1
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Lisovski S, Hoye BJ, Conklin JR, Battley PF, Fuller RA, Gosbell KB, Klaassen M, Benjamin Lee C, Murray NJ, Bauer S. Predicting resilience of migratory birds to environmental change. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2311146121. [PMID: 38648469 PMCID: PMC11087779 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2311146121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The pace and scale of environmental change represent major challenges to many organisms. Animals that move long distances, such as migratory birds, are especially vulnerable to change since they need chains of intact habitat along their migratory routes. Estimating the resilience of such species to environmental changes assists in targeting conservation efforts. We developed a migration modeling framework to predict past (1960s), present (2010s), and future (2060s) optimal migration strategies across five shorebird species (Scolopacidae) within the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, which has seen major habitat deterioration and loss over the last century, and compared these predictions to empirical tracks from the present. Our model captured the migration strategies of the five species and identified the changes in migrations needed to respond to habitat deterioration and climate change. Notably, the larger species, with single or few major stopover sites, need to establish new migration routes and strategies, while smaller species can buffer habitat loss by redistributing their stopover areas to novel or less-used sites. Comparing model predictions with empirical tracks also indicates that larger species with the stronger need for adaptations continue to migrate closer to the optimal routes of the past, before habitat deterioration accelerated. Our study not only quantifies the vulnerability of species in the face of global change but also explicitly reveals the extent of adaptations required to sustain their migrations. This modeling framework provides a tool for conservation planning that can accommodate the future needs of migratory species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simeon Lisovski
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Section Polar Terrestrial Environmental Systems, Potsdam14473, Germany
| | - Bethany J. Hoye
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW2522, Australia
| | - Jesse R. Conklin
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen9700, The Netherlands
| | - Phil F. Battley
- Zoology and Ecology Group, Massey University, Palmerston North4442, New Zealand
| | - Richard A. Fuller
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD4072, Australia
| | - Ken B. Gosbell
- Victorian Wader Study Group, Blackburn, VIC3130, Australia
| | - Marcel Klaassen
- Victorian Wader Study Group, Blackburn, VIC3130, Australia
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, VIC3217, Australia
| | - Chengfa Benjamin Lee
- German Aerospace Center, The Remote Sensing Technology Institute, Berlin12489, Germany
- Department of Remote Sensing, EAGLE M. Sc. Program, University of Würzburg, Würzburg97074, Germany
| | - Nicholas J. Murray
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD4811, Australia
| | - Silke Bauer
- Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf8903, Switzerland
- Department of Bird Migration, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach6204, Switzerland
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam1090 GE, The Netherlands
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Zürich8902, Switzerland
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2
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Lewin PJ, Wynn J, Arcos JM, Austin RE, Blagrove J, Bond S, Carrasco G, Delord K, Fisher-Reeves L, García D, Gillies N, Guilford T, Hawkins I, Jaggers P, Kirk C, Louzao M, Maurice L, McMinn M, Micol T, Morford J, Morgan G, Moss J, Riera EM, Rodriguez A, Siddiqi-Davies K, Weimerskirch H, Wynn RB, Padget O. Climate change drives migratory range shift via individual plasticity in shearwaters. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2312438121. [PMID: 38285933 PMCID: PMC10861922 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312438121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
How individual animals respond to climate change is key to whether populations will persist or go extinct. Yet, few studies investigate how changes in individual behavior underpin these population-level phenomena. Shifts in the distributions of migratory animals can occur through adaptation in migratory behaviors, but there is little understanding of how selection and plasticity contribute to population range shift. Here, we use long-term geolocator tracking of Balearic shearwaters (Puffinus mauretanicus) to investigate how year-to-year changes in individual birds' migrations underpin a range shift in the post-breeding migration. We demonstrate a northward shift in the post-breeding range and show that this is brought about by individual plasticity in migratory destination, with individuals migrating further north in response to changes in sea-surface temperature. Furthermore, we find that when individuals migrate further, they return faster, perhaps minimizing delays in return to the breeding area. Birds apparently judge the increased distance that they will need to migrate via memory of the migration route, suggesting that spatial cognitive mechanisms may contribute to this plasticity and the resulting range shift. Our study exemplifies the role that individual behavior plays in populations' responses to environmental change and highlights some of the behavioral mechanisms that might be key to understanding and predicting species persistence in response to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J. Lewin
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Joe Wynn
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3SZ, United Kingdom
- Institut für Vogelforschung “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, Wilhelmshaven26386, Germany
| | - José Manuel Arcos
- Programa Marino, Sociedad Española de Ornitología/BirdLife, Delegació de Catalunya, Barcelona08026, Spain
| | - Rhiannon E. Austin
- National Oceanography Centre–Southampton, SouthamptonSO14 3ZH, United Kingdom
- Earth Ocean and Ecological Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, LiverpoolL69 3GP, United Kingdom
| | - Josephine Blagrove
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Bond
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3SZ, United Kingdom
- School of Ocean Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, Bangor University, Menai BridgeLL59 5AB, United Kingdom
| | - Gemma Carrasco
- Iniciativa de Recerca de la Biodiversitat de les Illes, Alaior, Balearic Islands07730, Spain
| | - Karine Delord
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin, UMR 7372, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Villiers en Bois79360, France
| | | | - David García
- Iniciativa de Recerca de la Biodiversitat de les Illes, Alaior, Balearic Islands07730, Spain
| | - Natasha Gillies
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3SZ, United Kingdom
- Earth Ocean and Ecological Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, LiverpoolL69 3GP, United Kingdom
| | - Tim Guilford
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Isobel Hawkins
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Paris Jaggers
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Christian Kirk
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Maite Louzao
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance, Pasaia20110, Spain
| | - Lou Maurice
- British Geological Survey, WallingfordOX10 8ED, United Kingdom
| | - Miguel McMinn
- Grupo Biogeografía, geodinámica y sedimentación del Mediterráneo occidental, Ciències i Tecnologies Mediambientals, Universitat de les Illes Balears,Palma, Balearic IslandsE07122, Spain
| | - Thierry Micol
- Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux, BirdLife International Partner in France, Rochefort Cedex17305, France
| | - Joe Morford
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Greg Morgan
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Ramsey Island, St. Davids, PembrokeshireSA62 6PY, United Kingdom
| | - Jason Moss
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Elisa Miquel Riera
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3SZ, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Rodriguez
- Grupo Biogeografía, geodinámica y sedimentación del Mediterráneo occidental, Ciències i Tecnologies Mediambientals, Universitat de les Illes Balears,Palma, Balearic IslandsE07122, Spain
| | | | - Henri Weimerskirch
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin, UMR 7372, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Villiers en Bois79360, France
| | - Russell B. Wynn
- National Oceanography Centre–Southampton, SouthamptonSO14 3ZH, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver Padget
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3SZ, United Kingdom
- Earth Ocean and Ecological Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, LiverpoolL69 3GP, United Kingdom
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3
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Bom RA, Piersma T, Alves JA, Rakhimberdiev E. Global temperature homogenization can obliterate temporal isolation in migratory animals with potential loss of population structure. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17069. [PMID: 38273558 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Climate change is expected to increase the spatial autocorrelation of temperature, resulting in greater synchronization of climate variables worldwide. Possibly such 'homogenization of the world' leads to elevated risks of extinction and loss of biodiversity. In this study, we develop an empirical example on how increasing synchrony of global temperatures can affect population structure in migratory animals. We studied two subspecies of bar-tailed godwits Limosa lapponica breeding in tundra regions in Siberia: yamalensis in the west and taymyrensis further east and north. These subspecies share pre- and post-breeding stopover areas, thus being partially sympatric, but exhibiting temporal segregation. The latter is believed to facilitate reproductive isolation. Using satellite tracking data, we show that migration timing of both subspecies is correlated with the date of snowmelt in their respective breeding sites (later at the taymyrensis breeding range). Snow-cover satellite images demonstrate that the breeding ranges are on different climate trajectories and become more synchronized over time: between 1997 and 2020, the date of snowmelt advanced on average by 0.5 days/year in the taymyrensis breeding range, while it remained stable in the yamalensis breeding range. Previous findings showed how taymyrensis responded to earlier snowmelt by advancing arrival and clutch initiation. In the predicted absence of such advancements in yamalensis, we expect that the two populations will be synchronized by 2036-2040. Since bar-tailed godwits are social migrants, this raises the possibility of population exchange and prompts the question whether the two subspecies can maintain their geographic and morphological differences and population-specific migratory routines. The proposed scenario may apply to a wide range of (social) migrants as temporal segregation is crucial for promoting and maintaining reproductive isolation in many (partially sympatric) migratory populations. Homogenization of previously isolated populations could be an important consequence of increasing synchronized environments and hence climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roeland A Bom
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, The Netherlands
- BirdEyes, Centre for Global Ecological Change at the Faculties of Science and Engineering and Campus Fryslân, University of Groningen, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
| | - Theunis Piersma
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, The Netherlands
- BirdEyes, Centre for Global Ecological Change at the Faculties of Science and Engineering and Campus Fryslân, University of Groningen, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
- Global Flyway Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - José A Alves
- Department of Biology and CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
- South Iceland Research Centre, University of Iceland, Laugarvatn, Iceland
| | - Eldar Rakhimberdiev
- BirdEyes, Centre for Global Ecological Change at the Faculties of Science and Engineering and Campus Fryslân, University of Groningen, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
- Department of Theoretical and Computational Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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4
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Franklin KA, Nicoll MAC, Butler SJ, Norris K, Ratcliffe N, Nakagawa S, Gill JA. Individual repeatability of avian migration phenology: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:1416-1430. [PMID: 35385132 PMCID: PMC9546039 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Changes in phenology and distribution are being widely reported for many migratory species in response to shifting environmental conditions. Understanding these changes and the situations in which they occur can be aided by understanding consistent individual differences in phenology and distribution and the situations in which consistency varies in strength or detectability. Studies tracking the same individuals over consecutive years are increasingly reporting migratory timings to be a repeatable trait, suggesting that flexible individual responses to environmental conditions may contribute little to population-level changes in phenology and distribution. However, how this varies across species and sexes, across the annual cycle and in relation to study (tracking method, study design) and/or ecosystem characteristics is not yet clear. Here, we take advantage of the growing number of publications in movement ecology to perform a phylogenetic multilevel meta-analysis of repeatability estimates for avian migratory timings to investigate these questions. Of 2,433 reviewed studies, 54 contained suitable information for meta-analysis, resulting in 177 effect sizes from 47 species. Individual repeatability of avian migratory timings averaged 0.414 (95% confidence interval: 0.3-0.5) across landbirds, waterbirds and seabirds, suggesting consistent individual differences in migratory timings is a common feature of migratory systems. Timing of departure from the non-breeding grounds was more repeatable than timings of arrival at or departure from breeding grounds, suggesting that conditions encountered on migratory journeys and outcome of breeding attempts can influence individual variation. Population-level shifts in phenology could arise through individual timings changing with environmental conditions and/or through shifts in the numbers of individuals with different timings. Our findings suggest that, in addition to identifying the conditions associated with individual variation in phenology, exploring the causes of between-individual variation will be key in predicting future rates and directions of changes in migratory timings. We therefore encourage researchers to report the within- and between- individual variance components underpinning the reported repeatability estimates to aid interpretation of migration behaviour. In addition, the lack of studies in the tropics means that levels of repeatability in less strongly seasonal environments are not yet clear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty A Franklin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK.,Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, UK
| | - Malcolm A C Nicoll
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, UK
| | - Simon J Butler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Ken Norris
- Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, UK
| | - Norman Ratcliffe
- British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Ecology & Evolution Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jennifer A Gill
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
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5
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Verhoeven MA, Loonstra AHJ, McBride AD, Kaspersma W, Hooijmeijer JCEW, Both C, Senner NR, Piersma T. Age-dependent timing and routes demonstrate developmental plasticity in a long-distance migratory bird. J Anim Ecol 2021; 91:566-579. [PMID: 34822170 PMCID: PMC9299929 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Longitudinal tracking studies have revealed consistent differences in the migration patterns of individuals from the same populations. The sources or processes causing this individual variation are largely unresolved. As a result, it is mostly unknown how much, how fast and when animals can adjust their migrations to changing environments. We studied the ontogeny of migration in a long‐distance migratory shorebird, the black‐tailed godwit Limosa limosa limosa, a species known to exhibit marked individuality in the migratory routines of adults. By observing how and when these individual differences arise, we aimed to elucidate whether individual differences in migratory behaviour are inherited or emerge as a result of developmental plasticity. We simultaneously tracked juvenile and adult godwits from the same breeding area on their south‐ and northward migrations. To determine how and when individual differences begin to arise, we related juvenile migration routes, timing and mortality rates to hatch date and hatch year. Then, we compared adult and juvenile migration patterns to identify potential age‐dependent differences. In juveniles, the timing of their first southward departure was related to hatch date. However, their subsequent migration routes, orientation, destination, migratory duration and likelihood of mortality were unrelated to the year or timing of migration, or their sex. Juveniles left the Netherlands after all tracked adults. They then flew non‐stop to West Africa more often and incurred higher mortality rates than adults. Some juveniles also took routes and visited stopover sites far outside the well‐documented adult migratory corridor. Such juveniles, however, were not more likely to die. We found that juveniles exhibited different migratory patterns than adults, but no evidence that these behaviours are under natural selection. We thus eliminate the possibility that the individual differences observed among adult godwits are present at hatch or during their first migration. This adds to the mounting evidence that animals possess the developmental plasticity to change their migration later in life in response to environmental conditions as those conditions are experienced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo A Verhoeven
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - A H Jelle Loonstra
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Alice D McBride
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Wiebe Kaspersma
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jos C E W Hooijmeijer
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Christiaan Both
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Nathan R Senner
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Theunis Piersma
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Texel, The Netherlands
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6
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Lisovski S, Gosbell K, Minton C, Klaassen M. Migration strategy as an indicator of resilience to change in two shorebird species with contrasting population trajectories. J Anim Ecol 2020; 90:2005-2014. [PMID: 33232515 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Many migratory birds are declining worldwide. In line with the general causes for the global biodiversity crisis, habitat loss, pollution, hunting, over-exploitation and climate change are thought to be at the basis of these population declines. Long-distance migrants seem especially vulnerable to rapid anthropogenic change, yet, the rate of decline across populations and species varies greatly within flyways. We hypothesize that differences in migration strategy, and notably stopover-site use, may be at the basis of these variations in resilience to global change. By identifying and comparing the migration strategies of two very closely related shorebird species, the Curlew sandpiper Calidris ferruginea and the Red-necked stint Calidris ruficollis, migrating from the same non-breeding site in Australia to similar breeding sites in the high Russian Arctic, we aimed to explain why these two species express differential resilience to rapid changes within their flyway resulting in different population trajectories in recent times. Based on 13 Curlew sandpiper and 16 Red-necked stint tracks from light-level geolocator tags, we found that individual Curlew sandpipers make use of fewer stopover areas along the flyway compared to Red-necked stints. Furthermore, and notably during northward migration, Curlew sandpipers have a higher dependency on fewer sites, both in terms of the percentage of individuals visiting key stopover sites and the relative time spent at those sites. While Curlew sandpipers rely mainly on the Yellow Sea region, which has recently experienced a sharp decline in suitable habitat, Red-necked stints make use of additional sites and spread their relative time en-route across sites more evenly. Our results indicate that differential migration strategies may explain why Curlew sandpipers within the East Asian-Australasian Flyway are declining rapidly (9.5%-5.5% per year) while Red-necked stints remain relatively stable (-3.1%-0%). We consider that more generally, the number of sites per individual and among a population, the spatial distribution across the flyway, as well as the relationship between the time spent over sites may prove to be key variables explaining populations and species' differential resilience to environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simeon Lisovski
- Polar Terrestrial Environmental Research, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Ken Gosbell
- Victorian Wader Study Group, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - Clive Minton
- Victorian Wader Study Group, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - Marcel Klaassen
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
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7
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Kravchenko KA, Vlaschenko AS, Lehnert LS, Courtiol A, Voigt CC. Generational shift in the migratory common noctule bat: first-year males lead the way to hibernacula at higher latitudes. Biol Lett 2020; 16:20200351. [PMID: 32961089 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Many migratory species have shifted their geographic distribution in response to climate change, yet the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood, particularly for mammals. We hypothesized that generational shifts are underlying the observed colonization of hibernation sites further north in a migratory bat, the common noctule (Nyctalus noctula). To evaluate our hypothesis, we collected long-term data on the migratory status and demography of common noctules in a recently colonized hibernation area. Based on isotopic data of 413 individuals, we observed a significant decline in the proportion of long-distance migrants from 2004 to 2015 for both sexes and across all age groups. Demographic data collected between 2007 and 2016 from 3394 individuals demonstrated that subadult males were more abundant during the early colonization stage, followed by a gradual shift to a more balanced age and sex composition. Our results suggest that the colonization of hibernacula at higher latitudes is promoted by generational shifts, involving mostly first-year males. Generational shifts seem to be a likely mechanism for distribution changes in other bats and potentially also in other mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- K A Kravchenko
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke- Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany.,Institute for Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - A S Vlaschenko
- Bat Rehabilitation Center of Feldman Ecopark, 62340 Lesnoye, Kharkiv Region, Ukraine.,Ukrainian Independent Ecology Institute, Plekhanov St., 40 61001 Kharkiv, Ukraine
| | - L S Lehnert
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke- Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany.,Institute for Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - A Courtiol
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke- Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - C C Voigt
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke- Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany.,Institute for Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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8
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Nuijten RJM, Wood KA, Haitjema T, Rees EC, Nolet BA. Concurrent shifts in wintering distribution and phenology in migratory swans: Individual and generational effects. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:4263-4275. [PMID: 32515077 PMCID: PMC7384179 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Range shifts and phenological change are two processes by which organisms respond to environmental warming. Understanding the mechanisms that drive these changes is key for optimal conservation and management. Here we study both processes in the migratory Bewick's swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii) using different methods, analysing nearly 50 years of resighting data (1970-2017). In this period the wintering area of the Bewick's swans shifted eastwards ('short-stopping') at a rate of ~13 km/year, thereby shortening individual migration distance on an average by 353 km. Concurrently, the time spent at the wintering grounds has reduced ('short-staying') by ~38 days since 1989. We show that individuals are consistent in their migratory timing in winter, indicating that the frequency of individuals with different migratory schedules has changed over time (a generational shift). In contrast, for short-stopping we found evidence for both individual plasticity (individuals decrease their migration distances over their lifetime) and generational shift. Additional analysis of swan resightings with temperature data showed that, throughout the winter, Bewick's swans frequent areas where air temperatures are c. 5.5°C. These areas have also shifted eastwards over time, hinting that climate warming is a contributing factor behind the observed changes in the swans' distribution. The occurrence of winter short-stopping and short-staying suggests that this species is to some extent able to adjust to climate warming, but benefits or repercussions at other times of the annual cycle need to be assessed. Furthermore, these phenomena could lead to changes in abundance in certain areas, with resulting monitoring and conservation implications. Understanding the processes and driving mechanisms behind population changes therefore is important for population management, both locally and across the species range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rascha J. M. Nuijten
- Department of Animal EcologyNetherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO‐KNAW)WageningenThe Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Bart A. Nolet
- Department of Animal EcologyNetherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO‐KNAW)WageningenThe Netherlands
- Department of Theoretical and Computational EcologyInstitute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem DynamicsUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
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9
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Senner NR, Morbey YE, Sandercock BK. Editorial: Flexibility in the Migration Strategies of Animals. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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10
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Méndez V, Alves JA, Þórisson B, Marca A, Gunnarsson TG, Gill JA. Individual variation in migratory behavior in a subarctic partial migrant shorebird. Behav Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/araa010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Migratory behavior can differ markedly amongst individuals within populations or species. Understanding the factors influencing this variation is key to understanding how current environmental changes might influence migratory propensity and the distribution and abundance of migratory species across their range. Here, we investigate variation in migratory behavior of the partially migratory Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) population breeding in Iceland. We use the resightings of color-ringed adults and stable isotopes to determine whether individuals migrate or remain in Iceland during winter and test whether individual migratory strategies vary in relation to sex, body size, and breeding location. We also explore individual consistency in migratory strategy and test whether assortative mating with respect to strategy occurs in this population. The proportion of migrants and residents varied greatly across breeding locations but not with respect to sex or body size. Individuals were consistent in migratory strategy between years and there was no evidence of assortative mating by migratory strategy. We use these findings to explore factors underlying the evolution and maintenance of partial migration at high latitudes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Méndez
- South Iceland Research Centre, University of Iceland, Lindarbraut, Laugarvatn, Iceland
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - José A Alves
- South Iceland Research Centre, University of Iceland, Lindarbraut, Laugarvatn, Iceland
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Böðvar Þórisson
- South Iceland Research Centre, University of Iceland, Lindarbraut, Laugarvatn, Iceland
| | - Alina Marca
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Tómas G Gunnarsson
- South Iceland Research Centre, University of Iceland, Lindarbraut, Laugarvatn, Iceland
| | - Jennifer A Gill
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
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11
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Loonstra AHJ, Verhoeven MA, Senner NR, Both C, Piersma T. Adverse wind conditions during northward Sahara crossings increase the in-flight mortality of Black-tailed Godwits. Ecol Lett 2019; 22:2060-2066. [PMID: 31529603 PMCID: PMC6900105 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Long‐distance migratory flights are predicted to be associated with higher mortality rates when individuals encounter adverse weather conditions. However, directly connecting environmental conditions experienced in‐flight with the survival of migrants has proven difficult. We studied how the in‐flight mortality of 53 satellite‐tagged Black‐tailed Godwits (Limosa limosa limosa) during 132 crossings of the Sahara Desert, a major geographical barrier along their migration route between The Netherlands and sub‐Saharan Africa, is correlated with the experienced wind conditions and departure date during both southward and northward migration. We show that godwits experienced higher wind assistance during southward crossings, which seems to reflect local prevailing trade winds. Critically, we found that fatal northward crossings (15 deaths during 61 crossings) were associated with adverse wind conditions. Wind conditions during migration can thus directly influence vital rates. Changing wind conditions associated with global change may thus profoundly influence the costs of long‐distance migration in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- A H Jelle Loonstra
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mo A Verhoeven
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Nathan R Senner
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA
| | - Christiaan Both
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Theunis Piersma
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands.,NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Coastal Systems and Utrecht University, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB, Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
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12
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Gill JA, Alves JA, Gunnarsson TG. Mechanisms driving phenological and range change in migratory species. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 374:20180047. [PMID: 31352888 PMCID: PMC6710574 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Many migratory systems are changing rapidly in space and time, and these changes present challenges for conservation. Changes in local abundance and site occupancy across species' ranges have raised concerns over the efficacy of the existing protected area networks, while changes in phenology can potentially create mismatches in the timing of annual events with the availability of key resources. These changes could arise either through individuals shifting in space and time or through generational shifts in the frequency of individuals using different locations or on differing migratory schedules. Using a long-term study of a migratory shorebird in which individuals have been tracked through a period of range expansion and phenological change, we show that these changes occur through generational shifts in spatial and phenological distributions, and that individuals are highly consistent in space and time. Predictions of future rates of changes in range size and phenology, and their implications for species conservation, will require an understanding of the processes that can drive generational shifts. We therefore explore the developmental, demographic and environmental processes that could influence generational shifts in phenology and distribution, and the studies that will be needed to distinguish among these mechanisms of change. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Linking behaviour to dynamics of populations and communities: application of novel approaches in behavioural ecology to conservation’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Gill
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - José A Alves
- Department of Biology and CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Tómas G Gunnarsson
- South Iceland Research Centre, University of Iceland, Lindarbraut 4, 840 Laugarvatn, Iceland
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13
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Senner NR, Verhoeven MA, Abad-Gómez JM, Alves JA, Hooijmeijer JCEW, Howison RA, Kentie R, Loonstra AHJ, Masero JA, Rocha A, Stager M, Piersma T. High Migratory Survival and Highly Variable Migratory Behavior in Black-Tailed Godwits. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
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14
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Verhoeven MA, Loonstra AHJ, Senner NR, McBride AD, Both C, Piersma T. Variation From an Unknown Source: Large Inter-individual Differences in Migrating Black-Tailed Godwits. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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15
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Nadal J, Ponz C, Comas C, Margalida A. Time, geography and weather provide insights into the ecological strategy of a migrant species. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 649:1096-1104. [PMID: 30308881 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Farmland and migratory bird populations are in decline. The Common quail (Coturnix coturnix) provides an exception to this trend and its populations have remained stable over the last two decades. However, some basic facts regarding quail biology and ecology, such as the geographic distribution of age and sex classes during the summer, remain poorly understood. We analyzed 43,194 Spanish quail ringing records from 1961 to 2014 to assess the effects of geography and weather conditions on the probability that individuals will be ringed during the various stages of their annual cycle (arrival -spring migration-, stationary breeding period, departure -autumn migration- and winter) for the different quail age-sex classes over time. We found that spatial distribution of the age and sex classes can be explained by date, latitude, longitude, altitude, rainfall, and temperature. Our results suggest that date accounts for most of the variation in the distribution of quail age classes, followed by the weather variables, and then latitude, and altitude. Similarly, date also accounts for most of the variation in the distribution of the two sexes. These results could partially explain why this species has avoided population decline, since its ecological strategy is based on its temporal and spatial distribution combined with the segregation of age and sex groups. We hypothesize that the distribution of quail age and sex classes follows variations in weather and habitat suitability to exploit seasonal and geographic variations in resource availability. The migratory and nomadic movements of quail, combined with the occurrence of multiple breeding attempts within a single season, may also allow these birds to overcome the impacts of predators and anthropogenic environmental change. Conservation and management efforts should therefore take account of these age and sex related temporal and spatial patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Nadal
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Wildlife, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
| | - Carolina Ponz
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Wildlife, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Carles Comas
- Department of Mathematics, Agrotecnio Center, University of Lleida, 25001 Lleida, Spain
| | - Antoni Margalida
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Wildlife, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain; Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, IREC (CSIC.UCLM-JCCM), 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
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16
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Verhoeven MA, Loonstra AHJ, Hooijmeijer JCEW, Masero JA, Piersma T, Senner NR. Generational shift in spring staging site use by a long-distance migratory bird. Biol Lett 2018; 14:rsbl.2017.0663. [PMID: 29445041 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2017.0663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In response to environmental change, species have been observed altering their migratory behaviours. Few studies, however, have been able to determine whether these alterations resulted from inherited, plastic or flexible changes. Here, we present a unique observation of a rapid population-level shift in migratory routes-over 300 km from Spain to Portugal-by continental black-tailed godwits Limosa limosa limosa This shift did not result from adult godwits changing staging sites, as adult site use was highly consistent. Rather, the shift resulted from young godwits predominantly using Portugal over Spain. We found no differences in reproductive success or survival among individuals using either staging site, indicating that the shift resulted from developmental plasticity rather than natural selection. Our results therefore suggest that new migratory routes can develop within a generation and that young individuals may be the agents of such rapid changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo A Verhoeven
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - A H Jelle Loonstra
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jos C E W Hooijmeijer
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jose A Masero
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas, Badajoz 06071, Spain
| | - Theunis Piersma
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands.,NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Coastal Systems and Utrecht University, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Nathan R Senner
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
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