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Karwinkel T, Winklhofer M, Allenstein D, Brust V, Christoph P, Holland RA, Hüppop O, Steen J, Bairlein F, Schmaljohann H. A refined magnetic pulse treatment method for magnetic navigation experiments with adequate sham control: a case study on free-flying songbirds. J R Soc Interface 2024; 21:20230745. [PMID: 38745460 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Migratory songbirds may navigate by extracting positional information from the geomagnetic field, potentially with a magnetic-particle-based receptor. Previous studies assessed this hypothesis experimentally by exposing birds to a strong but brief magnetic pulse aimed at remagnetizing the particles and evoking an altered behaviour. Critically, such studies were not ideally designed because they lacked an adequate sham treatment controlling for the induced electric field that is fundamentally associated with a magnetic pulse. Consequently, we designed a sham-controlled magnetic-pulse experiment, with sham and treatment pulse producing a similar induced electric field, while limiting the sham magnetic field to a value that is deemed insufficient to remagnetize particles. We tested this novel approach by pulsing more than 250 wild, migrating European robins (Erithacus rubecula) during two autumn seasons. After pulsing them, five traits of free-flight migratory behaviour were observed, but no effect of the pulse could be found. Notably, one of the traits, the migratory motivation of adults, was significantly affected in only one of the two study years. Considering the problem of reproducing experiments with wild animals, we recommend a multi-year approach encompassing large sample size, blinded design and built-in sham control to obtain future insights into the role of magnetic-particle-based magnetoreception in bird navigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiemo Karwinkel
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- School of Mathematics and Science, Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Michael Winklhofer
- School of Mathematics and Science, Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
- Research Center for Neurosensory Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Dario Allenstein
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- School of Mathematics and Science, Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Vera Brust
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Paula Christoph
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- School of Mathematics and Science, Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Heisenbergstr. 2, Münster 48149, Germany
| | - Richard A Holland
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, University of Bangor, Deiniol Road, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Ommo Hüppop
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Jan Steen
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Heisenbergstr. 2, Münster 48149, Germany
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, Radolfzell 78315, Germany
| | - Heiko Schmaljohann
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- School of Mathematics and Science, Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
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2
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Fattorini N, Costanzo A, Romano A, Rubolini D, Baillie S, Bairlein F, Spina F, Ambrosini R. Eco-evolutionary drivers of avian migratory connectivity. Ecol Lett 2023. [PMID: 37125435 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Migratory connectivity, reflecting the extent by which migrants tend to maintain their reciprocal positions in seasonal ranges, can assist in the conservation and management of mobile species, yet relevant drivers remain unclear. Taking advantage of an exceptionally large (~150,000 individuals, 83 species) and more-than-a-century-long dataset of bird ringing encounters, we investigated eco-evolutionary drivers of migratory connectivity in both short- and long-distance Afro-Palearctic migratory birds. Connectivity was strongly associated with geographical proxies of migration costs and was weakly influenced by biological traits and phylogeny, suggesting the evolutionary lability of migratory behaviour. The large intraspecific variability in avian migration strategies, through which most species geographically split into distinct migratory populations, explained why most of them were significantly connected. By unravelling key determinants of migratory connectivity, our study improves knowledge about the resilience of avian migrants to ecological perturbations, providing a critical tool to inform transboundary conservation and management strategies at the population level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niccolò Fattorini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandra Costanzo
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Romano
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milano, Milan, Italy
- Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque, IRSA-CNR, Brugherio, Italy
| | | | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- Max-Planck-Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Fernando Spina
- Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy
| | - Roberto Ambrosini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milano, Milan, Italy
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3
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Düttmann H, Kruckenberg H, Bünte R, Delingat J, Emke D, Garlichs M, Korner P, Kowallik C, Lauenstein G, Südbeck P, Bairlein F. Grazing effects of wintering geese on grassland yield: A long‐term study from Northwest Germany. J Appl Ecol 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Heinz Düttmann
- Ministerium für Umwelt Energie und Klimaschutz Hannover Germany
| | - Helmut Kruckenberg
- Institute for Wetlands and Waterbird Research (IWWR) e.V. Verden (Aller) Germany
| | - Rolf Bünte
- Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen, Bezirksstelle Ostfriesland Aurich Germany
| | - Julia Delingat
- Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Wasserwirtschaft, Küsten‐ und Naturschutz (NLWKN) Naturschutzstation Fehntjer Tief Ihlow Germany
| | - Dieter Emke
- Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen, Bezirksstelle Ostfriesland Aurich Germany
| | - Mona Garlichs
- Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen, Bezirksstelle Ostfriesland Aurich Germany
| | | | | | | | - Peter Südbeck
- Lower Saxon Wadden Sea National Park Authority Wilhelmshaven Germany
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research, Vogelwarte Helgoland (IfV) Wilhelmshaven Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Radolfzell Germany
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4
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Karwinkel T, Winklhofer M, Janner LE, Brust V, Hüppop O, Bairlein F, Schmaljohann H. A magnetic pulse does not affect free-flight navigation behaviour of a medium-distance songbird migrant in spring. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:276653. [PMID: 36111526 PMCID: PMC9604362 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Current evidence suggests that migratory animals extract map information from the geomagnetic field for true navigation. The sensory basis underlying this feat is elusive, but presumably involves magnetic particles. A common experimental manipulation procedure consists of pre-treating animals with a magnetic pulse, with the aim of re-magnetising particles to alter the internal representation of the external field prior to a navigation task. Although pulsing provoked deflected bearings in caged songbirds, analogous studies with free-flying songbirds yielded inconsistent results. Here, we pulsed European robins (Erithacus rubecula) at an offshore stopover site during spring migration and monitored their free-flight behaviour with a regional-scale network of radio-receiving stations. We found no pulse effect on departure probability, nocturnal departure timing departure direction or consistency of flight direction. This suggests either no use of the geomagnetic map by our birds, or that magnetic pulses do not affect the sensory system underlying geomagnetic map detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiemo Karwinkel
- 1 Institute of Avian Research ‘Vogelwarte Helgoland’, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- 2 Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Michael Winklhofer
- 2 Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
- 3 Research Center for Neurosensory Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Lars Erik Janner
- 1 Institute of Avian Research ‘Vogelwarte Helgoland’, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- 4 Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 1, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Vera Brust
- 1 Institute of Avian Research ‘Vogelwarte Helgoland’, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Ommo Hüppop
- 1 Institute of Avian Research ‘Vogelwarte Helgoland’, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Franz Bairlein
- 1 Institute of Avian Research ‘Vogelwarte Helgoland’, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- 5 Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Heiko Schmaljohann
- 1 Institute of Avian Research ‘Vogelwarte Helgoland’, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- 2 Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
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5
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Karwinkel T, Winklhofer M, Christoph P, Allenstein D, Hüppop O, Brust V, Bairlein F, Schmaljohann H. No apparent effect of a magnetic pulse on free-flight behaviour in northern wheatears ( Oenanthe oenanthe) at a stopover site. J R Soc Interface 2022; 19:20210805. [PMID: 35167773 PMCID: PMC8847002 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2021.0805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Naïve migrants reach their wintering grounds following a clock-and-compass strategy. During these inaugural migrations, birds internalise, among others, cues from the Earth's magnetic field to create a geomagnetic map, with which they navigate to destinations familiar to them on subsequent migrations. Geomagnetic map cues are thought to be sensed by a magnetic-particle-based receptor, which can be specifically affected by a magnetic pulse. Indeed, the orientation of experienced but not naïve birds was compromised after magnetic pulsing, indicating geomagnetic map use. Little is known about the importance of this putative magnetoreceptor for navigation and decision-making in free-flying migrants. Therefore, we studied in unprecedented detail how a magnetic pulse would affect departure probability, nocturnal departure timing, departure direction and consistency in flight direction over 50–100 km in experienced and naïve long-distant migrant songbirds using a large-scale radio-tracking system. Contrary to our expectations and despite a high sample size (ntotal = 137) for a free-flight study, we found no significant after-effect of the magnetic pulse on the migratory traits, suggesting the geomagnetic map is not essential for the intermediate autumn migration phase. These findings warrant re-thinking about perception and use of geomagnetic maps for migratory decisions within a sensory and ecological context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiemo Karwinkel
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany.,Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences (IBU), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Michael Winklhofer
- Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences (IBU), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany.,Research Center for Neurosensory Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Paula Christoph
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany.,Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences (IBU), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Dario Allenstein
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany.,Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences (IBU), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Ommo Hüppop
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Vera Brust
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany.,Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Heiko Schmaljohann
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany.,Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences (IBU), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
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6
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Frias-Soler RC, Kelsey NA, Villarín Pildaín L, Wink M, Bairlein F. Transcriptome signature changes in the liver of a migratory passerine. Genomics 2022; 114:110283. [PMID: 35143886 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The liver plays a principal role in avian migration. Here, we characterised the liver transcriptome of a long-distance migrant, the Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), sampled at different migratory stages, looking for molecular processes linked with adaptations to migration. The analysis of the differentially expressed genes suggested changes in the periods of the circadian rhythm, variation in the proportion of cells in G1/S cell-cycle stages and the putative polyploidization of this cell population. This may explain the dramatic increment in the liver's metabolic capacities towards migration. Additionally, genes involved in anti-oxidative stress, detoxification and innate immune responses, lipid metabolism, inflammation and angiogenesis were regulated. Lipophagy and lipid catabolism were active at all migratory stages and increased towards the fattening and fat periods, explaining the relevance of lipolysis in controlling steatosis and maintaining liver health. Our study clears the way for future functional studies regarding long-distance avian migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Carlos Frias-Soler
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany; Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Natalie A Kelsey
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
| | - Lilian Villarín Pildaín
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Wink
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany; Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany.
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Kelsey NA, Hüppop O, Bairlein F. Days to visit an offshore island: effect of weather conditions on arrival fuel load and potential flight range for common blackbirds Turdus merula migrating over the North Sea. Mov Ecol 2021; 9:53. [PMID: 34674773 PMCID: PMC8529821 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-021-00290-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Crossing open water instead of following the coast(line) is one way for landbirds to continue migration. However, depending on prevailing weather and the birds' physiological conditions, it is also a risky choice. To date, the question remains as to which interplay between environmental and physiological conditions force landbirds to stop on remote islands. We hypothesise that unfavourable winds affect lean birds with low energy resources, while poor visibility affects all birds regardless of their fuel loads. METHODS To test this hypothesis, we caught 1312 common blackbirds Turdus merula stopping over on Helgoland during autumn and spring migration. Arrival fuel load was measured using quantitative magnetic resonance technology. Weather parameters (wind and relative humidity as a proxy for visibility) were interpolated for the night before arrival. Further, we calculated whether caught individuals would have successfully crossed the North Sea instead of landing on Helgoland, depending on wind conditions. RESULTS Both wind and relative humidity the night before arrival were correlated with arrival fuel load. After nights with strong headwinds, birds caught the following day were mostly lean, most of which would not have managed to cross the sea if they had not stopped on Helgoland. In contrast, fat birds that could have successfully travelled on were caught mainly after nights with high relative humidity (≥ 80%). Furthermore, the rate of presumably successful flights was lower due to wind: although only 9% of all blackbirds captured on Helgoland had insufficient fuel loads to allow safe onward migration in still air, real wind conditions would have prevented 30% of birds from successfully crossing the sea during autumn and 21% during spring migration. CONCLUSIONS We were able to decipher how physiological condition, wind and relative humidity partially force blackbirds to stop on a remote island. Adverse winds tend to affect lean birds with low energy resources, while poor visibility can affect blackbirds, regardless of whether the arrival fuel load was sufficient for onward flight. Our findings will help to understand different migratory strategies and explain further questions like migration timing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie A Kelsey
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
| | - Ommo Hüppop
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
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8
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Frias-Soler RC, Kelsey NA, Pildaín LV, Wink M, Bairlein F. The role of ketogenesis in the migratory fattening of the northern wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20210195. [PMID: 34314642 PMCID: PMC8315829 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The fuelling capacity of migratory birds and their ability to avoid health conditions derived from the subsequent fat overload are exceptional among vertebrates. In this work, we screen the expression of the genes involved in the production of ketone bodies (KB) in the liver of northern wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe) during the development and resolution of migratory fattening. Thirteen genes were found to be regulated among the migratory stages. Based on the dynamics of gene expression, we concluded that KB play a versatile role in wheatears' energy metabolism homeostasis. The ketogenic pathway can adaptively: (i) provide carbon equivalents for lipogenesis, speeding up fuelling; (ii) replace glucose during long-distance flights using lipids as the substrate; (iii) act as a floodgate to avoid steatosis; and (iv) might provide a metabolic solution to defatting in captive birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Carlos Frias-Soler
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Natalie A. Kelsey
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Lilian Villarín Pildaín
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Wink
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
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9
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Kelsey NA, Schmaljohann H, Bairlein F. The avian lightweights: Trans-Saharan migrants show lower lean body mass than short-/medium-distance migrants. J Evol Biol 2021; 34:1010-1021. [PMID: 33813789 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Avian trans-Saharan migrants travelling long distances and crossing ecological barriers experience different constraints in terms of time, energy and safety than short-/medium-distance migrants without barrier-crossings. As such, natural selection shapes the aerodynamic properties of these groups differently. Yet, to the best of our knowledge, we lack information on whether natural selection has contributed to reducing energetic flight costs through generally lower body mass in trans-Saharan migrants. To fill parts of this gap, we investigated this eco-morphological pattern in 5,410 individuals of 22 Palearctic songbird species ranging from short-/medium-distance to trans-Saharan migrants. We used individual size-independent scaled lean body mass values based on wing length as a measure of body size and, for the first time, precisely determined lean body mass values by direct measurements via quantitative magnetic resonance technology. Scaled lean body mass for a given body size was significantly higher in short-/medium-distance migrants than in trans-Saharan migrants. Although scaled lean body mass significantly decreased with increasing migration distance in short-/medium-distance migrants, no such effect was found in trans-Saharan migrants. Our results thus show an eco-morphological pattern relating species' lean body mass not only to migration distance but also to migration group. This suggests that selective effects of the presence/absence of ecological barriers and/or of a threshold level for migration distance on migrant birds may be more important than the linear continuum of migration distance per se.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie A Kelsey
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Heiko Schmaljohann
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', Wilhelmshaven, Germany.,Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften (IBU), Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', Wilhelmshaven, Germany.,Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, Germany
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10
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Wang E, Zhang D, Braun MS, Hotz-Wagenblatt A, Pärt T, Arlt D, Schmaljohann H, Bairlein F, Lei F, Wink M. Can Mitogenomes of the Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) Reconstruct Its Phylogeography and Reveal the Origin of Migrant Birds? Sci Rep 2020; 10:9290. [PMID: 32518318 PMCID: PMC7283232 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66287-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe, including the nominate and the two subspecies O. o. leucorhoa and O. o. libanotica) and the Seebohm’s Wheatear (Oenanthe seebohmi) are today regarded as two distinct species. Before, all four taxa were regarded as four subspecies of the Northern Wheatear. Their classification has exclusively been based on ecological and morphological traits, while their molecular characterization is still missing. With this study, we used next-generation sequencing to assemble 117 complete mitochondrial genomes covering O. o. oenanthe, O. o. leucorhoa and O. seebohmi. We compared the resolution power of each individual mitochondrial marker and concatenated marker sets to reconstruct the phylogeny and estimate speciation times of three taxa. Moreover, we tried to identify the origin of migratory wheatears caught on Helgoland (Germany) and on Crete (Greece). Mitogenome analysis revealed two different ancient lineages that separated around 400,000 years ago. Both lineages consisted of a mix of subspecies and species. The phylogenetic trees, as well as haplotype networks are incongruent with the present morphology-based classification. Mitogenome could not distinguish these presumed species. The genetic panmixia among present populations and taxa might be the consequence of mitochondrial introgression between ancient wheatear populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erjia Wang
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Dezhi Zhang
- Key laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Life Sciences, UniversityMerops apiaster. J. Divers of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Markus Santhosh Braun
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Agnes Hotz-Wagenblatt
- Omics IT and Data Management Core Facility, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tomas Pärt
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Debora Arlt
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Heiko Schmaljohann
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", Wilhelmshaven, Germany.,Institute for Biology und Environmental Sciences (IBU), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Fumin Lei
- Key laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Life Sciences, UniversityMerops apiaster. J. Divers of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Michael Wink
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
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11
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Kelsey NA, Schmaljohann H, Bairlein F. A handy way to estimate lean body mass and fuel load from wing length: a quantitative approach using magnetic resonance data. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/03078698.2019.1759909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Natalie A. Kelsey
- Institute of Avian Research ‘Vogelwarte Helgoland’ (IfV), An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Heiko Schmaljohann
- Institute of Avian Research ‘Vogelwarte Helgoland’ (IfV), An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften (IBU), Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Postfach 2503, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research ‘Vogelwarte Helgoland’ (IfV), An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
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12
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Klinner T, Buddemeier J, Bairlein F, Schmaljohann H. Decision-making in migratory birds at stopover: an interplay of energy stores and feeding conditions. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-019-2784-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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13
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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. Glob Chang Biol 2019; 25:4064-4080. [PMID: 31273866 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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14
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Engler JO, Sacher T, Coppack T, Bairlein F. Assortative mating frames establishment in a young island bird population. R Soc Open Sci 2019; 6:190050. [PMID: 31598228 PMCID: PMC6731715 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.190050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Successful island colonizations are key events to understand range dynamic processes, but studying a young population right after it reaches establishment is a rare opportunity in natural systems. The genetic structure of a recently established population may offer unique insights into its colonization history and demographic processes that are important for a successful colonization. Here, we studied the population genetics of a recently established island population of Eurasian blackbirds (Aves: Turdus merula) located on the island of Heligoland in the German North Sea. Using microsatellites, we genotyped the majority of the island population, including the nestlings, over a 4-year period between 2004 and 2007. We also genotyped high numbers of migrants on stopover and mainland individuals, as they are potential founders of the island population. We identified two genetic clusters that comply with the migrating and mainland birds. While most of the island birds belong to the mainland cluster, some breeding individuals and a low fraction of the offspring belong to the genetic cluster found in migrating individuals with almost no admixture between the two, pointing to assortative mating acting on the island population. We did not find any evidence for founder events and detected deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium that disappeared in cohorts of older age that coincide with a lower number of siblings in older cohorts. The observed genetic patterns unravel a complex colonization history to which migratory and mainland birds have contributed and which is characterized by assortative mating. Further research will be directed towards habitat selection and phenotypic differences as potential drivers of assortative mating in this island population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan O. Engler
- Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thomas Sacher
- Institute of Avian Research, Vogelwarte Helgoland, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Timothy Coppack
- Institute of Avian Research, Vogelwarte Helgoland, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research, Vogelwarte Helgoland, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
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15
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Jiguet F, Robert A, Lorrillière R, Hobson KA, Kardynal KJ, Arlettaz R, Bairlein F, Belik V, Bernardy P, Copete JL, Czajkowski MA, Dale S, Dombrovski V, Ducros D, Efrat R, Elts J, Ferrand Y, Marja R, Minkevicius S, Olsson P, Pérez M, Piha M, Raković M, Schmaljohann H, Seimola T, Selstam G, Siblet JP, Skierczyǹski M, Sokolov A, Sondell J, Moussy C. Unravelling migration connectivity reveals unsustainable hunting of the declining ortolan bunting. Sci Adv 2019; 5:eaau2642. [PMID: 31131318 PMCID: PMC6530999 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aau2642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In France, illegal hunting of the endangered ortolan bunting Emberiza hortulana has been defended for the sake of tradition and gastronomy. Hunters argued that ortolan buntings trapped in southwest France originate from large and stable populations across the whole of Europe. Yet, the European Commission referred France to the Court of Justice of the European Union (EU) in December 2016 for infringements to legislation (IP/16/4213). To better assess the impact of hunting in France, we combined Pan-European data from archival light loggers, stable isotopes, and genetics to determine the migration strategy of the species across continents. Ortolan buntings migrating through France come from northern and western populations, which are small, fragmented and declining. Population viability modeling further revealed that harvesting in southwest France is far from sustainable and increases extinction risk. These results provide the sufficient scientific evidence for justifying the ban on ortolan harvesting in France.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Jiguet
- CESCO, UMR7204 MNHN-CNRS-Sorbonne Université, CP135, 43 Rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Alexandre Robert
- CESCO, UMR7204 MNHN-CNRS-Sorbonne Université, CP135, 43 Rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Romain Lorrillière
- CESCO, UMR7204 MNHN-CNRS-Sorbonne Université, CP135, 43 Rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France
- Ecologie Systématique et Evolution, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Keith A. Hobson
- Department of Biology and Environment and Climate Change Canada, University of Western Ontario, Room 2025 BGS Building, 1151 Richmond St., London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Kevin J. Kardynal
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, 11 Innovation Boulevard, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3H5, Canada
| | - Raphaël Arlettaz
- Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Valais Field Station, Swiss Ornithological Institute, 11 Rue du Rhône, 1950 Sion, Switzerland
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Viktor Belik
- Department of Zoology, Southern Federal University, Bolshaja Sadovaja, Rostov-on-Don 344006, Russia
| | - Petra Bernardy
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - José Luis Copete
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive, Lynx Edicions, Montseny 8, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | | | - Svein Dale
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Valery Dombrovski
- Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences, Academichnaya 27, 220072 Minsk, Belarus
| | - Delphine Ducros
- CESCO, UMR7204 MNHN-CNRS-Sorbonne Université, CP135, 43 Rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France
- Comportement et Ecologie de la Faune Sauvage, Université de Toulouse, INRA (UR 035), 24 chemin de Borde-Rouge – Auzeville CS 52627, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan Cedex, France
| | - Ron Efrat
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, The Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Jaanus Elts
- Estonian Ornithological Society, Veski 4, 51005 Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, 46 Vanemuise St., 51014 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Yves Ferrand
- Direction de la Recherche e de l’Expertise, Unité Avifaune Migratrice, ONCFS, 85 bis avenue de Wagram, 75017 Paris, France
| | - Riho Marja
- Estonian Environment Agency, Rõõmu tee St. 2, 50605 Tartu, Estonia
| | | | - Peter Olsson
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Research (CEC), Ekologihuset, Sölvegatan 37, Lund, Sweden
| | - Marc Pérez
- Nostra Senyora de Montserrat 19, 08756 La Palma de Cervelló, Spain
| | - Markus Piha
- Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 17 Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13, FI-00014, Finland
| | - Marko Raković
- Natural History Museum of Belgrade, Njegoševa 51, Serbia
| | - Heiko Schmaljohann
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- Institute for Biology und Environmental Sciences (IBU), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, D-26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Tuomas Seimola
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Natural Resources, Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gunnar Selstam
- Department of Agricultural Research in Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Umeå, 901 85 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Jean-Philippe Siblet
- UMS PatriNat (AFB-CNRS-MNHN), CP41, 36 rue Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Michał Skierczyǹski
- Department of Behavioural Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Alexandr Sokolov
- Belogorie State Nature Reserve, per Monastyrskij dom 3, p Borisovka 309342, Borisovskij r-n, Belgorod Region, Russia
| | - Jan Sondell
- Kvismare Bird Observatory, Rulleuddsvägen 10, S-178 51 Ekerö, Sweden
| | - Caroline Moussy
- CESCO, UMR7204 MNHN-CNRS-Sorbonne Université, CP135, 43 Rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France
- BirdLife International, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK
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16
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Eikenaar C, Hessler S, Fischer S, Bairlein F. An exception to the rule: Captivity does not stress wild migrating northern wheatears. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 275:25-29. [PMID: 30753841 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Wild animals typically suffer from stress when brought into captivity. This stress is characterized by elevated circulating glucocorticoid levels and weight loss. We here describe for the first time a case where a wild animal, the long-distance migrating northern wheatear, does not show signs of stress when caged. We captured these birds on a stopover site during their spring migration and caged them individually with ad libitum access to food and water. The birds were divided into four groups and were blood-sampled immediately in the field, a few hours after caging, one day after caging, or three days after caging, respectively. From these blood-samples we determined circulating corticosterone level. Food intake and body mass were also monitored. We found that, with very few exceptions, corticosterone levels were low and did not differ among the groups. Accordingly, almost all birds consumed huge quantities of food and substantially increased their body mass. Together these results clearly show that caging does not result in indications of stress in wild migrating northern wheatears. Confinement-specific conditions such as restricted movement normally stress animals. We suggest migratory birds may not perceive such conditions as stressors due to their hyperphagic state, a notion that requires further testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cas Eikenaar
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
| | - Sven Hessler
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Sandra Fischer
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
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17
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Haest B, Hüppop O, Bairlein F. The influence of weather on avian spring migration phenology: What, where and when? Glob Chang Biol 2018; 24:5769-5788. [PMID: 30238551 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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18
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Heim W, Eccard JA, Bairlein F. Migration phenology determines niche use of East Asian buntings (Emberizidae) during stopover. Curr Zool 2018; 64:681-692. [PMID: 30538727 PMCID: PMC6280105 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoy016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Stopover niche utilization of birds during migration has not gained much attention so far, since the majority of the studies focuses on breeding or wintering areas. However, stopover sites are crucial for migratory birds. They are often used by a multitude of species, which could lead to increased competition. In this work, we investigated niche use of 8 migratory and closely related Emberiza bunting species at a stopover site in Far East Russia, situated on the poorly studied East Asian flyway. We used bird ringing data to evaluate morphological similarity as well as niche overlap on the trophic, spatial, and temporal dimension. Bill morphology was used as a proxy for their trophic niche. We were able to prove that a majority of the species occupies well-defined stopover niches on at least one of the dimensions. Niche breadth and niche overlap differ between spring and autumn season with higher overlap found during spring. Morphological differences are mostly related to overall size and wing pointedness. The temporal dimension is most important for segregation among the studied species. Furthermore, all species seem to exhibit a rather strict and consistent phenological pattern. Their occurrence at the study site is highly correlated with their geographic origin and the length of their migration route. We assume that buntings are able to use available resources opportunistically during stopover, while trying to follow a precise schedule in order to avoid competition and to ensure individual fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wieland Heim
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, Münster University, Heisenbergstraße 2, Münster, Germany
| | - Jana A Eccard
- Animal Ecology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Universität Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 1, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
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19
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Frias-Soler RC, Villarín Pildaín L, Hotz-Wagenblatt A, Kolibius J, Bairlein F, Wink M. De novo annotation of the transcriptome of the Northern Wheatear ( Oenanthe oenanthe). PeerJ 2018; 6:e5860. [PMID: 30498627 PMCID: PMC6251345 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We have sequenced a partial transcriptome of the Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), a species with one of the longest migrations on Earth. The transcriptome was constructed de novo using RNA-Seq sequence data from the pooled mRNA of six different tissues: brain, muscle, intestine, liver, adipose tissue and skin. The samples came from nine captive-bred wheatears collected at three different stages of the endogenous autumn migratory period: (1) lean birds prior the onset of migration, (2) during the fattening stage and (3) individuals at their migratory body mass plateau, when they have almost doubled their lean body mass. The sample structure used to build up the transcriptome of the Northern Wheatears concerning tissue composition and time guarantees the future survey of the regulatory genes involved in the development of the migratory phenotype. Through the pre-migratory period, birds accomplish outstanding physical and behavioural changes that involve all organ systems. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms through which birds synchronize and control hyperphagia, fattening, restlessness increase, immunity boosting and tuning the muscles for such endurance flight are still largely unknown. The use of RNA-Seq has emerged as a powerful tool to analyse complex traits on a broad scale, and we believe it can help to characterize the migratory phenotype of wheatears at an unprecedented level. The primary challenge to conduct quantitative transcriptomic studies in non-model species is the availability of a reference transcriptome, which we have constructed and described in this paper. The cDNA was sequenced by pyrosequencing using the Genome Sequencer Roche GS FLX System; with single paired-end reads of about 400 bp. We estimate the total number of genes at 15,640, of which 67% could be annotated using Turkey and Zebra Finch genomes, or protein sequence information from SwissProt and NCBI databases. With our study, we have made a first step towards understanding the migratory phenotype regarding gene expression of a species that has become a model to study birds long-distance migrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Carlos Frias-Soler
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Baden Württemberg, Germany.,Institute of Avian Research, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Lilian Villarín Pildaín
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Baden Württemberg, Germany
| | - Agnes Hotz-Wagenblatt
- Bioinformatics Group, Core Facility Genomics and Proteomics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Baden Württemberg, Germany
| | - Jonas Kolibius
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Baden Württemberg, Germany
| | | | - Michael Wink
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Baden Württemberg, Germany
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20
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Haest B, Hüppop O, Bairlein F. Challenging a 15-year-old claim: The North Atlantic Oscillation index as a predictor of spring migration phenology of birds. Glob Chang Biol 2018; 24:1523-1537. [PMID: 29251800 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2017] [Revised: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Many migrant bird species that breed in the Northern Hemisphere show advancement in spring arrival dates. The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index is one of the climatic variables that have been most often investigated and shown to be correlated with these changes in spring arrival. Although the NAO is often claimed to be a good predictor or even to have a marked effect on interannual changes in spring migration phenology of Northern Hemisphere breeding birds, the results on relations between spring migration phenology and NAO show a large variety, ranging from no, over weak, to a strong association. Several factors, such as geographic location, migration phase, and the NAO index time window, have been suggested to partly explain these observed differences in association. A combination of a literature meta-analysis, and a meta-analysis and sliding time window analysis of a dataset of 23 short- and long-distance migrants from the constant-effort trapping garden at Helgoland, Germany, however, paints a completely different picture. We found a statistically significant overall effect size of the NAO on spring migration phenology (coefficient = -0.14, SE = 0.054), but this on average only explains 0%-6% of the variance in spring migration phenology across all species. As such, the value and biological meaning of the NAO as a general predictor or explanatory variable for climate change effects on migration phenology of birds, seems highly questionable. We found little to no definite support for previously suggested factors, such as geographic location, migration phenology phase, or the NAO time window, to explain the heterogeneity in correlation differences. We, however, did find compelling evidence that the lack of accounting for trends in both time series has led to strongly inflated (spurious) correlations in many studies (coefficient = -0.13, SE = 0.019).
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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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21
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
| | - Wolfgang Wiltschko
- Fachbereich 15 Biowissenschaften, Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, Campus Riedberg, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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22
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Heyers D, Elbers D, Bulte M, Bairlein F, Mouritsen H. The magnetic map sense and its use in fine-tuning the migration programme of birds. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2017; 203:491-497. [PMID: 28365788 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-017-1164-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Revised: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The Earth's magnetic field is one of several natural cues, which migratory birds can use to derive directional ("compass") information for orientation on their biannual migratory journeys. Moreover, magnetic field effects on prominent aspects of the migratory programme of birds, such as migratory restlessness behaviour, fuel deposition and directional orientation, implicate that geomagnetic information can also be used to derive positional ("map") information. While the magnetic "compass" in migratory birds is likely to be based on radical pair-forming molecules embedded in their visual system, the sensory correlates underlying a magnetic "map" sense currently remain elusive. Behavioural, physiological and neurobiological findings indicate that the sensor is most likely innervated by the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve and based on magnetic iron particles. Information from this unknown sensor is neither necessary nor sufficient for a functional magnetic compass, but instead could contribute important components of a multifactorial "map" for global positioning. Positional information could allow migratory birds to make vitally important dynamic adaptations of their migratory programme at any relevant point during their journeys.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Heyers
- AG Animal Navigation, Faculty of Biology/Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany. .,Research Centre for Neurosensory Sciences, University of Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany.
| | - D Elbers
- AG Animal Navigation, Faculty of Biology/Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany.,Research Centre for Neurosensory Sciences, University of Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany.,AG Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine/Health Sciences, University of Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - M Bulte
- , Schmidtkunzstraße 13, 86199, Augsburg, Germany.,Institute for Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - F Bairlein
- Institute for Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - H Mouritsen
- AG Animal Navigation, Faculty of Biology/Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany.,Research Centre for Neurosensory Sciences, University of Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany
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Schmaljohann H, Lisovski S, Bairlein F. Flexible reaction norms to environmental variables along the migration route and the significance of stopover duration for total speed of migration in a songbird migrant. Front Zool 2017; 14:17. [PMID: 28344630 PMCID: PMC5360013 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-017-0203-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Predicting the consequences of continuing anthropogenic changes in the environment for migratory behaviours such as phenology remains a major challenge. Predictions remain particularly difficult, because our knowledge is based on studies from single-snapshot observations at specific stopover sites along birds' migration routes. However, a general understanding on how birds react to prevailing environmental conditions, e.g. their 'phenotypic reaction norm', throughout the annual cycle and along their entire migration routes is required to fully understand how migratory birds respond to rapid environmental change. RESULTS Here, we provide direct evidence that northern wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe) from a breeding population in Alaska adjusted their probability to resume migration as well as the distance covered per night, i.e. travel speed, to large-scale environmental conditions experienced along their 15,000 km migratory route on both northwards and southwards migrations. These adjustments were found to be flexible in space and time. At the beginning of autumn migration, northern wheatears showed high departure probabilities and high travel speeds at low surface air temperatures, while far away from Alaska both traits decreased with increasing air temperatures. In spring, northern wheatears increasingly exploited flow assistance with season, which is likely a behavioural adjustment to speed up migration by increasing the distance travelled per night. Furthermore, the variation in total stopover duration but not in travel speed had a significant effect on the total speed of migration, indicating the prime importance of total stopover duration in the overall phenology of bird migration. CONCLUSION Northern wheatears from Alaska provide evidence that the phenotypic reaction norm to a set of environmental conditions cannot be generalized to universal and persistent behavioural reaction pattern across entire migratory pathways. This highlights the importance of full annual-cycle studies on migratory birds to better understand their response to the environment. Understanding the mechanisms behind phenotypic plasticity during migration is particularly important in the assessment of whether birds can keep pace with the potentially increasing phenological mismatches observed on the breeding grounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko Schmaljohann
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven, 26836 Germany.,University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK USA
| | - Simeon Lisovski
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220 Australia.,Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 USA
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven, 26836 Germany
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24
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25
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Maggini I, Metzger B, Voss M, Voigt CC, Bairlein F. Morphometrics and stable isotopes differentiate wintering populations of a migratory bird. Mov Ecol 2016; 4:20. [PMID: 27486515 PMCID: PMC4970205 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-016-0085-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Describing migratory connectivity in mobile animals is crucial for understanding the selective pressures acting on different populations throughout their life cycle. Tracking single individuals has provided valuable data, but for most species the data available are still spurious and usually limited to a few individuals. Since different populations of migratory birds can be distinguished by a combination of morphometric measurements and the isotopic composition of their feathers, it is possible to measure these parameters on a large sample to differentiate populations. METHODS We studied northern wheatears, Oenanthe oenanthe, captured in their African wintering range and applied discriminant analyses on morphometric measurements and stable isotope signatures to determine whether birds found in different areas were distinguishable from each other. RESULTS Morphometric and isotopic measurements alone were not sufficient to discriminate between the birds of ssp. oenanthe from different areas in Africa. When combining the two measurements, however, assignment to the different groups became substantially more accurate. Following the discriminant analysis of morphometrics and δ(2)H, δ(13)C, and δ(15)N isotopes signatures, 19 of 20 oenanthe from Kenya, 15 of 20 oenanthe from Mali/Mauritania, and 19 of 20 oenanthe from Niger were assigned correctly to their wintering area. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that birds at different wintering sites can be distinguished from each other when using a combination of markers. We discuss the possible breeding origins of these wintering birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Maggini
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- Konrad-Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benjamin Metzger
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- BirdLife Malta, Xemxija, Malta
| | - Maren Voss
- Leibniz-Institute of Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, IOW, Rostock, Germany
| | | | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
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Bairlein F, Norris DR, Voigt CC, Dunn EH, Hussell DJT. Using stable-hydrogen isotopes to reveal immigration in an Arctic-breeding songbird population. Mov Ecol 2016; 4:16. [PMID: 27307991 PMCID: PMC4908781 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-016-0081-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Knowledge of immigration and emigration rates is crucial for understanding of population dynamics, yet little is known about these vital rates, especially for arctic songbirds. We estimated immigration in an Arctic population of northern wheatears on Baffin Island, Canada, by the use of stable hydrogen isotopes in tail feathers (δ(2)HK). We assumed that δ(2)HK values of juvenile (hatch-year) feathers grown at the breeding grounds were representative of the local population, while those of breeding adults were indicative of where they grew their feathers during their post-breeding molt the previous year. The extent to which adult isotope values differ from those of juveniles provides an estimate of the minimum level of immigration into the breeding population. RESULTS Mean δ(2)HK values did not differ in juvenile birds between years. Breeding adult birds did not differ significantly in mean δ(2)HK values compared to juveniles but did differ in their respective standard deviations, reflecting a significantly wider range of isotopic signatures in adults than in juveniles. Thirty-eight percent of the δ(2)HK values in adults were greater ± 2 SD of the mean δ(2)HK values of juveniles, suggesting that at least 38 % of the breeding adults were of non-local origin, thus immigrants from elsewhere. CONCLUSIONS Although the use of stable isotopes has limitations, the use of stable-hydrogen isotopic markers has the potential to contribute valuable information towards understanding immigration rates in bird populations. In our study, hydrogen isotope measurements of the feathers of northern wheatears indicated a high rate of immigration into the breeding population, which is consistent with low return rates of banded breeding adults as well as implying high emigration rates of local breeders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz Bairlein
- />Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - D. Ryan Norris
- />Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, N1G 2W1 ON Canada
| | - Christian C. Voigt
- />Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Erica H. Dunn
- />Environment Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, K1A 0H3 ON Canada
| | - David J. T. Hussell
- />Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, K9J 7BS ON Canada
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Eikenaar C, Müller F, Klinner T, Bairlein F. Baseline corticosterone levels are higher in migrating than sedentary common blackbirds in autumn, but not in spring. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2015; 224:121-5. [PMID: 26163918 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2015] [Revised: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Corticosterone at baseline levels is thought to be mainly involved in the regulation of uptake, storage and release of energy, processes central to avian migration. Consequently, corticosterone levels are thought to be upregulated during migration, but the temporal pattern of its secretion during migration is not well defined. For example, although it appears that corticosterone levels decrease from flight to stopover, it is unknown if levels at stopover are still elevated and it is largely unclear how these levels compare to non-migratory life-history stages. Furthermore, what role corticosterone plays in crucial migratory processes, such as refueling and departure from stopover, is far from understood. We here determined baseline corticosterone levels in migrating and resident common blackbirds (Turdus merula), sampled simultaneously on Helgoland, a stopover site that also supports a sedentary breeding population. In autumn, migrants had higher corticosterone levels than residents, but in spring levels did not differ between the two groups. Corticosterone levels of migrants were very similar in spring and autumn, whereas in residents levels tended to be higher in spring than autumn. Higher levels in residents in spring than autumn most likely reflect the higher daily workload faced by birds during the pre-breeding than the post-breeding period. Our study thus indicates that, relative to the levels observed in residents in autumn, in spring baseline corticosterone levels were moderately elevated in both migrants and residents and that in autumn levels were moderately elevated in migrants only. Currently, corticosterone's main function at stopover is thought to lie in the regulation of departure. Because most migrant blackbirds stay only one or two days on Helgoland, our results are in line with this idea and suggest that migrating blackbirds up-regulated their corticosterone level in anticipation of an oncoming flight bout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cas Eikenaar
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
| | - Florian Müller
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Thomas Klinner
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
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Wikelski M, Arriero E, Gagliardo A, Holland RA, Huttunen MJ, Juvaste R, Mueller I, Tertitski G, Thorup K, Wild M, Alanko M, Bairlein F, Cherenkov A, Cameron A, Flatz R, Hannila J, Hüppop O, Kangasniemi M, Kranstauber B, Penttinen ML, Safi K, Semashko V, Schmid H, Wistbacka R. True navigation in migrating gulls requires intact olfactory nerves. Sci Rep 2015; 5:17061. [PMID: 26597351 DOI: 10.5441/001/1.q986rc29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
During migratory journeys, birds may become displaced from their normal migratory route. Experimental evidence has shown that adult birds can correct for such displacements and return to their goal. However, the nature of the cues used by migratory birds to perform long distance navigation is still debated. In this experiment we subjected adult lesser black-backed gulls migrating from their Finnish/Russian breeding grounds (from >60°N) to Africa (to < 5°N) to sensory manipulation, to determine the sensory systems required for navigation. We translocated birds westward (1080 km) or eastward (885 km) to simulate natural navigational challenges. When translocated westwards and outside their migratory corridor birds with olfactory nerve section kept a clear directional preference (southerly) but were unable to compensate for the displacement, while intact birds and gulls with the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve sectioned oriented towards their population-specific migratory corridor. Thus, air-borne olfactory information seems to be important for migrating gulls to navigate successfully in some circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Wikelski
- Department of Migration and ImmunoEcology, Max-Planck Institute of Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
- Ornithology, Konstanz University, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Elena Arriero
- Department of Migration and ImmunoEcology, Max-Planck Institute of Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Anna Gagliardo
- Department of Biology, Via Volta 6, Pisa University, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Richard A Holland
- Department of Migration and ImmunoEcology, Max-Planck Institute of Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Markku J Huttunen
- School of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Science and Forestry, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu campus, P.O. Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Risto Juvaste
- Karelia University of Applied Sciences, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Inge Mueller
- Department of Migration and ImmunoEcology, Max-Planck Institute of Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Grigori Tertitski
- Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Staromonetnystr. 29, Moscow, 119017, Russia
| | - Kasper Thorup
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Martin Wild
- Department of Anatomy with Radiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland. Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Alexander Cherenkov
- Solovetskiy Branch of White Sea Biological Station of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Zaozernaya str. 17-1-6, Solovetskiy, Arkhangelsk district, 164409, Russia
| | - Alison Cameron
- Department of Migration and ImmunoEcology, Max-Planck Institute of Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | | | | | - Ommo Hüppop
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | | | - Bart Kranstauber
- Department of Migration and ImmunoEcology, Max-Planck Institute of Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | | | - Kamran Safi
- Department of Migration and ImmunoEcology, Max-Planck Institute of Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Vladimir Semashko
- Field Educational Centre "Ecosystem", Festivalnaya st., 22-8-111, Moscow, Russia
| | - Heidi Schmid
- Department of Migration and ImmunoEcology, Max-Planck Institute of Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
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29
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Wikelski M, Arriero E, Gagliardo A, Holland RA, Huttunen MJ, Juvaste R, Mueller I, Tertitski G, Thorup K, Wild M, Alanko M, Bairlein F, Cherenkov A, Cameron A, Flatz R, Hannila J, Hüppop O, Kangasniemi M, Kranstauber B, Penttinen ML, Safi K, Semashko V, Schmid H, Wistbacka R. True navigation in migrating gulls requires intact olfactory nerves. Sci Rep 2015; 5:17061. [PMID: 26597351 PMCID: PMC4657012 DOI: 10.1038/srep17061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
During migratory journeys, birds may become displaced from their normal migratory route. Experimental evidence has shown that adult birds can correct for such displacements and return to their goal. However, the nature of the cues used by migratory birds to perform long distance navigation is still debated. In this experiment we subjected adult lesser black-backed gulls migrating from their Finnish/Russian breeding grounds (from >60°N) to Africa (to < 5°N) to sensory manipulation, to determine the sensory systems required for navigation. We translocated birds westward (1080 km) or eastward (885 km) to simulate natural navigational challenges. When translocated westwards and outside their migratory corridor birds with olfactory nerve section kept a clear directional preference (southerly) but were unable to compensate for the displacement, while intact birds and gulls with the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve sectioned oriented towards their population-specific migratory corridor. Thus, air-borne olfactory information seems to be important for migrating gulls to navigate successfully in some circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Wikelski
- Department of Migration and ImmunoEcology, Max-Planck Institute of Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
- Ornithology, Konstanz University, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Elena Arriero
- Department of Migration and ImmunoEcology, Max-Planck Institute of Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Anna Gagliardo
- Department of Biology, Via Volta 6, Pisa University, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Richard A. Holland
- Department of Migration and ImmunoEcology, Max-Planck Institute of Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Markku J. Huttunen
- School of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Science and Forestry, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu campus, P.O. Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Risto Juvaste
- Karelia University of Applied Sciences, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Inge Mueller
- Department of Migration and ImmunoEcology, Max-Planck Institute of Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Grigori Tertitski
- Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Staromonetnystr. 29, Moscow, 119017, Russia
| | - Kasper Thorup
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Martin Wild
- Department of Anatomy with Radiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland. Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Alexander Cherenkov
- Solovetskiy Branch of White Sea Biological Station of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Zaozernaya str. 17-1-6, Solovetskiy, Arkhangelsk district, 164409, Russia
| | - Alison Cameron
- Department of Migration and ImmunoEcology, Max-Planck Institute of Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Reinhard Flatz
- Airport Hohenems, Bahnhofstr. 35, 6923 Lauterach, Austria
| | | | - Ommo Hüppop
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | | | - Bart Kranstauber
- Department of Migration and ImmunoEcology, Max-Planck Institute of Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Maija-Liisa Penttinen
- Karelia University of Applied Sciences, Joensuu, Finland
- Västäräkintie 7, 80130 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Kamran Safi
- Department of Migration and ImmunoEcology, Max-Planck Institute of Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Vladimir Semashko
- Field Educational Centre “Ecosystem”, Festivalnaya st., 22-8-111, Moscow, Russia
| | - Heidi Schmid
- Department of Migration and ImmunoEcology, Max-Planck Institute of Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
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Schmaljohann H, Meier C, Arlt D, Bairlein F, van Oosten H, Morbey YE, Åkesson S, Buchmann M, Chernetsov N, Desaever R, Elliott J, Hellström M, Liechti F, López A, Middleton J, Ottosson U, Pärt T, Spina F, Eikenaar C. Proximate causes of avian protandry differ between subspecies with contrasting migration challenges. Behav Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arv160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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31
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Bairlein F, Fritz J, Scope A, Schwendenwein I, Stanclova G, van Dijk G, Meijer HAJ, Verhulst S, Dittami J. Energy Expenditure and Metabolic Changes of Free-Flying Migrating Northern Bald Ibis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0134433. [PMID: 26376193 PMCID: PMC4573986 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2015] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Many migrating birds undertake extraordinary long flights. How birds are able to perform such endurance flights of over 100-hour durations is still poorly understood. We examined energy expenditure and physiological changes in Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremite during natural flights using birds trained to follow an ultra-light aircraft. Because these birds were tame, with foster parents, we were able to bleed them immediately prior to and after each flight. Flight duration was experimentally designed ranging between one and almost four hours continuous flights. Energy expenditure during flight was estimated using doubly-labelled-water while physiological properties were assessed through blood chemistry including plasma metabolites, enzymes, electrolytes, blood gases, and reactive oxygen compounds. Instantaneous energy expenditure decreased with flight duration, and the birds appeared to balance aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, using fat, carbohydrate and protein as fuel. This made flight both economic and tolerable. The observed effects resemble classical exercise adaptations that can limit duration of exercise while reducing energetic output. There were also in-flight benefits that enable power output variation from cruising to manoeuvring. These adaptations share characteristics with physiological processes that have facilitated other athletic feats in nature and might enable the extraordinary long flights of migratory birds as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Johannes Fritz
- Center for Organismic Systems Biology, Departments of Anthropology and Behavioral Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstr. 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Waldrappteam, Schulgasse 28, 6162 Mutters, Austria, and Konrad-Lorenz Research Station, 4645, Grünau, Austria
| | - Alexandra Scope
- Clinic for Avian, Reptile, and Fish Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Wien, Austria
| | - Ilse Schwendenwein
- Central Laboratory, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Wien, Austria
| | - Gabriela Stanclova
- Clinic for Avian, Reptile, and Fish Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Wien, Austria
| | - Gertjan van Dijk
- Center for Behavior and Neurosciences (CBN), Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747, AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Centrum voor Isotopen Onderzoek (CIO), Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747, AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Harro A. J. Meijer
- Centrum voor Isotopen Onderzoek (CIO), Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747, AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Center for Behavior and Neurosciences (CBN), Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747, AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - John Dittami
- Center for Organismic Systems Biology, Departments of Anthropology and Behavioral Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstr. 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
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32
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Ambrosini R, Borgoni R, Rubolini D, Sicurella B, Fiedler W, Bairlein F, Baillie SR, Robinson RA, Clark JA, Spina F, Saino N. Modelling the progression of bird migration with conditional autoregressive models applied to ringing data. PLoS One 2014; 9:e102440. [PMID: 25047331 PMCID: PMC4105499 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2013] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Migration is a fundamental stage in the life history of several taxa, including birds, and is under strong selective pressure. At present, the only data that may allow for both an assessment of patterns of bird migration and for retrospective analyses of changes in migration timing are the databases of ring recoveries. We used ring recoveries of the Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica collected from 1908–2008 in Europe to model the calendar date at which a given proportion of birds is expected to have reached a given geographical area (‘progression of migration’) and to investigate the change in timing of migration over the same areas between three time periods (1908–1969, 1970–1990, 1991–2008). The analyses were conducted using binomial conditional autoregressive (CAR) mixed models. We first concentrated on data from the British Isles and then expanded the models to western Europe and north Africa. We produced maps of the progression of migration that disclosed local patterns of migration consistent with those obtained from the analyses of the movements of ringed individuals. Timing of migration estimated from our model is consistent with data on migration phenology of the Barn Swallow available in the literature, but in some cases it is later than that estimated by data collected at ringing stations, which, however, may not be representative of migration phenology over large geographical areas. The comparison of median migration date estimated over the same geographical area among time periods showed no significant advancement of spring migration over the whole of Europe, but a significant advancement of autumn migration in southern Europe. Our modelling approach can be generalized to any records of ringing date and locality of individuals including those which have not been recovered subsequently, as well as to geo-referenced databases of sightings of migratory individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Ambrosini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Riccardo Borgoni
- Dipartimento di Economia, Metodi quantitativi e Strategie di Impresa, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Beatrice Sicurella
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Wolfgang Fiedler
- Max Plank Institute for Ornithology, Vogelwarte Radolfzell, Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Fernando Spina
- Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO), Italy
| | - Nicola Saino
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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Eikenaar C, Bairlein F, Stöwe M, Jenni-Eiermann S. Corticosterone, food intake and refueling in a long-distance migrant. Horm Behav 2014; 65:480-7. [PMID: 24721337 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2014.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2013] [Revised: 03/27/2014] [Accepted: 03/29/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Elevated baseline corticosterone levels function to mobilize energy in predictable life-history stages, such as bird migration. At the same time, baseline corticosterone has a permissive effect on the accumulation of fat stores (fueling) needed for migratory flight. Most migrants alternate flight bouts with stopovers, during which they replenish the fuel used during the preceding flight (refueling). The role of corticosterone in refueling is currently unclear. In a fasting-re-feeding experiment on northern wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe) in autumn we found that baseline total and free corticosterone levels were negatively related with both food intake and the rate of fuel deposition after fasting. This confirms our earlier findings in wild conspecifics in spring and indicates that corticosterone does not stimulate stopover refueling. Whether the negative relationship between baseline corticosterone level and fuel deposition rate is causal is questionable, because within-individual comparison of corticosterone metabolite levels in droppings did not reveal differences between refueling and control periods. In other words, corticosterone does not appear to be down-regulated during refueling, which would be expected if it directly hampers refueling. We discuss possible correlates of corticosterone level that may explain the negative association between corticosterone and stopover refueling. Additionally, we found that fasting decreases total corticosterone level, which contrasts with previous studies. We propose that the difference is due to the other studies being conducted outside of the migration life-history stage, and provide a possible explanation for the decrease in corticosterone during fasting in migrating birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cas Eikenaar
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Mareike Stöwe
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria
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Abstract
In captivity, migratory birds show increased activity during the time that they would normally migrate. The phenology and intensity of such 'migratory restlessness' has been shown to mirror species- and population-specific migration patterns observed in the wild and has consequently been used as a proxy for the motivation to migrate. Many studies doing so, however, were aiming to explain among-individual variation in migratory behaviour or traits, and not species- or population-specific traits. These studies thus assumed that, also at the level of the individual, migratory restlessness is an accurate proxy for the motivation to migrate. We tested this assumption for the first time and found that it holds; individuals showing very little migratory restlessness remained at stopover for longer than one night, whereas most individuals showing more restlessness departed sooner. This finding validates the use of migratory restlessness as a proxy for the motivation to migrate, thereby justifying the conclusions made in a large body of research on avian migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cas Eikenaar
- Institute of Avian Research, , An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven 26386, Germany
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Trierweiler C, Klaassen RHG, Drent RH, Exo KM, Komdeur J, Bairlein F, Koks BJ. Migratory connectivity and population-specific migration routes in a long-distance migratory bird. Proc Biol Sci 2014; 281:20132897. [PMID: 24430850 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.2897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge about migratory connectivity, the degree to which individuals from the same breeding site migrate to the same wintering site, is essential to understand processes affecting populations of migrants throughout the annual cycle. Here, we study the migration system of a long-distance migratory bird, the Montagu's harrier Circus pygargus, by tracking individuals from different breeding populations throughout northern Europe. We identified three main migration routes towards wintering areas in sub-Saharan Africa. Wintering areas and migration routes of different breeding populations overlapped, a pattern best described by 'weak (diffuse) connectivity'. Migratory performance, i.e. timing, duration, distance and speed of migration, was surprisingly similar for the three routes despite differences in habitat characteristics. This study provides, to our knowledge, a first comprehensive overview of the migration system of a Palaearctic-African long-distance migrant. We emphasize the importance of spatial scale (e.g. distances between breeding populations) in defining patterns of connectivity and suggest that knowledge about fundamental aspects determining distribution patterns, such as the among-individual variation in mean migration directions, is required to ultimately understand migratory connectivity. Furthermore, we stress that for conservation purposes it is pivotal to consider wintering areas as well as migration routes and in particular stopover sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Trierweiler
- Dutch Montagu's Harrier Foundation, , PO Box 46, Scheemda 9679 ZG, The Netherlands, Animal Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, , PO Box 11103, Groningen 9700 CC, The Netherlands, Behavioural Ecology and Self-organization, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, , PO Box 11103, Groningen 9700 CC, The Netherlands, Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', , An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven 26386, Germany
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Corman AM, Bairlein F, Schmaljohann H. The nature of the migration route shapes physiological traits and aerodynamic properties in a migratory songbird. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-013-1653-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Klaassen RHG, Hake M, Strandberg R, Koks BJ, Trierweiler C, Exo KM, Bairlein F, Alerstam T. When and where does mortality occur in migratory birds? Direct evidence from long-term satellite tracking of raptors. J Anim Ecol 2013; 83:176-84. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 290] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2013] [Accepted: 08/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Raymond H. G. Klaassen
- Department of Biology; Lund University; Ecology Building SE-22362 Lund Sweden
- Dutch Montagu's Harrier Foundation; PO Box 46 9679 ZG Scheemda The Netherlands
- Animal Ecology Group; Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies; University of Groningen; PO Box 11103 9700 CC Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Mikael Hake
- Department of Biology; Lund University; Ecology Building SE-22362 Lund Sweden
| | - Roine Strandberg
- Department of Biology; Lund University; Ecology Building SE-22362 Lund Sweden
| | - Ben J. Koks
- Dutch Montagu's Harrier Foundation; PO Box 46 9679 ZG Scheemda The Netherlands
| | - Christiane Trierweiler
- Dutch Montagu's Harrier Foundation; PO Box 46 9679 ZG Scheemda The Netherlands
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”; An der Vogelwarte 21 26386 Wilhelmshaven Germany
| | - Klaus-Michael Exo
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”; An der Vogelwarte 21 26386 Wilhelmshaven Germany
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”; An der Vogelwarte 21 26386 Wilhelmshaven Germany
| | - Thomas Alerstam
- Department of Biology; Lund University; Ecology Building SE-22362 Lund Sweden
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Bairlein F. Mysterious Travelers Revisited
The Avian Migrant
The Biology of Bird Migration
by John H. Rappole
Columbia University Press, New York, 2013. 457 pp. $80, £55. ISBN 9780231146784. Science 2013. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1242577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Tapping the extensive literature and his own research, Rappole offers a personal "reflective inquiry" on the ecology and evolution of avian migrants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz Bairlein
- The reviewer is at the Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
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Bairlein F, Dierschke V, Delingat J, Eikenaar C, Maggini I, Bulte M, Schmaljohann H. Revealing the control of migratory fueling: An integrated approach combining laboratory and field studies in northern wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe. Curr Zool 2013. [DOI: 10.1093/czoolo/59.3.381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Migratory birds rely on fueling prior to migratory flights. Fueling in migrants is controlled by intrinsic as well as extrinsic factors. From captive studies we have started understanding the internal mechanisms controlling bird migration. Field studies have demonstrated the effects of external factors, such as food availability, weather, competitors, parasites or diseases, on the stopover behavior of migrants. However, an integrated approach is still missing to study coherently how the innate migration program interacts with the varying environmental cues and to estimate the contribution of the innate migration program and the environment to realized migration. The northern wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe offers a unique opportunity for integrated studies. It breeds across almost the whole Holarctic with just a “gap” between eastern Canada and Alaska. All breeding populations overwinter in sub-Saharan Africa which makes the northern wheatear one of the most long-distant migratory songbirds with extraordinary long non-stop flights across oceans. It is a nocturnal migrant which travels without parental or social aid/guidance. Thus, young birds rely entirely on endogenous mechanisms of timing, route selection and fueling on their first outbound migration. By establishing indoor housing under controlled conditions the endogenous control mechanisms of northern wheatear migration could be revealed. At the same time, environmental factors controlling fueling could be investigated in the field. On migration wheatears occur in a variety of habitats with sparse vegetation where their stopover behavior could be quantitatively studied in the light of “optimal migration” theory by the use of remote balances, radio-tagging and even experimentally manipulated food availability. The present paper summarizes our approach to understand the control of migration in northern wheatears by combining field and laboratory studies at various spatial and temporal scales, and linking various sub-disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Volker Dierschke
- Gavia EcoResearch, Toennhaeuser Dorfstr. 20,21423 Winsen (Luhe), Germany
| | - Julia Delingat
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Cas Eikenaar
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Ivan Maggini
- Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6G 1G9, Canada
| | - Marc Bulte
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Heiko Schmaljohann
- Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
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Eikenaar C, Fritzsch A, Bairlein F. Corticosterone and migratory fueling in Northern wheatears facing different barrier crossings. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2013; 186:181-6. [PMID: 23518480 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2013.02.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2012] [Revised: 02/20/2013] [Accepted: 02/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Corticosterone, at baseline and moderately elevated levels, is thought to regulate energy mobilization during the predictable life-history cycle. In birds, corticosterone is known to be moderately elevated during migration, and some experiments on captive, but migratory active birds have shown that exogenous corticosterone can positively affect food intake and fat deposition, i.e. fueling. We present observations which indicate that in wild birds endogenous corticosterone does not promote refueling during migratory stopovers. We took a comparative approach and studied two subspecies of Northern wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe) during their simultaneous spring stopovers on Helgoland, a small island some 50km off the German coast. In spring O. oenanthe have to travel relatively short distances from Helgoland to their next stopover or breeding sites, whereas Oenanthe leucorhoa face a lengthy overseas journey. Consequently, for their next flight bout leucorhoa wheatears deposit more fuel, more rapidly than oenanthe wheatears. Corticosterone levels, however, were lower in leucorhoa than oenanthe wheatears, contradicting the idea that corticosterone promotes migratory refueling. This finding was solidified by the observation that actual fuel deposition rate was negatively correlated with corticosterone level. We also observed a positive correlation between corticosterone level and fuel stores. Together these findings suggest that, rather than promoting migratory refueling, corticosterone may function as a readiness cue, with levels increasing towards departure from the stopover site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cas Eikenaar
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
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Schmaljohann H, Korner-Nievergelt F, Naef-Daenzer B, Nagel R, Maggini I, Bulte M, Bairlein F. Stopover optimization in a long-distance migrant: the role of fuel load and nocturnal take-off time in Alaskan northern wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe). Front Zool 2013; 10:26. [PMID: 23663358 PMCID: PMC3665591 DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-10-26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2013] [Accepted: 05/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction In long-distance migrants, a considerably higher proportion of time and energy is allocated to stopovers rather than to flights. Stopover duration and departure decisions affect consequently subsequent flight stages and overall speed of migration. In Arctic nocturnal songbird migrants the trade-off between a relatively long migration distance and short nights available for travelling may impose a significant time pressure on migrants. Therefore, we hypothesize that Alaskan northern wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe) use a time-minimizing migration strategy to reach their African wintering area 15,000 km away. Results We estimated the factors influencing the birds’ daily departure probability from an Arctic stopover before crossing the Bering Strait by using a Cormack-Jolly-Seber model. To identify in which direction and when migration was resumed departing birds were radio-tracked. Here we show that Alaskan northern wheatears did not behave as strict time minimizers, because their departure fuel load was unrelated to fuel deposition rate. All birds departed with more fuel load than necessary for the sea crossing. Departure probability increased with stopover duration, evening fuel load and decreasing temperature. Birds took-off towards southwest and hence, followed in general the constant magnetic and geographic course but not the alternative great circle route. Nocturnal departure times were concentrated immediately after sunset. Conclusion Although birds did not behave like time-minimizers in respect of the optimal migration strategies their surplus of fuel load clearly contradicted an energy saving strategy in terms of the minimization of overall energy cost of transport. The observed low variation in nocturnal take-off time in relation to local night length compared to similar studies in the temperate zone revealed that migrants have an innate ability to respond to changes in the external cue of night length. Likely, birds maximized their potential nightly flight range by taking off early in the night which in turn maximizes their overall migration speed. Hence, nocturnal departure time may be a crucial parameter shaping the speed of migration indicating the significance of its integration in future migration models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko Schmaljohann
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven 26836, Germany.
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Trierweiler C, Mullié WC, Drent RH, Exo KM, Komdeur J, Bairlein F, Harouna A, de Bakker M, Koks BJ. A Palaearctic migratory raptor species tracks shifting prey availability within its wintering range in the Sahel. J Anim Ecol 2012; 82:107-20. [PMID: 23137184 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2012.02036.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2011] [Accepted: 08/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Mid-winter movements of up to several hundreds of kilometres are typical for many migratory bird species wintering in Africa. Unpredictable temporary food concentrations are thought to result in random movements of such birds, whereas resightings and recoveries of marked birds suggest some degree of site fidelity. Only detailed (e.g. satellite) tracking of individual migrants can reveal the relative importance and the causes of site choice flexibility and fidelity. The present study investigates how mid-winter movements of a Palaearctic-African migratory raptor, Montagu's harrier Circus pygargus, in the Sahel of West Africa are related to the availability of food resources. Thirty harriers breeding or hatched in northern Europe were satellite tracked (2005-2009). On average, four home ranges, each separated by c. 200 km, were visited during one overwinter stay in the Sahel. Wintering home ranges were similar in size to breeding season home ranges (average over wintering and breeding home range size c. 200 km(2) ), and harriers showed high site fidelity between years. Most preferred habitat types in the Sahel were mosaics of grass- and cropland, indicating similar habitat preferences in both the breeding- and wintering seasons. The main prey of Montagu's harriers in the Sahel were grasshoppers Acrididae. Highest grasshopper numbers in the field occurred at relatively low vegetation greenness [normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values 0.17-0.27]. We used NDVI as a proxy of food availability for harriers. During their overwinter stay, Montagu's harriers moved in a South-South-western direction between consecutive home ranges. The birds selected areas within the range of NDVI values associated with high grasshopper numbers, thus tracking a 'green belt' of predictable changes in highest grasshopper availability. Contrary to earlier hypotheses of random movements in the Sahelian-wintering quarters, the present study shows that Montagu's harriers visited distinct home ranges, they were site-faithful and tracked seasonal changes in food availability related to previous rainfall patterns, caused by the shifting Intertropical Convergence Zone. Itinerancy may be the rule rather than an exception among insectivorous birds wintering in African savannahs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Trierweiler
- Animal Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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Abstract
The northern wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) is a small (approx. 25 g), insectivorous migrant with one of the largest ranges of any songbird in the world, breeding from the eastern Canadian Arctic across Greenland, Eurasia and into Alaska (AK). However, there is no evidence that breeding populations in the New World have established overwintering sites in the Western Hemisphere. Using light-level geolocators, we demonstrate that individuals from these New World regions overwinter in northern sub-Sahara Africa, with Alaskan birds travelling approximately 14 500 km each way and an eastern Canadian Arctic bird crossing a wide stretch of the North Atlantic (approx. 3500 km). These remarkable journeys, particularly for a bird of this size, last between one to three months depending on breeding location and season (autumn/spring) and result in mean overall migration speeds of up to 290 km d(-1). Stable-hydrogen isotope analysis of winter-grown feathers sampled from breeding birds generally support the notion that Alaskan birds overwinter primarily in eastern Africa and eastern Canadian Arctic birds overwinter mainly in western Africa. Our results provide the first evidence of a migratory songbird capable of linking African ecosystems of the Old World with Arctic regions of the New World.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research Vogelwarte Helgoland, An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven 26386, Germany
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Abstract
In migrating animals protandry is the phenomenon whereby males of a species arrive at the breeding grounds earlier than females. In the present study we investigated the proximate causes of protandry in a migratory songbird, the northern wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe. Previous experiments with caged birds revealed that males and females show differentiated photoperiod-induced migratory habits. However, it remained open whether protandry would still occur without photoperiodic cues. In this study we kept captive first-year birds under constant photoperiod and environmental conditions in a "common garden" experiment. Male northern wheatears started their spring migratory activity earlier than females, even in the absence of environmental cues. This indicates that protandry in the northern wheatear has an endogenous basis with an innate earlier spring departure of males than females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Maggini
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
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Dabelsteen T, Coppack T, Hesler N, Sacher T, Bairlein F, Mundry R. Song repertoire size correlates with measures of body size in Eurasian blackbirds. BEHAVIOUR 2012. [DOI: 10.1163/156853912x649920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Schmaljohann H, Rautenberg T, Muheim R, Naef-Daenzer B, Bairlein F. Response of a free-flying songbird to an experimental shift of the light polarization pattern around sunset. J Exp Biol 2012; 216:1381-7. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.080580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Summary
The magnetic field, the sun, the stars and the polarization pattern of visible light during twilight are important cues for orientation in nocturnally migrating songbirds. As these cues change with time and location on Earth, the polarization pattern was put forward as a likely key reference system calibrating the other compass systems. Whether this applies generally to migratory birds is, however, controversially discussed. We used an experimental approach in free-flying birds to study the role of polarization for their departure direction in autumn. Experimental birds experienced a 90° shift of the band of maximum polarization during sunset, whereas control-birds experienced the polarization pattern as under natural condition. Full view of the sunset cues near the horizon was provided during the cue conflict exposure. Here we show both the experimental and the control-birds being released after nautical twilight departed consistently towards south-southeast. Radio telemetry allowed tracking first 15 km of birds' way out, thus the intrinsic migration direction as chosen by the birds was measured. We found no recalibration of the magnetic compass after pre-exposure to a cue conflict between the natural magnetic field and the artificially shifted polarization pattern at sunset. The lacking difference in the departure direction of both groups may suggests that birds did not recalibrate any of the compass systems during the experiment. As free-flying migrants can use all available orientation cues after release, it remains unknown whether our birds might have used the magnetic and/or star compass to determine their departure direction.
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Klaassen RH, Ens BJ, Shamoun-Baranes J, Exo KM, Bairlein F. Migration strategy of a flight generalist, the Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus. Behav Ecol 2011. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arr150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Maggini
- a Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland” , An der Vogelwarte 21, D-26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Franz Bairlein
- a Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland” , An der Vogelwarte 21, D-26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
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Maggini I, Bairlein F. Endogenous rhythms of seasonal migratory body mass changes and nocturnal restlessness in different populations of Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe. J Biol Rhythms 2010; 25:268-76. [PMID: 20679496 DOI: 10.1177/0748730410373442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) is a migratory bird species that shows different strategies of migration between populations, adapted to cope with different ecological barriers. This raises the question whether and to which extent these adaptations are endogenously determined. We studied seasonal patterns of body mass change and nocturnal restlessness in wheatears from Iceland, which face an initial sea crossing of at least 800 km; from Norway, which fly a similar distance as Icelandic birds but without a long sea crossing; and from Morocco, which fly a shorter distance to reach their wintering grounds. To isolate the endogenous component of the regulation of these migratory traits, we kept the wheatears in a "common garden," all 3 populations experiencing the same environmental conditions and a constant photoperiod during their first year of life. Icelandic birds showed a greater increase of their body mass in autumn than the other 2 populations, indicating preparation for the initial barrier crossing. The autumnal timing of nocturnal restlessness and the total activity during autumn were related to the distance to be covered, although the differences between populations were smaller than expected. In all 3 populations, body mass increased to a greater extent in autumn than in spring, whereas nocturnal activity was higher in spring than in autumn. This suggests that the endogenous program responds to specific seasonal needs, with more time invested in storing fuel for a safe journey in autumn and more time invested in flying to reach the breeding grounds early in spring. Contrary to expectations, the timing of onset of body mass increase and nocturnal restlessness in spring did not differ between populations. This might be explained by the lack of external cues, most likely photoperiod, which are responsible for the fine tuning of the expression of migratory behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Maggini
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland," An der Vogelwarte 21, D-26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
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