restore the functionality of stopover sites threatened by anthropogenic environmental changes. This is especially important for long-distance migrants, which currently are in alarming decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko Schmaljohann
- Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences (IBU), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, Oldenburg, 26129, Germany.,Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven, 26386, Germany
| | - Cas Eikenaar
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven, 26386, Germany
| | - Nir Sapir
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology and the Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
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16
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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: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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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17
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Norevik G, Åkesson S, Andersson A, Bäckman J, Hedenström A. Flight altitude dynamics of migrating European nightjars across regions and seasons. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:272593. [PMID: 34647575 PMCID: PMC8601712 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Avian migrants may fly at a range of altitudes, but usually concentrate near strata where a combination of flight conditions is favourable. The aerial environment can have a large impact on the performance of the migrant and is usually highly dynamic, making it beneficial for a bird to regularly check the flight conditions at alternative altitudes. We recorded the migrations between northern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa of European nightjars Caprimulgus europaeus to explore their altitudinal space use during spring and autumn flights and to test whether their climbs and descents were performed according to predictions from flight mechanical theory. Spring migration across all regions was associated with more exploratory vertical flights involving major climbs, a higher degree of vertical displacement within flights, and less time spent in level flight, although flight altitude per se was only higher during the Sahara crossing. The nightjars commonly operated at ascent rates below the theoretical maximum, and periods of descent were commonly undertaken by active flight, and rarely by gliding flight, which has been assumed to be a cheaper locomotion mode during descents. The surprisingly frequent shifts in flight altitude further suggest that nightjars can perform vertical displacements at a relatively low cost, which is expected if the birds can allocate potential energy gained during climbs to thrust forward movement during descents. The results should inspire future studies on the potential costs associated with frequent altitude changes and their trade-offs against anticipated flight condition improvements for aerial migrants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Norevik
- Department of Biology, Centre for Animal Movement Research, Lund University, Ecology Building, 22362Lund, Sweden
| | - Susanne Åkesson
- Department of Biology, Centre for Animal Movement Research, Lund University, Ecology Building, 22362Lund, Sweden
| | - Arne Andersson
- Department of Biology, Centre for Animal Movement Research, Lund University, Ecology Building, 22362Lund, Sweden
| | - Johan Bäckman
- Department of Biology, Centre for Animal Movement Research, Lund University, Ecology Building, 22362Lund, Sweden
| | - Anders Hedenström
- Department of Biology, Centre for Animal Movement Research, Lund University, Ecology Building, 22362Lund, Sweden
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18
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Mondain‐Monval TO, Amos M, Chapman J, MacColl A, Sharp SP. Flyway-scale analysis reveals that the timing of migration in wading birds is becoming later. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:14135-14145. [PMID: 34707846 PMCID: PMC8525091 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the implications of climate change for migratory animals is paramount for establishing how best to conserve them. A large body of evidence suggests that birds are migrating earlier in response to rising temperatures, but many studies focus on single populations of model species.Migratory patterns at large spatial scales may differ from those occurring in single populations, for example because of individuals dispersing outside of study areas. Furthermore, understanding phenological trends across species is vital because we need a holistic understanding of how climate change affects wildlife, especially as rates of temperature change vary globally.The life cycles of migratory wading birds cover vast latitudinal gradients, making them particularly susceptible to climate change and, therefore, ideal model organisms for understanding its effects. Here, we implement a novel application of changepoint detection analysis to investigate changes in the timing of migration in waders at a flyway scale using a thirteen-year citizen science dataset (eBird) and determine the influence of changes in weather conditions on large-scale migratory patterns.In contrast to most previous research, our results suggest that migration is getting later in both spring and autumn. We show that rates of change were faster in spring than autumn in both the Afro-Palearctic and Nearctic flyways, but that weather conditions in autumn, not in spring, predicted temporal changes in the corresponding season. Birds migrated earlier in autumn when temperatures increased rapidly, and later with increasing headwinds.One possible explanation for our results is that migration is becoming later due to northward range shifts, which means that a higher proportion of birds travel greater distances and therefore take longer to reach their destinations. Our findings underline the importance of considering spatial scale when investigating changes in the phenology of migratory bird species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matt Amos
- Lancaster Environment CentreLancaster UniversityLancasterUK
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19
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Abstract
Acts of flight have always baffled humans. Recent tracking studies of birds only add to the awe and mystery. A new study shows that migrating great snipes fly high - over two kilometres high - during the day and lower at night. Why?
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Affiliation(s)
- Theunis Piersma
- Rudi Drent Chair in Global Flyway Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands; NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Coastal Systems, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands.
| | - Jorge S Gutiérrez
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; Ecology in the Anthropocene, Associated Unit CSIC-UEX, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
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20
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Birds use individually consistent temperature cues to time their migration departure. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2026378118. [PMID: 34260383 PMCID: PMC8285904 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2026378118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Whether migratory populations are preadapted or constrained in responding to global climate change largely depends on which cues individuals use when deciding to start their migration. The identity of these cues is revealed by whether response thresholds are consistent within, but differ between, individuals (“repeatability”). By satellite tracking 48 individuals across multiple migrations, we show that 1) Asian houbara used the environmental cue of local temperature, which was correlated between wintering and breeding grounds, to time their spring migration departure; 2) departure responses to temperature varied between individuals but were individually repeatable; and 3) individuals’ use of temperature as a cue allowed for adaptive population-level change in migration timing, relative to annual variation in spring temperatures. A fundamental issue in migration biology is how birds decide when to start their journey, given that arriving too early or too late in a variable environment reduces individual fitness. Internal circannual regulation and predictable cues such as photoperiod prepare birds for migration, while variable external cues such as temperature and wind are thought to fine-tune departure times; however, this has not been demonstrated at the key point at which an individual animal decides to start migrating. In theory, environmental cues correlated between departure and arrival sites allow informed departure decisions. For 48 satellite-tracked Asian houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii, a medium-distance migrant with climatic connectivity between wintering and breeding areas, each tracked across multiple years, spring departure was under individually consistent temperature conditions, with greater individual repeatability than for photoperiod or wind. Individuals occupied a range of wintering sites latitudinally spanning 1,200 km but departed at lower temperatures from more northerly latitudes. These individual departure decisions produced earlier mean population-level departure and arrival dates in warmer springs. Phenological adjustments were fully compensatory, because individuals arrived on the breeding grounds under similar temperature conditions each year. Individuals’ autumn departure decisions were also repeatable for temperature but less distinct than for spring, likely because of relaxed time constraints on leaving breeding grounds and the use of wind as a supplementary departure cue. We show that individual-level departure decisions informed by local temperatures can preadapt a population to adjust its population-level phenology in response to annual variability in spring temperatures without requiring genetic change in reaction thresholds.
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21
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Galtbalt B, Lilleyman A, Coleman JT, Cheng C, Ma Z, Rogers DI, Woodworth BK, Fuller RA, Garnett ST, Klaassen M. Far eastern curlew and whimbrel prefer flying low - wind support and good visibility appear only secondary factors in determining migratory flight altitude. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2021; 9:32. [PMID: 34120657 PMCID: PMC8201695 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-021-00267-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In-flight conditions are hypothesized to influence the timing and success of long-distance migration. Wind assistance and thermal uplift are thought to reduce the energetic costs of flight, humidity, air pressure and temperature may affect the migrants' water balance, and clouds may impede navigation. Recent advances in animal-borne long-distance tracking enable evaluating the importance of these factors in determining animals' flight altitude. METHODS Here we determine the effects of wind, humidity, temperature, cloud cover, and altitude (as proxy for climbing costs and air pressure) on flight altitude selection of two long-distance migratory shorebirds, far eastern curlew (Numenius madagascariensis) and whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus). To reveal the predominant drivers of flight altitude selection during migration we compared the atmospheric conditions at the altitude the birds were found flying with conditions elsewhere in the air column using conditional logistic mixed effect models. RESULTS Our results demonstrate that despite occasional high-altitude migrations (up to 5550 m above ground level), our study species typically forego flying at high altitudes, limiting climbing costs and potentially alleviating water loss and facilitating navigation. While mainly preferring migrating at low altitude, notably in combination with low air temperature, the birds also preferred flying with wind support to likely reduce flight costs. They avoided clouds, perhaps to help navigation or to reduce the risks from adverse weather. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the primary determinant of avian migrant's flight altitude selection is a preference for low altitude, with wind support as an important secondary factor. Our approach and findings can assist in predicting climate change effects on migration and in mitigating bird strikes with air traffic, wind farms, power lines, and other human-made structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Batbayar Galtbalt
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Science, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Amanda Lilleyman
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environment Science Program, Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Casuarina, Northern Territory, 0909, Australia
| | - Jonathan T Coleman
- Queensland Wader Study Group, 22 Parker Street, Shailer Park, 4128, Australia
| | - Chuyu Cheng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of the Yangtze River Estuary, Institute of Biodiversity Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Zhijun Ma
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of the Yangtze River Estuary, Institute of Biodiversity Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Danny I Rogers
- Department of Environment, Water, Land and Planning, Arthur Rylah Institute, PO Box 137, Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084, Australia
- Australasian Wader Studies Group, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bradley K Woodworth
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Richard A Fuller
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Stephen T Garnett
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environment Science Program, Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Casuarina, Northern Territory, 0909, Australia
| | - Marcel Klaassen
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Science, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Wader Study Group, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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22
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Sjöberg S, Malmiga G, Nord A, Andersson A, Bäckman J, Tarka M, Willemoes M, Thorup K, Hansson B, Alerstam T, Hasselquist D. Extreme altitudes during diurnal flights in a nocturnal songbird migrant. Science 2021; 372:646-648. [DOI: 10.1126/science.abe7291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Billions of nocturnally migrating songbirds fly across oceans and deserts on their annual journeys. Using multisensor data loggers, we show that great reed warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) regularly prolong their otherwise strictly nocturnal flights into daytime when crossing the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara Desert. Unexpectedly, when prolonging their flights, they climbed steeply at dawn, from a mean of 2394 meters above sea level to reach extreme cruising altitudes (mean 5367 and maximum 6267 meters above sea level) during daytime flights. This previously unknown behavior of using exceedingly high flight altitudes when migrating during daytime could be caused by diel variation in ambient temperature, winds, predation, vision range, and solar radiation. Our finding of this notable behavior provides new perspectives on constraints in bird flight and might help to explain the evolution of nocturnal migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sissel Sjöberg
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Globe Institute; University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Andreas Nord
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Johan Bäckman
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maja Tarka
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Kasper Thorup
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Globe Institute; University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bengt Hansson
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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23
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Schwemmer P, Mercker M, Vanselow KH, Bocher P, Garthe S. Migrating curlews on schedule: departure and arrival patterns of a long-distance migrant depend on time and breeding location rather than on wind conditions. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2021; 9:9. [PMID: 33731224 PMCID: PMC7967988 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-021-00252-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Departure decisions in long-distance migratory bird species may depend on favourable weather conditions and beneficial resources at the destination location, overarched by genetic triggers. However, few studies have tried to validate the significance of these three concepts simultaneously, and long-term, high-resolution tagging datasets recording individual movements across consecutive years are scarce. We used such a dataset to explore intraspecific and intra-individual variabilities in departure and arrival decisions from/to wintering grounds in relation to these three different concepts in bird migration. METHODS We equipped 23 curlews (Numenius arquata) wintering in the Wadden Sea with Global Positioning System data loggers to record their spatio-temporal patterns of departure from and arrival at their wintering site, and the first part of their spring migration. We obtained data for 42 migrations over 6 years, with 12 individuals performing repeat migrations in consecutive years. Day of year of departure and arrival was related to 38 meteorological and bird-related predictors using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) to identify drivers of departure and arrival decisions. RESULTS Curlews migrated almost exclusively to Arctic and sub-Arctic Russia for breeding. They left their wintering site mainly during the evening from mid- to late April and returned between the end of June and mid-July. There was no difference in departure times between the sexes. Weather parameters did not impact departure decisions; if departure days coincided with headwind conditions, the birds accounted for this by flying at higher altitudes of up to several kilometres. Curlews breeding further away in areas with late snowmelt departed later. Departures dates varied by only < 4 days in individual curlews tagged over consecutive years. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the trigger for migration in this long-distance migrant is largely independent of weather conditions but is subject to resource availability in breeding areas. The high intra-individual repeatability of departure days among subsequent years and the lack of relationship to weather parameters suggest the importance of genetic triggers in prompting the start of migration. Further insights into the timing of migration in immatures and closely related birds might help to further unravel the genetic mechanisms triggering migration patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Schwemmer
- Research and Technology Centre (FTZ), University of Kiel, Hafentörn 1, 25761, Büsum, Germany.
| | - Moritz Mercker
- Bionum GmbH - Consultants in Biological Statistics, 21129, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Klaus Heinrich Vanselow
- Research and Technology Centre (FTZ), University of Kiel, Hafentörn 1, 25761, Büsum, Germany
| | - Pierrick Bocher
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés Laboratory (LIENSs), University of La Rochelle CNRS, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Stefan Garthe
- Research and Technology Centre (FTZ), University of Kiel, Hafentörn 1, 25761, Büsum, Germany
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24
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Li D, Davison G, Lisovski S, Battley PF, Ma Z, Yang S, How CB, Watkins D, Round P, Yee A, Srinivasan V, Teo C, Teo R, Loo A, Leong CC, Er K. Shorebirds wintering in Southeast Asia demonstrate trans-Himalayan flights. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21232. [PMID: 33311583 PMCID: PMC7732824 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77897-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Many birds wintering in the Indian subcontinent fly across the Himalayas during migration, including Bar-headed Geese (Anser indicus), Demoiselle Cranes (Anthropoides virgo) and Ruddy Shelducks (Tadorna ferruginea). However, little is known about whether shorebirds migrate across the Himalayas from wintering grounds beyond the Indian subcontinent. Using geolocators and satellite tracking devices, we demonstrate for the first time that Common Redshanks (Tringa totanus) and Whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus) wintering in Singapore can directly fly over the Himalayas to reach breeding grounds in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and north-central Russia respectively. The results also show that migratory shorebirds wintering in Southeast Asia can use both the Central Asian Flyway and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. For Redshanks, westerly-breeding birds crossed the Himalayas while more easterly breeders on the Plateau migrated east of the Himalayas. For Whimbrels, an individual that crossed the Himalayas was probably from a breeding population that was different from the others that migrated along the coast up the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. The minimum required altitude of routes of trans-Himalayan Redshanks were no higher on average than those of eastern migrants, but geolocator temperature data indicate that birds departing Singapore flew at high elevations even when not required to by topography, suggesting that the Himalayan mountain range may be less of a barrier than assumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Li
- National Parks Board, Singapore, 718925, Singapore.
| | | | - Simeon Lisovski
- Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz Centre for Marine and Polar Research, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Phil F Battley
- Wildlife & Ecology Group, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
| | - Zhijun Ma
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of the Yangtze River Estuary, Institute of Biodiversity Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Shufen Yang
- National Parks Board, Singapore, 718925, Singapore
| | | | - Doug Watkins
- Australasian Wader Studies Group, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia
| | - Philip Round
- Department of Biology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Alex Yee
- National Parks Board, Singapore, 718925, Singapore
| | | | - Clarice Teo
- National Parks Board, Singapore, 718925, Singapore
| | - Robert Teo
- National Parks Board, Singapore, 718925, Singapore
| | - Adrian Loo
- National Parks Board, Singapore, 718925, Singapore
| | | | - Kenneth Er
- National Parks Board, Singapore, 718925, Singapore
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25
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Tapper S, Nocera JJ, Burness G. Experimental evidence that hyperthermia limits offspring provisioning in a temperate-breeding bird. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:201589. [PMID: 33204485 PMCID: PMC7657879 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.201589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
In many vertebrates, parental care can require long bouts of daily exercise that can span several weeks. Exercise, especially in the heat, raises body temperature, and can lead to hyperthermia. Typical strategies for regulating body temperature during endurance exercise include modifying performance to avoid hyperthermia (anticipatory regulation) and allowing body temperature to rise above normothermic levels for brief periods of time (facultative hyperthermia). Facultative hyperthermia is commonly employed by desert birds to economize on water, but this strategy may also be important for chick-rearing birds to avoid reducing offspring provisioning when thermoregulatory demands are high. In this study, we tested how chick-rearing birds balance their own body temperature against the need to provision dependent offspring. We experimentally increased the heat dissipation capacity of breeding female tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) by trimming their ventral feathers and remotely monitored provisioning rates, body temperature and the probability of hyperthermia. Birds with an experimentally increased capacity to dissipate heat (i.e. trimmed treatment) maintained higher feeding rates than controls at high ambient temperatures (greater than or equal to 25°C), while maintaining lower body temperatures. However, at the highest temperatures (greater than or equal to 25°C), trimmed individuals became hyperthermic. These results provide evidence that chick-rearing tree swallows use both anticipatory regulation and facultative hyperthermia during endurance performance. With rising global temperatures, individuals may need to increase their frequency of facultative hyperthermia to maintain nestling provisioning, and thereby maximize reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Tapper
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joseph J. Nocera
- Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick, 28 Dineen Drive, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Gary Burness
- Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
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26
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Oversummering in the southern hemisphere by long-distance migratory shorebirds calls for reappraisal of wetland conservation policies. Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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27
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Carneiro C, Gunnarsson TG, Alves JA. Linking Weather and Phenology to Stopover Dynamics of a Long-Distance Migrant. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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28
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Krietsch J, Valcu M, Kempenaers B. Wind conditions influence breeding season movements in a nomadic polygynous shorebird. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20192789. [PMID: 32075527 PMCID: PMC7031675 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.2789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Nomadism is a behaviour where individuals respond to environmental variability with movements that seem unpredictable in timing and direction. In contrast to migration, the mechanisms underlying nomadic movements remain largely unknown. Here, we focus on a form of apparent nomadism in a polygynous shorebird, the pectoral sandpiper (Calidris melanotos). Local mating opportunities are unpredictable and most males sampled multiple sites across a considerable part of their breeding range. We test the hypothesis that individuals decided which part of the breeding range to sample in a given season based on the prevailing wind conditions. Using movement data from 80 males in combination with wind data from a global reanalysis model, we show that male pectoral sandpipers flew with wind support more often than expected by chance. Stronger wind support led to increased ground speed and was associated with a longer flight range. Long detours (loop-like flights) can be explained by individuals flying initially with the wind. Individuals did not fly westwards into the Russian Arctic without wind support, but occasionally flew eastwards into the North American Arctic against strong headwinds. Wind support might be less important for individuals flying eastwards, because their autumn migration journey will be shorter. Our study suggests that individuals of a species with low site fidelity choose their breeding site opportunistically based on the prevailing wind conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Krietsch
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner-Strasse, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Mihai Valcu
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner-Strasse, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Bart Kempenaers
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner-Strasse, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
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29
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Haest B, Hüppop O, van de Pol M, Bairlein F. Autumn bird migration phenology: A potpourri of wind, precipitation and temperature effects. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:4064-4080. [PMID: 31273866 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Climate change has caused a clear and univocal trend towards advancement in spring phenology. Changes in autumn phenology are much more diverse, with advancement, delays, and 'no change' all occurring frequently. For migratory birds, patterns in autumn migration phenology trends have been identified based on ecological and life-history traits. Explaining interspecific variation has nevertheless been challenging, and the underlying mechanisms have remained elusive. Radar studies on non-species-specific autumn migration intensity have repeatedly suggested that there are strong links with weather. In long-term species-specific studies, the variance in autumn migration phenology explained by weather has, nevertheless, been rather low, or a relationship was even lacking entirely. We performed a spatially explicit time window analysis of weather effects on mean autumn passage of four trans-Saharan and six intra-European passerines to gain insights into this apparent contradiction. We analysed data from standardized daily captures at the Heligoland island constant-effort site (Germany), in combination with gridded daily temperature, precipitation and wind data over a 55-year period (1960-2014), across northern Europe. Weather variables at the breeding and stopover grounds explained up to 80% of the species-specific interannual variability in autumn passage. Overall, wind conditions were most important. For intra-European migrants, wind was even twice as important as either temperature or precipitation, and the pattern also held in terms of relative contributions of each climate variable to the temporal trends in autumn phenology. For the trans-Saharan migrants, however, the pattern of relative trend contributions was completely reversed. Temperature and precipitation had strong trend contributions, while wind conditions had only a minor impact because they did not show any strong temporal trends. As such, understanding species-specific effects of climate on autumn phenology not only provides unique insights into each species' ecology but also how these effects shape the observed interspecific heterogeneity in autumn phenological trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgen Haest
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Ommo Hüppop
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Martijn van de Pol
- Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', Wilhelmshaven, Germany
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30
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Parr N, Wilkes M, Hawkes LA. Natural Climbers: Insights from Avian Physiology at High Altitude. High Alt Med Biol 2019; 20:427-437. [DOI: 10.1089/ham.2019.0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Parr
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | - Matt Wilkes
- Centre for Altitude Space and Extreme Environment Medicine, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy Alice Hawkes
- Hatherly Laboratories, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
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31
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Loonstra AHJ, Verhoeven MA, Senner NR, Both C, Piersma T. Adverse wind conditions during northward Sahara crossings increase the in-flight mortality of Black-tailed Godwits. Ecol Lett 2019; 22:2060-2066. [PMID: 31529603 PMCID: PMC6900105 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Long‐distance migratory flights are predicted to be associated with higher mortality rates when individuals encounter adverse weather conditions. However, directly connecting environmental conditions experienced in‐flight with the survival of migrants has proven difficult. We studied how the in‐flight mortality of 53 satellite‐tagged Black‐tailed Godwits (Limosa limosa limosa) during 132 crossings of the Sahara Desert, a major geographical barrier along their migration route between The Netherlands and sub‐Saharan Africa, is correlated with the experienced wind conditions and departure date during both southward and northward migration. We show that godwits experienced higher wind assistance during southward crossings, which seems to reflect local prevailing trade winds. Critically, we found that fatal northward crossings (15 deaths during 61 crossings) were associated with adverse wind conditions. Wind conditions during migration can thus directly influence vital rates. Changing wind conditions associated with global change may thus profoundly influence the costs of long‐distance migration in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- A H Jelle Loonstra
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mo A Verhoeven
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Nathan R Senner
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA
| | - Christiaan Both
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Theunis Piersma
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands.,NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Coastal Systems and Utrecht University, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB, Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
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32
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Cabrera‐Cruz SA, Smolinsky JA, McCarthy KP, Buler JJ. Urban areas affect flight altitudes of nocturnally migrating birds. J Anim Ecol 2019; 88:1873-1887. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jaclyn A. Smolinsky
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology University of Delaware Newark DE USA
| | - Kyle P. McCarthy
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology University of Delaware Newark DE USA
| | - Jeffrey J. Buler
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology University of Delaware Newark DE USA
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33
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Senner NR, Verhoeven MA, Abad-Gómez JM, Alves JA, Hooijmeijer JCEW, Howison RA, Kentie R, Loonstra AHJ, Masero JA, Rocha A, Stager M, Piersma T. High Migratory Survival and Highly Variable Migratory Behavior in Black-Tailed Godwits. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
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34
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Haest B, Hüppop O, Bairlein F. The influence of weather on avian spring migration phenology: What, where and when? GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2018; 24:5769-5788. [PMID: 30238551 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decades, spring arrival and passage of most short- and medium-distance migrating birds in the Northern Hemisphere have advanced. Changes in spring temperature at the passage or arrival area have been most frequently shown to be related to these changes in spring migration phenology. In most studies, preliminary assumptions are made on both the spatial location and the specific time frame of the weather influencing spring migration phenology. We performed a spatially explicit time-window analysis of the effect of weather on mean spring passage dates of nine short- and medium-distance passerines. We analysed data from standardized daily captures at the Helgoland (Germany) constant-effort site, in combination with gridded daily temperature, precipitation and wind data from the NCEP data set over a 55-year period (1960-2014), across the whole of West Europe and North Africa. Although we allowed for a time window of any length at any location, nevertheless incorporating various measures to avoid spurious correlations, time windows at the likely wintering or spring stopover grounds were almost exclusively selected as the best predicting variables (96%-100% of identified variables). The weather variables at the wintering and stopover grounds explain up to 77% of the interannual variability in spring passage. Yet, the response of spring migration phenology to weather at the winter or stopover areas does not fully explain the observed trends. Spring migration phenology is, hence, strongly driven by weather at the wintering and stopover grounds, but additional mechanisms are needed to fully explain the advancement of spring migration. Our results also clearly show that previously illustrated correlations, or the lack thereof, between spring migration phenology and weather at the passage or arrival location are due to spatio-temporal correlations in the weather data. This spatial mismatch might have led to false conclusions, especially the further away the wintering or stopover sites are.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgen Haest
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Ommo Hüppop
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", Wilhelmshaven, Germany
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