1
|
Goto Y, Weimerskirch H, Fukaya K, Yoda K, Naruoka M, Sato K. Albatrosses employ orientation and routing strategies similar to yacht racers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2312851121. [PMID: 38771864 PMCID: PMC11161812 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312851121] [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: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The way goal-oriented birds adjust their travel direction and route in response to wind significantly affects their travel costs. This is expected to be particularly pronounced in pelagic seabirds, which utilize a wind-dependent flight style called dynamic soaring. Dynamic soaring seabirds in situations without a definite goal, e.g. searching for prey, are known to preferentially fly with crosswinds or quartering-tailwinds to increase the speed and search area, and reduce travel costs. However, little is known about their reaction to wind when heading to a definite goal, such as homing. Homing tracks of wandering albatrosses (Diomedea exulans) vary from beelines to zigzags, which are similar to those of sailboats. Here, given that both albatrosses and sailboats travel slower in headwinds and tailwinds, we tested whether the time-minimizing strategies used by yacht racers can be compared to the locomotion patterns of wandering albatrosses. We predicted that when the goal is located upwind or downwind, albatrosses should deviate their travel directions from the goal on the mesoscale and increase the number of turns on the macroscale. Both hypotheses were supported by track data from albatrosses and racing yachts in the Southern Ocean confirming that albatrosses qualitatively employ the same strategy as yacht racers. Nevertheless, albatrosses did not strictly minimize their travel time, likely making their flight robust against wind fluctuations to reduce flight costs. Our study provides empirical evidence of tacking in albatrosses and demonstrates that man-made movement strategies provide a new perspective on the laws underlying wildlife movement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Goto
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya464-8601, Japan
| | - Henri Weimerskirch
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS–Université de la Rochelle, Villiers En Bois79360, France
| | - Keiichi Fukaya
- National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki305-8506, Japan
| | - Ken Yoda
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya464-8601, Japan
| | - Masaru Naruoka
- Aeronautical Technology Directorate, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Mitaka, Tokyo181-0015, Japan
| | - Katsufumi Sato
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba277-8564, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gillies N, Martín López LM, den Ouden OFC, Assink JD, Basille M, Clay TA, Clusella-Trullas S, Joo R, Weimerskirch H, Zampolli M, Zeyl JN, Patrick SC. Albatross movement suggests sensitivity to infrasound cues at sea. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2218679120. [PMID: 37812719 PMCID: PMC10589618 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2218679120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The ways in which seabirds navigate over very large spatial scales remain poorly understood. While olfactory and visual information can provide guidance over short distances, their range is often limited to 100s km, far below the navigational capacity of wide-ranging animals such as albatrosses. Infrasound is a form of low-frequency sound that propagates for 1,000s km in the atmosphere. In marine habitats, its association with storms and ocean surface waves could in effect make it a useful cue for anticipating environmental conditions that favor or hinder flight or be associated with profitable foraging patches. However, behavioral responses of wild birds to infrasound remain untested. Here, we explored whether wandering albatrosses, Diomedea exulans, respond to microbarom infrasound at sea. We used Global Positioning System tracks of 89 free-ranging albatrosses in combination with acoustic modeling to investigate whether albatrosses preferentially orientate toward areas of 'loud' microbarom infrasound on their foraging trips. We found that in addition to responding to winds encountered in situ, albatrosses moved toward source regions associated with higher sound pressure levels. These findings suggest that albatrosses may be responding to long-range infrasonic cues. As albatrosses depend on winds and waves for soaring flight, infrasonic cues may help albatrosses to identify environmental conditions that allow them to energetically optimize flight over long distances. Our results shed light on one of the great unresolved mysteries in nature, navigation in seemingly featureless ocean environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Gillies
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, LiverpoolL3 5DA, United Kingdom
| | - Lucía Martina Martín López
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, LiverpoolL3 5DA, United Kingdom
- Ipar Perspective Asociación Karabiondo Kalea, Bilbao48600, Spain
| | - Olivier F. C. den Ouden
- Research and Development Seismology and Acoustics, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, Utrecht3731GA, Netherlands
- Department of Geoscience and Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft2628CD, Netherlands
| | - Jelle D. Assink
- Research and Development Seismology and Acoustics, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, Utrecht3731GA, Netherlands
| | - Mathieu Basille
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Davie, FL33314
| | - Thomas A. Clay
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, LiverpoolL3 5DA, United Kingdom
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA95064
| | | | - Rocío Joo
- Global Fishing Watch, Washington, DC20036
| | - Henri Weimerskirch
- Ecology of Marine Birds and Mammals, Centre d’Étude Biologique de Chizé, Villiers-en-Bois79360, France
| | - Mario Zampolli
- International Monitoring System Division, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, Vienna1400, Austria
| | - Jeffrey N. Zeyl
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town7602, South Africa
| | - Samantha C. Patrick
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, LiverpoolL3 5DA, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Nourani E, Safi K, de Grissac S, Anderson DJ, Cole NC, Fell A, Grémillet D, Lempidakis E, Lerma M, McKee JL, Pichegru L, Provost P, Rattenborg NC, Ryan PG, Santos CD, Schoombie S, Tatayah V, Weimerskirch H, Wikelski M, Shepard ELC. Seabird morphology determines operational wind speeds, tolerable maxima, and responses to extremes. Curr Biol 2023; 33:1179-1184.e3. [PMID: 36827987 PMCID: PMC10789609 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.01.068] [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: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Storms can cause widespread seabird stranding and wrecking,1,2,3,4,5 yet little is known about the maximum wind speeds that birds are able to tolerate or the conditions they avoid. We analyzed >300,000 h of tracking data from 18 seabird species, including flapping and soaring fliers, to assess how flight morphology affects wind selectivity, both at fine scales (hourly movement steps) and across the breeding season. We found no general preference or avoidance of particular wind speeds within foraging tracks. This suggests seabird flight morphology is adapted to a "wind niche," with higher wing loading being selected in windier environments. In support of this, wing loading was positively related to the median wind speeds on the breeding grounds, as well as the maximum wind speeds in which birds flew. Yet globally, the highest wind speeds occur in the tropics (in association with tropical cyclones) where birds are morphologically adapted to low median wind speeds. Tropical species must therefore show behavioral responses to extreme winds, including long-range avoidance of wind speeds that can be twice their operable maxima. By contrast, Procellariiformes flew in almost all wind speeds they encountered at a seasonal scale. Despite this, we describe a small number of cases where albatrosses avoided strong winds at close range, including by flying into the eye of the storm. Extreme winds appear to pose context-dependent risks to seabirds, and more information is needed on the factors that determine the hierarchy of risk, given the impact of global change on storm intensity.6,7.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elham Nourani
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany; Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78464 Konstanz, Germany.
| | - Kamran Safi
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany; Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Sophie de Grissac
- Diomedea Science - Research & Scientific Communication, 819 route de la Jars, 38 950 Quaix-en-Chartreuse, France
| | - David J Anderson
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, 1834 Wake Forest Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
| | - Nik C Cole
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, La Profonde Rue, La Profonde Rue, JE3 5BP Jersey, Channel Islands; Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Grannum Road, 73418 Vacoas, Mauritius
| | - Adam Fell
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
| | - David Grémillet
- CEFE, University Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier, France; FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Miriam Lerma
- Research and Technology Centre (FTZ), University of Kiel, Hafentörn 1, 25761 Büsum, Germany
| | - Jennifer L McKee
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, 1834 Wake Forest Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
| | - Lorien Pichegru
- Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 6031, South Africa
| | - Pascal Provost
- Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux, Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Sept-Iles, 22560 Pleumeur Bodou, France
| | - Niels C Rattenborg
- Avian Sleep Group, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Eberhard-Gwinner-Straße, 82319 Starnberg, Germany
| | - Peter G Ryan
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Carlos D Santos
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany; Núcleo de Teoria Pesquisa do Comportamento, Universidade Federal do Pará, R. Augusto Corrêa, 01 - Guamá, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil; CESAM - Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Stefan Schoombie
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Vikash Tatayah
- Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Grannum Road, 73418 Vacoas, Mauritius
| | | | - Martin Wikelski
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany; Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78464 Konstanz, Germany; Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Emily L C Shepard
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany; Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea SA1 8PP, UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Jordan FD, Shaffer SA, Conners MG, Stepanuk JEF, Gilmour ME, Clatterbuck CA, Hazen EL, Palacios DM, Tremblay Y, Antolos M, Foley DG, Bograd SJ, Costa DP, Thorne LH. Divergent post-breeding spatial habitat use of Laysan and black-footed albatross. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1028317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the at-sea movements of wide-ranging seabird species throughout their annual cycle is essential for their conservation and management. Habitat use and resource partitioning of Laysan (Phoebastria immutabilis) and black-footed (Phoebastria nigripes) albatross are well-described during the breeding period but are less understood during the post-breeding period, which represents ~40% of their annual cycle. Resource partitioning may be reduced during post-breeding, when birds are not constrained to return to the nest site regularly and can disperse to reduce competitive pressure. We assessed the degree of spatial segregation in the post-breeding distributions of Laysan (n = 82) and black-footed albatrosses (n = 61) using geolocator tags between 2008 and 2012 from two large breeding colonies in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Midway Atoll, and Tern Island. We characterized the species-and colony-specific foraging and focal distributions (represented by the 95 and 50th density contours, respectively) and quantified segregation in at-sea habitat use between species and colonies. Laysan and black-footed albatross showed consistent and significant at-sea segregation in focal areas across colonies, indicating that resource partitioning persists during post-breeding. Within breeding colonies, segregation of foraging areas between the two species was more evident for birds breeding at Tern Island. Spatial segregation decreased as the post-breeding season progressed, when spatial distributions of both species became more dispersed. In contrast to studies conducted on breeding Laysan and black-footed albatross, we found that sea surface temperature distinguished post-breeding habitats of black-footed albatrosses between colonies, with black-footed albatrosses from Midway Atoll occurring in cooler waters (3.6°C cooler on average). Our results reveal marked at-sea segregation between Laysan and black-footed albatross breeding at two colonies during a critical but understudied phase in their annual cycle. The observed variation in species-environment relationships underscores the importance of sampling multiple colonies and temporal periods to more thoroughly understand the spatial distributions of pelagic seabirds.
Collapse
|
5
|
Searle KR, Butler A, Waggitt JJ, Evans PGH, Bogdanova MI, Hobbs NT, Daunt F, Wanless S. Opposing effects of spatiotemporal variation in resources and temporal variation in climate on density dependent population growth in seabirds. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:2384-2399. [PMID: 36177549 PMCID: PMC10092667 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13819] [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: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Understanding how ecological processes combine to shape population dynamics is crucial in a rapidly changing world. Evidence has been emerging for how fundamental drivers of density dependence in mobile species are related to two differing types of environmental variation-temporal variation in climate, and spatiotemporal variation in food resources. However, to date, tests of these hypotheses have been largely restricted to mid-trophic species in terrestrial environments and thus their general applicability remains unknown. We tested if these same processes can be identified in marine upper trophic level species. We assembled a multi-decadal data set on population abundance of 10 species of colonial seabirds comprising a large component of the UK breeding seabird biomass, and covering diverse phylogenies, life histories and foraging behaviours. We tested for evidence of density dependence in population growth rates using discrete time state-space population models fit to long time-series of observations of abundance at seabird breeding colonies. We then assessed if the strength of density dependence in population growth rates was exacerbated by temporal variation in climate (sea temperature and swell height), and attenuated by spatiotemporal variation in prey resources (productivity and tidal fronts). The majority of species showed patterns consistent with temporal variation in climate acting to strengthen density dependent feedbacks to population growth. However, fewer species showed evidence for a weakening of density dependence with increasing spatiotemporal variation in prey resources. Our findings extend this emerging theory for how different sources of environmental variation may shape the dynamics and regulation of animal populations, demonstrating its role in upper trophic marine species. We show that environmental variation leaves a signal in long-term population dynamics of seabirds with potentially important consequences for their demography and trophic interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Adam Butler
- Bioinformatics and Statistics ScotlandEdinburghUK
| | | | | | | | - N. Thompson Hobbs
- Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability & Graduate Degree Program in EcologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Richardson PL, Wakefield ED. Observations and models of across-wind flight speed of the wandering albatross. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:211364. [PMID: 36465680 PMCID: PMC9709578 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Wandering albatrosses exploit wind shear by dynamic soaring (DS), enabling rapid, efficient, long-range flight. We compared the ability of a theoretical nonlinear DS model and a linear empirical model to explain the observed variation of mean across-wind airspeeds of GPS-tracked wandering albatrosses. Assuming a flight trajectory of linked, 137° turns, a DS cycle of 10 s and a cruise airspeed of 16 m s-1, the theoretical model predicted that the minimum wind speed necessary to support DS is greater than 3 m s-1. Despite this, tracked albatrosses were observed in flight at wind speeds as low as 2 m s-1. We hypothesize at these very low wind speeds, wandering albatrosses fly by obtaining additional energy from updrafts over water waves. In fast winds (greater than 8 m s-1), assuming the same 10 s cycle period and a turn angle (TA) of 90°, the DS model predicts mean across-wind airspeeds of up to around 50 m s-1. In contrast, the maximum observed across-wind mean airspeed of our tracked albatrosses reached an asymptote at approximately 20 m s-1. We hypothesize that this is due to birds actively limiting airspeed by making fine-scale adjustments to TAs and soaring heights in order to limit aerodynamic force on their wings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philip L. Richardson
- Department of Physical Oceanography, MS#21, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 360 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Ewan D. Wakefield
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ventura F, Catry P, Dias MP, Breed GA, Folch A, Granadeiro JP. A central place foraging seabird flies at right angles to the wind to jointly optimize locomotor and olfactory search efficiency. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220895. [PMID: 36043278 PMCID: PMC9428525 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To increase the probability of detecting odour plumes, and so increase prey capture success, when winds are stable central place foraging seabirds should fly crosswind to maximize the round-trip distance covered. At present, however, there is no empirical evidence of this theoretical prediction. Here, using an extensive GPS tracking dataset, we investigate, for the first time, the foraging movements of Bulwer's petrels (Bulweria bulwerii) in the persistent North Atlantic trade winds. To test the hypotheses that, in stable winds, petrels use crosswind to maximize both the distance covered and the probability of detecting olfactory cues, we combine state-space models, generalized additive models and Gaussian plume models. Bulwer's petrels had the highest degree of selectivity for crosswinds documented to date, often leading to systematic zig-zag flights. Crosswinds maximized both the distance travelled and the probability of detecting odour plumes integrated across the round-trip (rather than at any given point along the route, which would result in energetically costly return flight). This evidence suggests that petrels plan round-trip flights at departure, integrating expected costs of homeward journeys. Our findings, which are probably true for other seabirds in similar settings, further highlight the critical role of wind in seabird foraging ecology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Ventura
- CESAM, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Paulo Catry
- MARE–Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Ispa–Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria P. Dias
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Greg A. Breed
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, USA
| | - Arnau Folch
- Geociencias Barcelona–Consejo Superior Investigaciones Cientificas (GEO3BCN-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Pedro Granadeiro
- CESAM, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Frankish CK, Manica A, Clay TA, Wood AG, Phillips RA. Ontogeny of movement patterns and habitat selection in juvenile albatrosses. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.09057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin K. Frankish
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council Cambridge UK
- Dept of Zoology, Univ. of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | | | - Thomas A. Clay
- School of Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Liverpool Liverpool UK
- Inst. of Marine Sciences, Univ. of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - Andrew G. Wood
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council Cambridge UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
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: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Otsubo J, Higuchi H. Time-lapse camera photographs reveal arrival and breeding timing of short-tailed albatrosses Phoebastria albatrus. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2022. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Monitoring the ecology of seabirds breeding on remote islands is often challenging. However, time-lapse cameras have enabled the surveillance of inaccessible sites. We examined arrival/departure movements and breeding timing of the endangered short-tailed albatross Phoebastria albatrus with time-lapse cameras on Torishima, a remote and uninhabited island in the northwestern Pacific, from November 2016 to June 2017. The photographic images revealed that the first arrival of the albatrosses on the island was on 7 October 2016, and the number of birds reached a peak of 506 on 5 November. The white pairs arrived and began incubating approximately 1 wk earlier than the white/brownish pairs. From the end of January, the number of birds repeatedly increased and decreased within a short period of time. The birds’ movement out of the breeding colony often occurred synchronously with a rapid decline in the mean daily air pressure. Adult birds began to leave the colony in April. The number of chicks reached up to 200 at the beginning of May, but they all left the colony before 1 June. The processing of the photographic images taken during the incubation and early guard periods revealed that hatching failed in approximately 10% of the pairs. The validity of information collected by time-lapse cameras was confirmed by comparing it with the results of previous field studies. This study will contribute to the collection of essential information for monitoring and conserving seabirds breeding on remote islands where successive or frequent fieldwork is difficult.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Otsubo
- Institute of Environmental Informatics, IDEA Consultant Inc., Tsuzuki, Yokohama, Japan 224-0025
| | - H Higuchi
- Research and Education Center for Natural Sciences, Keio University, Hiyoshi, Yokohama, Japan 223-8521
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Dehnhard N, Klekociuk AR, Emmerson L. Interactive effects of body mass changes and species-specific morphology on flight behavior of chick-rearing Antarctic fulmarine petrels under diurnal wind patterns. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:4972-4991. [PMID: 33976863 PMCID: PMC8093695 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7501] [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: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
For procellariiform seabirds, wind and morphology are crucial determinants of flight costs and flight speeds. During chick-rearing, parental seabirds commute frequently to provision their chicks, and their body mass typically changes between outbound and return legs. In Antarctica, the characteristic diurnal katabatic winds, which blow stronger in the mornings, form a natural experimental setup to investigate flight behaviors of commuting seabirds in response to wind conditions. We GPS-tracked three closely related species of sympatrically breeding Antarctic fulmarine petrels, which differ in wing loading and aspect ratio, and investigated their flight behavior in response to wind and changes in body mass. Such information is critical for understanding how species may respond to climate change. All three species reached higher ground speeds (i.e., the speed over ground) under stronger tailwinds, especially on return legs from foraging. Ground speeds decreased under stronger headwinds. Antarctic petrels (Thalassoica antarctica; intermediate body mass, highest wing loading, and aspect ratio) responded stronger to changes in wind speed and direction than cape petrels (Daption capense; lowest body mass, wing loading, and aspect ratio) or southern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialoides; highest body mass, intermediate wing loading, and aspect ratio). Birds did not adjust their flight direction in relation to wind direction nor the maximum distance from their nests when encountering headwinds on outbound commutes. However, birds appeared to adjust the timing of commutes to benefit from strong katabatic winds as tailwinds on outbound legs and avoid strong katabatic winds as headwinds on return legs. Despite these adaptations to the predictable diurnal wind conditions, birds frequently encountered unfavorably strong headwinds, possibly as a result of weather systems disrupting the katabatics. How the predicted decrease in Antarctic near-coastal wind speeds over the remainder of the century will affect flight costs and breeding success and ultimately population trajectories remains to be seen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nina Dehnhard
- Department of BiologyBehavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology GroupUniversity of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
- Department of Agriculture, Water and the EnvironmentAustralian Antarctic DivisionKingstonTas.Australia
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | - Andrew R. Klekociuk
- Department of Agriculture, Water and the EnvironmentAustralian Antarctic DivisionKingstonTas.Australia
| | - Louise Emmerson
- Department of Agriculture, Water and the EnvironmentAustralian Antarctic DivisionKingstonTas.Australia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Harvey C, Inman DJ. Aerodynamic efficiency of gliding birds vs comparable UAVs: a review. BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS 2021; 16:031001. [PMID: 33157545 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/abc86a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Here, we reviewed published aerodynamic efficiencies of gliding birds and similar sized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) motivated by a fundamental question: are gliding birds more efficient than comparable UAVs? Despite a multitude of studies that have quantified the aerodynamic efficiency of gliding birds, there is no comprehensive summary of these results. This lack of consolidated information inhibits a true comparison between birds and UAVs. Such a comparison is complicated by variable uncertainty levels between the different techniques used to predict avian efficiency. To support our comparative approach, we began by surveying theoretical and experimental estimates of avian aerodynamic efficiency and investigating the uncertainty associated with each estimation method. We found that the methodology used by a study affects the estimated efficiency and can lead to incongruent conclusions on gliding bird aerodynamic efficiency. Our survey showed that studies on live birds gliding in wind tunnels provide a reliable minimum estimate of a birds' aerodynamic efficiency while simultaneously quantifying the wing configurations used in flight. Next, we surveyed the aeronautical literature to collect the published aerodynamic efficiencies of similar-sized, non-copter UAVs. The compiled information allowed a direct comparison of UAVs and gliding birds. Contrary to our expectation, we found that there is no definitive evidence that any gliding bird species is either more or less efficient than a comparable UAV. This non-result highlights a critical need for new technology and analytical advances that can reduce the uncertainty associated with estimating a gliding bird's aerodynamic efficiency. Nevertheless, our survey indicated that species flying within subcritical Reynolds number regimes may inspire UAV designs that can extend their operational range to efficiently operate in subcritical regimes. The survey results provided here point the way forward for research into avian gliding flight and enable informed UAV designs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina Harvey
- Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Daniel J Inman
- Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Stokes IA, Lucas AJ. Wave-slope soaring of the brown pelican. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2021; 9:13. [PMID: 33752747 PMCID: PMC7983403 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-021-00247-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND From the laboratory at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, it is common to see the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) traveling along the crests of ocean waves just offshore of the surf-zone. When flying in this manner, the birds can travel long distances without flapping, centimeters above the ocean's surface. Here we derive a theoretical framework for assessing the energetic savings related to this behavior, 'wave-slope soaring,' in which an organism in flight takes advantage of localized updrafts caused by traveling ocean surface gravity waves. METHODS The energy cost of steady, constant altitude flight in and out of ground effect are analyzed as controls. Potential flow theory is used to quantify the ocean wave-induced wind associated with near-shoaling, weakly nonlinear, shallow water ocean surface gravity waves moving through an atmosphere initially at rest. Using perturbation theory and the Green's function for Laplace's equation in 2D with Dirichlet boundary conditions, we obtain integrals for the horizontal and vertical components of the wave-induced wind in a frame of reference moving with the wave. Wave-slope soaring flight is then analyzed using an energetics-based approach for waves under a range of ocean conditions and the body plan of P. occidentalis. RESULTS For ground effect flight, we calculate a ∼15 - 25% reduction in cost of transport as compared with steady, level flight out of ground effect. When wave-slope soaring is employed at flight heights ∼2m in typical ocean conditions (2m wave height, 15s period), we calculate 60-70% reduction in cost of transport as compared with flight in ground effect. A relatively small increase in swell amplitude or decrease in flight height allows up to 100% of the cost of transport to be offset by wave-slope soaring behavior. CONCLUSIONS The theoretical development presented here suggests there are energy savings associated with wave-slope soaring. Individual brown pelicans may significantly decrease their cost of transport utilizing this mode of flight under typical ocean conditions. Thus wave-slope soaring may provide fitness benefit to these highly mobile organisms that depend on patchy prey distribution over large home ranges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ian A. Stokes
- Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 8622 Kennel Way, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Andrew J. Lucas
- Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 8622 Kennel Way, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Frongia GN, Naitana S, Farina V, Gadau SD, Stefano MD, Muzzeddu M, Leoni G, Zedda M. Correlation between wing bone microstructure and different flight styles: The case of the griffon vulture (gyps fulvus) and greater flamingo (phoenicopterus roseus). J Anat 2021; 239:59-69. [PMID: 33650143 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Flying is the main means of locomotion for most avian species, and it requires a series of adaptations of the skeleton and of feather distribution on the wing. Flight type is directly associated with the mechanical constraints during flight, which condition both the morphology and microscopic structure of the bones. Three primary flight styles are adopted by avian species: flapping, gliding, and soaring, with different loads among the main wing bones. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cross-sectional microstructure of the most important skeletal wing bones, humerus, radius, ulna, and carpometacarpus, in griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) and greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus). These two species show a flapping and soaring flight style, respectively. Densitometry, morphology, and laminarity index were assessed from the main bones of the wing of 10 griffon vultures and 10 flamingos. Regarding bone mineral content, griffon vultures generally displayed a higher mineral density than flamingos. Regarding the morphology of the crucial wing bones involved in flight, while a very slightly longer humerus was observed in the radius and ulna of flamingos, the ulna in griffons was clearly longer than other bones. The laminarity index was significantly higher in griffons. The results of the present study highlight how the mechanics of different types of flight may affect the biomechanical properties of the wing bones most engaged during flight.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gian N Frongia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Vittorio Farina
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Italy
| | - Sergio D Gadau
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Italy
| | - Marco D Stefano
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Gerontology and Bone Metabolic Disease Section, Molinette Hospital, University of Turin, Italy
| | - Marco Muzzeddu
- Bonassai Breeding and Wildlife Recovery Center, Regional Forest Agency FoReSTAS, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Leoni
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Italy
| | - Marco Zedda
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
De Pascalis F, Imperio S, Benvenuti A, Catoni C, Rubolini D, Cecere JG. Sex-specific foraging behaviour is affected by wind conditions in a sexually size dimorphic seabird. Anim Behav 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
|
16
|
Clay TA, Joo R, Weimerskirch H, Phillips RA, den Ouden O, Basille M, Clusella-Trullas S, Assink JD, Patrick SC. Sex-specific effects of wind on the flight decisions of a sexually dimorphic soaring bird. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:1811-1823. [PMID: 32557603 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In a highly dynamic airspace, flying animals are predicted to adjust foraging behaviour to variable wind conditions to minimize movement costs. Sexual size dimorphism is widespread in wild animal populations, and for large soaring birds which rely on favourable winds for energy-efficient flight, differences in morphology, wing loading and associated flight capabilities may lead males and females to respond differently to wind. However, the interaction between wind and sex has not been comprehensively tested. We investigated, in a large sexually dimorphic seabird which predominantly uses dynamic soaring flight, whether flight decisions are modulated to variation in winds over extended foraging trips, and whether males and females differ. Using GPS loggers we tracked 385 incubation foraging trips of wandering albatrosses Diomedea exulans, for which males are c. 20% larger than females, from two major populations (Crozet and South Georgia). Hidden Markov models were used to characterize behavioural states-directed flight, area-restricted search (ARS) and resting-and model the probability of transitioning between states in response to wind speed and relative direction, and sex. Wind speed and relative direction were important predictors of state transitioning. Birds were much more likely to take off (i.e. switch from rest to flight) in stronger headwinds, and as wind speeds increased, to be in directed flight rather than ARS. Males from Crozet but not South Georgia experienced stronger winds than females, and males from both populations were more likely to take-off in windier conditions. Albatrosses appear to deploy an energy-saving strategy by modulating taking-off, their most energetically expensive behaviour, to favourable wind conditions. The behaviour of males, which have higher wing loading requiring faster speeds for gliding flight, was influenced to a greater degree by wind than females. As such, our results indicate that variation in flight performance drives sex differences in time-activity budgets and may lead the sexes to exploit regions with different wind regimes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Clay
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Rocío Joo
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Davie, FL, USA
| | - Henri Weimerskirch
- Centre d'Étude Biologique de Chizé, CNRS UMR 7273, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Richard A Phillips
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, UK
| | - Olivier den Ouden
- R&D Seismology and Acoustics, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, De Bilt, The Netherlands.,Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Department of Geoscience and Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Mathieu Basille
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Davie, FL, USA
| | - Susana Clusella-Trullas
- Department of Botany and Zoology and Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Jelle D Assink
- R&D Seismology and Acoustics, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, De Bilt, The Netherlands
| | - Samantha C Patrick
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Ventura F, Granadeiro JP, Padget O, Catry P. Gadfly petrels use knowledge of the windscape, not memorized foraging patches, to optimize foraging trips on ocean-wide scales. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20191775. [PMID: 31937218 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Seabirds must often travel vast distances to exploit heterogeneously distributed oceanic resources, but how routes and destinations of foraging trips are optimized remains poorly understood. Among the seabirds, gadfly petrels (Pterodroma spp.) are supremely adapted for making efficient use of wind energy in dynamic soaring flight. We used GPS tracking data to investigate the role of wind in the flight behaviour and foraging strategy of the Desertas petrel, Pterodroma deserta. We found that rather than visiting foraging hotspots, Desertas petrels maximize prey encounter by covering some of the longest distances known in any animal in a single foraging trip (up to 12 000 km) over deep, pelagic waters. Petrels flew with consistent crosswind (relative wind angle 60°), close to that which maximizes their groundspeed. By combining state-space modelling with a series of comparisons to simulated foraging trips (reshuffled-random, rotated, time-shifted, reversed), we show that this resulted in trajectories that were close to the fastest possible, given the location and time. This wind use is thus consistent both with birds using current winds to fine-tune their routes and, impressively, with an a priori knowledge of predictable regional-scale wind regimes, facilitating efficient flight over great distances before returning to the home colony.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Ventura
- CESAM, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - José Pedro Granadeiro
- CESAM, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Oliver Padget
- Oxford Navigation Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Paulo Catry
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Research on the Design Method of a Bionic Suspension Workpiece Based on the Wing Structure of an Albatross. Appl Bionics Biomech 2019; 2019:2539410. [PMID: 30863459 PMCID: PMC6378084 DOI: 10.1155/2019/2539410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
An air suspension platform uses air pressure to realize the suspension function during the suspension process, and it has the disadvantage of large air pressure and a small suspension force. In this study, an air suspension platform was built using bionic design to reduce the required air pressure and increase the suspension force. A suspension structure mapping model was established according to the physiological structure characteristics of albatross wings. A bionic model was established by using the theoretical calculation formula and structural size parameters of the structural design. A 3D printer was used to manufacture the physical prototype of the suspended workpiece. Based on this, a suspension test rig was built. Six sets of contrast experiments were designed. The experimental results of the suspension test bench were compared with the theoretical calculation results. The results show that the buoyancy of the suspended workpiece with a V-shaped surface at a 15-degree attack angle was optimal for the same air pressure as the other workpieces. The surface structure of the suspended workpiece was applied to the air static pressure guide rail. By comparing the experimental data, the air pressure of the original air suspension guide rail was reduced by 37%, and the validity of the theory and design method was verified.
Collapse
|