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Kitowski I, Łopucki R, Wiącek D, Pitucha G, Sujak A, Jakubas D. Concentration of metals and metalloids in livers of birds of various foraging guilds collected during the autumn migration period in Poland. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:21913-21934. [PMID: 38400961 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32502-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
During migration, birds explore various habitats at stopover sites that differ in food resources and contamination levels. In this study, hepatic concentrations of 21 elements (metals and metalloids) in 11 species of birds, representing various foraging habitats (such as aquatic, aquatic/terrestrial, and terrestrial) and migration modes (migratory and sedentary) representing various foraging guilds (omnivores, piscivores, and molluscivores), were analyzed. The samples (N = 84) were collected during the autumn migration period in Poland. The concentrations of elements determined in this study exhibited high inter-species variability, reflecting the diversity in contamination levels depending on food resources used by specific bird groups. Many of the investigated individuals from different species showed exceeded levels of subclinical toxicity and moderate clinical poisoning due to Cd and Hg. Higher concentrations of As, Hg, and Ba and lower V concentrations were found in migratory birds as compared to sedentary birds. Species foraging in terrestrial habitat had different concentrations of some elements compared to aquatic and aquatic/terrestrial species. Some specific inter-species differences in hepatic elemental concentrations were found. Differences in elemental concentrations among various groups can primarily be attributed to their foraging guilds, with certain elements, particularly As, V, and Hg, playing a significant role in the dissimilarity of elemental concentrations between foraging habitat groups and migratory mode groups. The data collected confirmed the limited ability of As to enter ecosystem pathways. The results of this study contribute to understanding the year-round exposure of migratory birds to environmental contamination, which can have carry-over effects on their performance in wintering and breeding grounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacy Kitowski
- University College of Applied Sciences in Chełm, Pocztowa 54, 22-100, Chełm, Poland
| | - Rafał Łopucki
- Department of Biomedicine and Environmental Research, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1J, 20-708, Lublin, Poland
| | - Dariusz Wiącek
- Bohdan Dobrzański Institute of Agrophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Doświadczalna 4, 20-290, Lublin, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Pitucha
- Biodiversity Laboratory, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Land Management and Environmental Protection, University of Rzeszów, Ćwiklińskiej 1A, 35-601, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Sujak
- Department of Biosystem Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 50, 60-627, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Dariusz Jakubas
- Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
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Bell F, Ouwehand J, Both C, Briedis M, Lisovski S, Wang X, Bearhop S, Burgess M. Individuals departing non-breeding areas early achieve earlier breeding and higher breeding success. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4075. [PMID: 38374332 PMCID: PMC10876959 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53575-2] [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: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Conditions experienced by an individual during migration have the potential to shape migratory tactic and in turn fitness. For large birds, environmental conditions encountered during migration have been linked with survival and subsequent reproductive output, but this is less known for smaller birds, hindering our understanding of mechanisms driving population change. By combining breeding and tracking data from 62 pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) representing two breeding populations collected over 2016-2020, we determine how variation in migration phenology and tactic among individuals affects subsequent breeding. Departure date from West African non-breeding areas to European breeding grounds was highly variable among individuals and had a strong influence on migration tactic. Early departing individuals had longer spring migrations which included longer staging duration yet arrived at breeding sites and initiated breeding earlier than later departing individuals. Individuals with longer duration spring migrations and early arrival at breeding sites had larger clutches, and for males higher fledging success. We suggest that for pied flycatchers, individual carry-over effects may act through departure phenology from West Africa, and the associated spring migration duration, to influence reproduction. While our results confirm that departure date from non-breeding areas can be associated with breeding success in migratory passerines, we identify spring staging duration as a key component of this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fraser Bell
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK.
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Centre for Conservation Science, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, UK.
| | - Janne Ouwehand
- Conservation Ecology Group, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Christiaan Both
- Conservation Ecology Group, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martins Briedis
- Department of Bird Migration, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland
- Lab of Ornithology, Institute of Biology, University of Latvia, Rīga, Latvia
| | - Simeon Lisovski
- Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Telegrafenberg, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Xuelai Wang
- Conservation Ecology Group, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Stuart Bearhop
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
| | - Malcolm Burgess
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Centre for Conservation Science, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, UK
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, UK
- PiedFly.Net, Yarner Wood, Bovey Tracey, Devon, UK
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3
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Burger J. Metal Levels in Delaware Bay Horseshoe Crab Eggs from the Surface Reflect Metals in Egg Clutches Laid beneath the Sand. TOXICS 2023; 11:614. [PMID: 37505579 PMCID: PMC10386046 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Understanding variations in metal levels in biota geographically and under different environmental conditions is essential to determining risk to organisms themselves and to their predators. It is often difficult to determine food chain relationships because predators may eat several different prey types. Horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) eggs form the basis for a complex food web in Delaware Bay, New Jersey, USA. Female horseshoe crabs lay thumb-sized clutches of eggs, several cm below the surface, and often dislodge previously laid eggs that are brought to the surface by wave action, where they are accessible and critical food for migrant shorebirds. This paper compares metal and metalloid (chromium [Cr], cadmium [Cd], lead [Pb], mercury [Hg], arsenic [As] and selenium [Se]) concentrations in horseshoe crab eggs collected on the surface with concentrations in eggs from clutches excavated from below the sand surface, as well as examining metals in eggs from different parts of the Bay. The eggs were all collected in May 2019, corresponding to the presence of the four main species of shorebirds migrating through Delaware Bay. These migrating birds eat almost entirely horseshoe crab eggs during their stopover in Delaware Bay, and there are differences in the levels of metals in blood of different shorebirds. These differences could be due to whether they have access to egg clutches below sand (ruddy turnstones, Arenaria interpres) or only to eggs on the surface (the threatened red knot [Calidris canutus rufa] and other species of shorebirds). Correlations between metals in clutches were also examined. Except for As and Cd, there were no significant differences between the metals in crab egg clutches and eggs on the surface that shorebirds, gulls, and other predators eat. There were significant locational differences in metal levels in horseshoe crab eggs (except for Pb), with most metals being highest in the sites on the lower portion of Delaware Bay. Most metals in crab eggs have declined since studies were conducted in the mid-1990s but were similar to levels in horseshoe crab eggs in 2012. The data continue to provide important monitoring and assessment information for a keystone species in an ecosystem that supports many species, including threatened and declining shorebird species during spring migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Burger
- Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, 170 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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Smith AD, Sanders FJ, Lefevre KL, Thibault JM, Kalasz KS, Handmaker MC, Smith FM, Keyes TS. Spring migration patterns of red knots in the Southeast United States disentangled using automated telemetry. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11138. [PMID: 37429880 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37517-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Red Knots use the Southeast United States as a stopover during north and southbound migration and during the winter. We examined northbound red knot migration routes and timing using an automated telemetry network. Our primary goal was to evaluate the relative use of an Atlantic migratory route through Delaware Bay versus an inland route through the Great Lakes en route to Arctic breeding grounds and to identify areas of apparent stopovers. Secondarily, we explored the association of red knot routes and ground speeds with prevailing atmospheric conditions. Most Red Knots migrating north from the Southeast United States skipped or likely skipped Delaware Bay (73%) while 27% of the knots stopped in Delaware Bay for at least 1 day. A few knots used an Atlantic Coast strategy that did not include Delaware Bay, relying instead on the areas around Chesapeake Bay or New York Bay for stopovers. Nearly 80% of migratory trajectories were associated with tailwinds at departure. Most knots tracked in our study traveled north through the eastern Great Lake Basin, without stopping, thus making the Southeast United States the last terminal stopover for some knots before reaching boreal or Arctic stopover sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam D Smith
- U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge System, Inventory and Monitoring Branch, Athens, GA, 30605, USA
- American Bird Conservancy, The Plains, VA, 20198, USA
| | - Felicia J Sanders
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, 220 Santee Gun Club Road, McClellanville, SC, 29458, USA.
| | - Kara L Lefevre
- Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL, 33965, USA
- Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, V2C 0C8, Canada
| | - Janet M Thibault
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC, 29412, USA
| | - Kevin S Kalasz
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Ecological Services Field Office, 28950 Watson Blvd, Big Pine Key, FL, 33043, USA
| | - Maina C Handmaker
- University of Massachusetts Amherst, 160 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Fletcher M Smith
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 1 Conservation Way, Brunswick, GA, 31520, USA
| | - Tim S Keyes
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 1 Conservation Way, Brunswick, GA, 31520, USA
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Tardy O, Acheson ES, Bouchard C, Chamberland É, Fortin A, Ogden NH, Leighton PA. Mechanistic movement models to predict geographic range expansions of ticks and tick-borne pathogens: Case studies with Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum in eastern North America. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102161. [PMID: 36996508 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
The geographic range of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, is expanding northward from the United States into southern Canada, and studies suggest that the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, will follow suit. These tick species are vectors for many zoonotic pathogens, and their northward range expansion presents a serious threat to public health. Climate change (particularly increasing temperature) has been identified as an important driver permitting northward range expansion of blacklegged ticks, but the impacts of host movement, which is essential to tick dispersal into new climatically suitable regions, have received limited investigation. Here, a mechanistic movement model was applied to landscapes of eastern North America to explore 1) relationships between multiple ecological drivers and the speed of the northward invasion of blacklegged ticks infected with the causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, and 2) its capacity to simulate the northward range expansion of infected blacklegged ticks and uninfected lone star ticks under theoretical scenarios of increasing temperature. Our results suggest that the attraction of migratory birds (long-distance tick dispersal hosts) to resource-rich areas during their spring migration and the mate-finding Allee effect in tick population dynamics are key drivers for the spread of infected blacklegged ticks. The modeled increases in temperature extended the climatically suitable areas of Canada for infected blacklegged ticks and uninfected lone star ticks towards higher latitudes by up to 31% and 1%, respectively, and with an average predicted speed of the range expansion reaching 61 km/year and 23 km/year, respectively. Differences in the projected spatial distribution patterns of these tick species were due to differences in climate envelopes of tick populations, as well as the availability and attractiveness of suitable habitats for migratory birds. Our results indicate that the northward invasion process of lone star ticks is primarily driven by local dispersal of resident terrestrial hosts, whereas that of blacklegged ticks is governed by long-distance migratory bird dispersal. The results also suggest that mechanistic movement models provide a powerful approach for predicting tick-borne disease risk patterns under complex scenarios of climate, socioeconomic and land use/land cover changes.
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Tucker AM, McGowan CP, Nuse BL, Lyons JE, Moore CT, Smith DR, Sweka JA, Anstead KA, DeRose‐Wilson A, Clark NA. Estimating recruitment rate and population dynamics at a migratory stopover site using an integrated population model. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anna M. Tucker
- U.S. Geological Survey, Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Iowa State University Ames Iowa USA
| | - Conor P. McGowan
- U.S. Geological Survey, Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
| | - Bryan L. Nuse
- Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Ft. Collins Colorado USA
| | - James E. Lyons
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Patuxent Research Refuge Laurel Maryland USA
| | - Clinton T. Moore
- U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit University of Georgia Athens Georgia USA
| | - David R. Smith
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center at Leetown Kearneysville West Virginia USA
| | - John A. Sweka
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Fishery Center Lamar Pennsylvania USA
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Bonar M, Anderson SJ, Anderson CR, Wittemyer G, Northrup JM, Shafer ABA. Genomic correlates for migratory direction in a free-ranging cervid. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221969. [PMID: 36475444 PMCID: PMC9727677 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal migrations are some of the most ubiquitous and one of the most threatened ecological processes globally. A wide range of migratory behaviours occur in nature, and this behaviour is not uniform among and within species, where even individuals in the same population can exhibit differences. While the environment largely drives migratory behaviour, it is necessary to understand the genetic mechanisms influencing migration to elucidate the potential of migratory species to cope with novel conditions and adapt to environmental change. In this study, we identified genes associated with a migratory trait by undertaking pooled genome-wide scans on a natural population of migrating mule deer. We identified genomic regions associated with variation in migratory direction, including FITM1, a gene linked to the formation of lipids, and DPPA3, a gene linked to epigenetic modifications of the maternal line. Such a genetic basis for a migratory trait contributes to the adaptive potential of the species and might affect the flexibility of individuals to change their behaviour in the face of changes in their environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maegwin Bonar
- Environmental & Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9L 0G2
| | - Spencer J. Anderson
- Environmental & Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9L 0G2
| | - Charles R. Anderson
- Mammals Research Section, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - George Wittemyer
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Joseph M. Northrup
- Environmental & Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9L 0G2,Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9J 3C7
| | - Aaron B. A. Shafer
- Environmental & Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9L 0G2
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Burger J, Porter RR, Niles L, Newstead DJ. Timing and duration of stopovers affects propensity to breed, incubation periods, and nest success of different wintering cohorts of red knots in the Canadian Arctic during the Years 2009 to 2016. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 215:114227. [PMID: 36044961 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Recent interest in migratory connectivity of shorebirds leads to examining the role stopovers and connectivity play in reproductive success. Since many shorebird species are declining, there is a need to determine factors affecting reproductive success. We used light records from 104 geolocators recovered from red knots (Calidris canutus rufa) to examine-incubation success as a function of temporal patterns at stopovers, year (2009-2016), and wintering cohort. Geolocators were attached on leg flags, mainly in Delaware Bay (New Jersey) and Texas. Successful incubation in different years ranged from 21 to 76%; from 8 to 43% of knots did not attempt incubation on breeding grounds. This is the first estimate of the number of shorebirds going to the Arctic that did not breed, since all other estimates of success were derived from field studies based on birds that initiated nests. High breeding success (76%) occurred in only one year (2011). Nearly all of knots stopped in Hudson Bay region. Arrival date and time in the Pre-Arctic, arrival on breeding grounds, year, and wintering cohort were associated with successful incubation. The percentage attempting incubation, and the percentage that were successful, varied by wintering cohort. When only the east coast rufa knots are considered, time spent on Delaware Bay showed a significant duration difference. Knots wintering in Texas had the highest propensity to initiate incubation (96%), and the highest incubation success (67%). Of rufa knots using the Atlantic flyway, those wintering in southern South America had the lowest incubation success rate (25%). We discuss the importance of quality of flyways, opportunities for refuelling during migration, and importance of time at stopovers. These data can be used to understand migratory connectivity, distinguish factors affecting reproductive success of long-distance migrants, determine which parts of the annual cycle require protection, and aid in recovery plans for long-distance migrants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Burger
- Division of Life Sciences, Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Pinelands Field Station, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NN, 08854, USA.
| | | | - Lawrence Niles
- Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, 2 Preservation Pl, Princeton, NJ, 08540, USA; L. J. Niles Associates, LLC, 109 Market Lane, Greenwich, NJ, 08323, USA
| | - David J Newstead
- Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, 615 N. Upper Broadway, Suite 1200, Corpus Christi, TX, 78401, USA
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Thie N, Corl A, Turjeman S, Efrat R, Kamath PL, Getz WM, Bowie RCK, Nathan R. Linking migration and microbiota at a major stopover site in a long-distance avian migrant. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2022; 10:46. [PMID: 36345043 PMCID: PMC9641824 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-022-00347-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Migration is one of the most physical and energetically demanding periods in an individual bird's life. The composition of the bird's gut or cloacal microbiota can temporarily change during migration, likely due to differences in diets, habitats and other environmental conditions experienced en route. However, how physiological condition, migratory patterns, and other drivers interact to affect microbiota composition of migratory birds is still unclear. We sampled the cloacal bacterial microbiota of a long-distance migrant, the steppe buzzard (Buteo buteo vulpinus), at an important spring stopover bottleneck in Eilat, Israel, after crossing the ca. 1800 km Sahara Desert. We examined whether diversity and composition of the cloacal microbiota varied with body condition, sex, movement patterns (i.e., arrival time and migration distance), and survival. Early arrival to Eilat was associated with better body condition, longer post-Eilat spring migration distance, higher microbial α-diversity, and differences in microbiota composition. Specifically, early arrivals had higher abundance of the phylum Synergistota and five genera, including Jonquetella and Peptococcus, whereas the phylum Proteobacteria and genus Escherichia-Shigella (as well as three other genera) were more abundant in later arrivals. While the differences in α-diversity and Escherichia-Shigella seem to be mainly driven by body condition, other compositional differences associated with arrival date could be indicators of longer migratory journeys (e.g., pre-fueling at wintering grounds or stopover habitats along the way) or migratory performance. No significant differences were found between the microbiota of surviving and non-surviving individuals. Overall, our results indicate that variation in steppe buzzard microbiota is linked to variation in migratory patterns (i.e., capture/arrival date) and body condition, highlighting the importance of sampling the microbiota of GPS-tracked individuals on multiple occasions along their migration routes to gain a more detailed understanding of the links between migration, microbiota, and health in birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikki Thie
- Movement Ecology Lab, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Ammon Corl
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Sondra Turjeman
- Movement Ecology Lab, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Ron Efrat
- Movement Ecology Lab, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Pauline L Kamath
- School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Wayne M Getz
- Department of Environmental Science Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- School of Mathematical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Rauri C K Bowie
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ran Nathan
- Movement Ecology Lab, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
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McDuffie LA, Christie KS, Taylor AR, Nol E, Friis C, Harwood CM, Rausch J, Laliberte B, Gesmundo C, Wright JR, Johnson JA. Flyway‐scale GPS tracking reveals migratory routes and key stopover and non‐breeding locations of lesser yellowlegs. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9495. [DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Katherine S. Christie
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Threatened, Endangered and Diversity Program Anchorage Alaska USA
| | - Audrey R. Taylor
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage Alaska USA
| | - Erica Nol
- Biology Trent University Peterborough Ontario Canada
| | - Christian Friis
- Environment and Climate Change Canada Canadian Wildlife Service Toronto Ontario Canada
| | | | - Jennie Rausch
- Environment and Climate Change Canada Canadian Wildlife Service Yellowknife Northwest Territories Canada
| | - Benoit Laliberte
- Environment and Climate Change Canada Wildlife Management and Regulatory Affairs Gatineau Quebec Canada
| | - Callie Gesmundo
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Program Anchorage Alaska USA
| | - James R. Wright
- School of Environment and Natural Resources The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio USA
| | - James A. Johnson
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Program Anchorage Alaska USA
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11
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Information needed for coastal management: perceptions of research and protection of shorebirds on a coastal beach are influenced by visitor type, age and gender. Urban Ecosyst 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-022-01282-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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12
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Rabdeau J, Desbonnes M, Bretagnolle V, Moreau J, Monceau K. Does anthropization affect physiology, behaviour and life‐history traits of Montagu's harrier chicks? Anim Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Rabdeau
- UMR 7372, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé La Rochelle Université & CNRS Villiers en Bois France
| | - M. Desbonnes
- UMR 7372, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé La Rochelle Université & CNRS Villiers en Bois France
| | - V. Bretagnolle
- UMR 7372, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé La Rochelle Université & CNRS Villiers en Bois France
- LTSER “Zone Atelier Plaine & Val de Sèvre”, CNRS Villiers‐en Bois France
| | - J. Moreau
- UMR 7372, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé La Rochelle Université & CNRS Villiers en Bois France
- UMR CNRS 6282 Biogéosciences, Équipe Écologie Évolutive Université de Bourgogne‐Franche‐Comté Dijon France
| | - K. Monceau
- UMR 7372, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé La Rochelle Université & CNRS Villiers en Bois France
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Short-term mercury exposure disrupts muscular and hepatic lipid metabolism in a migrant songbird. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11470. [PMID: 35794224 PMCID: PMC9259677 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15680-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a global pollutant that can cause metabolic disruptions in animals and thereby potentially compromise the energetic capacity of birds for long-distance migration, but its effects on avian lipid metabolism pathways that support endurance flight and stopover refueling have never been studied. We tested the effects of short-term (14-d), environmentally relevant (0.5 ppm) dietary MeHg exposure on lipid metabolism markers in the pectoralis and livers of yellow-rumped warblers (Setophaga coronata) that were found in a previous study to have poorer flight endurance in a wind tunnel than untreated conspecifics. Compared to controls, MeHg-exposed birds displayed lower muscle aerobic and fatty acid oxidation capacity, but similar muscle glycolytic capacity, fatty acid transporter expression, and PPAR expression. Livers of exposed birds indicated elevated energy costs, lower fatty acid uptake capacity, and lower PPAR-γ expression. The lower muscle oxidative enzyme capacity of exposed birds likely contributed to their weaker endurance in the prior study, while the metabolic changes observed in the liver have potential to inhibit lipogenesis and stopover refueling. Our findings provide concerning evidence that fatty acid catabolism, synthesis, and storage pathways in birds can be dysregulated by only brief exposure to MeHg, with potentially significant consequences for migratory performance.
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14
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Herbert JA, Mizrahi D, Taylor CM. Migration tactics and connectivity of a Nearctic-Neotropical migratory shorebird. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:819-830. [PMID: 35118651 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
During long-distance spring migrations, birds may rest and refuel at numerous stopover sites while minimizing the time to reach the breeding grounds. If habitat is limited along the migration route, pre-breeding birds optimize flight range by having longer stopovers at higher quality sites compared to poorer quality sites. Stopover duration also depends on distance remaining to breeding grounds, ecological barriers, and individual characteristics. We assessed spring migration tactics and connectivity of a Nearctic-Neotropical migratory shorebird, the semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), at two sites with known relative habitat quality on the Northern Gulf of Mexico (NGOM) coast, the first land encountered after crossing the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). We used automated radio telemetry (Motus) to estimate stopover duration and probability of departure. Migration speed was estimated for individuals detected at subsequent receivers on the Motus Network. To measure migratory connectivity, we used morphometrics and the Motus network to assign general breeding regions. Additionally, feather stable isotope ratios of C and N provided coarse information about over-wintering regions. Stopover duration declined with higher fuel loads at capture as expected under a time-minimizing strategy. After accounting for fuel load, stopover duration was approximately 40% longer at the higher quality site. We found no detectable effect of age, sex, or breeding location on stopover behavior. Probability of departure was strongly affected by humidity and also by tailwind and weather conditions. Birds stopping at the higher-quality site had earlier apparent arrival to the breeding grounds. The Louisiana coast is an apparent stopover hub for this species, since the individuals were departing to range-wide breeding regions and isotope values suggested birds were also using widespread wintering regions. Our study shows how high-quality, coastal wetlands along the NGOM coast serve a critical role in the annual cycle of a migratory shorebird. Stopover behavior indicated that high quality habitat may be limited for this species during spring migration. As threats to the GOM coast increase, protection of these already limited wetlands is vitally important.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Herbert
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA, USA, 70118
| | - David Mizrahi
- New Jersey Audubon Society, Cape May Bird Observatory Center for Research and Education, Cape May Court House, NJ, USA
| | - Caz M Taylor
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA, USA, 70118
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15
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Campo‐Celada M, Jordano P, Benítez‐López A, Gutiérrez‐Expósito C, Rabadán‐González J, Mendoza I. Assessing short and long‐term variations in diversity, timing and body condition of frugivorous birds. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- María Campo‐Celada
- Dept of Integrative Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Sevilla Spain
| | - Pedro Jordano
- Dept of Integrative Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Sevilla Spain
- Dept of Plant Biology and Ecology, Univ. de Sevilla Sevilla Spain
| | - Ana Benítez‐López
- Dept of Integrative Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Sevilla Spain
| | - Carlos Gutiérrez‐Expósito
- tier3 Solutions GmbH Leverkusen Germany
- Conservation Biology Dept, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Isla de la Cartuja Sevilla Spain
| | | | - Irene Mendoza
- Dept of Integrative Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Sevilla Spain
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16
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Panter CT, Literák I, Raab R, Tolhurst BA, White RL. Age, landscape, and arrival date explain ranging behavior of wintering red kites in southwest Europe. J Wildl Manage 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Connor T. Panter
- Ecology, Conservation and Zoonosis Research and Enterprise Group, School of Applied Sciences University of Brighton Brighton BN2 4GJ United Kingdom
| | - Ivan Literák
- Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno Brno Czech Republic
| | - Rainer Raab
- Technisches Büro für Biologie Mag. Dr. Rainer Raab Quadenstrasse 13, 2232 Deutsch‐Wagram Austria
| | - Bryony A. Tolhurst
- Ecology, Conservation and Zoonosis Research and Enterprise Group, School of Applied Sciences University of Brighton Brighton BN2 4GJ United Kingdom
| | - Rachel L. White
- Ecology, Conservation and Zoonosis Research and Enterprise Group, School of Applied Sciences University of Brighton Brighton BN2 4GJ United Kingdom
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17
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Anderson AM, Friis C, Gratto-Trevor CL, Harris CM, Love OP, Morrison RIG, Prosser SWJ, Nol E, Smith PA. Drought at a coastal wetland affects refuelling and migration strategies of shorebirds. Oecologia 2021; 197:661-674. [PMID: 34657196 PMCID: PMC8585834 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-05047-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Droughts can affect invertebrate communities in wetlands, which can have bottom-up effects on the condition and survival of top predators. Shorebirds, key predators at coastal wetlands, have experienced widespread population declines and could be negatively affected by droughts. We explored, in detail, the effects of drought on multiple aspects of shorebird stopover and migration ecology by contrasting a year with average wet/dry conditions (2016) with a year with moderate drought (2017) at a major subarctic stopover site on southbound migration. We also examined the effects of drought on shorebird body mass during stopover across 14 years (historical: 1974–1982 and present-day: 2014–2018). For the detailed comparison of two years, in the year with moderate drought we documented lower invertebrate abundance at some sites, higher prey family richness in shorebird faecal samples, lower shorebird refuelling rates, shorter stopover durations for juveniles, and, for most species, a higher probability of making a subsequent stopover in North America after departing the subarctic, compared to the year with average wet/dry conditions. In the 14-year dataset, shorebird body mass tended to be lower in drier years. We show that even short-term, moderate drought conditions can negatively affect shorebird refuelling performance at coastal wetlands, which may carry-over to affect subsequent stopover decisions. Given shorebird population declines and predicted changes in the severity and duration of droughts with climate change, researchers should prioritize a better understanding of how droughts affect shorebird refuelling performance and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M Anderson
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada.
| | - Christian Friis
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Canada
| | - Cheri L Gratto-Trevor
- Prairie and Northern Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, Canada
| | | | - Oliver P Love
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada
| | - R I Guy Morrison
- National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Sean W J Prosser
- Center for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Erica Nol
- Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada
| | - Paul A Smith
- National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Canada
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18
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Mondain‐Monval TO, Amos M, Chapman J, MacColl A, Sharp SP. Flyway-scale analysis reveals that the timing of migration in wading birds is becoming later. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:14135-14145. [PMID: 34707846 PMCID: PMC8525091 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the implications of climate change for migratory animals is paramount for establishing how best to conserve them. A large body of evidence suggests that birds are migrating earlier in response to rising temperatures, but many studies focus on single populations of model species.Migratory patterns at large spatial scales may differ from those occurring in single populations, for example because of individuals dispersing outside of study areas. Furthermore, understanding phenological trends across species is vital because we need a holistic understanding of how climate change affects wildlife, especially as rates of temperature change vary globally.The life cycles of migratory wading birds cover vast latitudinal gradients, making them particularly susceptible to climate change and, therefore, ideal model organisms for understanding its effects. Here, we implement a novel application of changepoint detection analysis to investigate changes in the timing of migration in waders at a flyway scale using a thirteen-year citizen science dataset (eBird) and determine the influence of changes in weather conditions on large-scale migratory patterns.In contrast to most previous research, our results suggest that migration is getting later in both spring and autumn. We show that rates of change were faster in spring than autumn in both the Afro-Palearctic and Nearctic flyways, but that weather conditions in autumn, not in spring, predicted temporal changes in the corresponding season. Birds migrated earlier in autumn when temperatures increased rapidly, and later with increasing headwinds.One possible explanation for our results is that migration is becoming later due to northward range shifts, which means that a higher proportion of birds travel greater distances and therefore take longer to reach their destinations. Our findings underline the importance of considering spatial scale when investigating changes in the phenology of migratory bird species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matt Amos
- Lancaster Environment CentreLancaster UniversityLancasterUK
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19
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Hidalgo-Rodríguez P, Sáez-Gómez P, Blas J, Hedenström A, Camacho C. Body mass dynamics of migratory nightjars are explained by individual turnover and fueling. Behav Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arab042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Body mass is a commonly used indicator of the energy stores of migratory animals and there is considerable evidence that it is a critical determinant of migration decisions and outcomes. Mean population mass often increases during the post-breeding period in most migratory species. Usually, this increase is interpreted as the result of fuel accumulation for migration based on the assumption that mean population mass mirrors mean individual mass. However, an empirical test of this assumption is lacking, and it is unknown whether the general increase in mean population mass is entirely the result of within-individual mass gain, or if it rather reflects a change in the nature of individuals in the population (mass-dependent turnover). We investigated changes in body mass during the post-fledging period of a migratory bird, the Red-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus ruficollis), and combined longitudinal and cross-sectional data collected over 9 years to disentangle the relative contribution of individual-level (mass gain) and population-level (selective appearance and disappearance) processes. We found that the average body mass of fully-developed juveniles increased as the season progressed and that both individual mass gain and the selective disappearance of lighter individuals contributed to this increase. Contrary to the general expectations for migrants, the turnover of individuals contributed 3.5 times more to the seasonal increase in average body mass than individual mass gain. On a practical note, this differential contribution implied a discrepancy of over 40% between the time-average rates of mass gain (fuel deposition rates) estimated from population-level and individual-level data. Our study calls for caution in the use of population-level changes in body mass to make inferences about individual fuel deposition rates and, more generally, indicates that longitudinal and cross-sectional approaches need to be combined to uncover phenotype-time correlations in natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Hidalgo-Rodríguez
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, University Pablo de Olavide, Carretera Utrera km.1, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Pedro Sáez-Gómez
- Instituto Multidisciplinar para el Estudio del Medio “Ramon Margalef”, Universidad de Alicante, 03080, Alicante, Spain
- Department of Integrative Sciences, University of Huelva, Campus Universitario El Carmen, Av. Andalucía, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - Julio Blas
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana – CSIC, Av. Américo Vespucio, 26, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Anders Hedenström
- Department of Biology, Centre for Animal Movement Research (CAnMove), Lund University, Ecology Building, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Carlos Camacho
- Department of Biology, Centre for Animal Movement Research (CAnMove), Lund University, Ecology Building, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
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20
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Imlay TL, Mann HA, Taylor PD. Autumn migratory timing and pace are driven by breeding season carryover effects. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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21
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Macdonald AJ, Smith PA, Friis CA, Lyons JE, Aubry Y, Nol E. Stopover Ecology of Red Knots in Southwestern James Bay During Southbound Migration. J Wildl Manage 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amelia J. Macdonald
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program Trent University 1600 West Bank Drive Peterborough ON K9L 0G2 Canada
| | - Paul A. Smith
- National Wildlife Research Centre Environment and Climate Change Canada 1125 Colonel By Drive Ottawa ON K1A 0H3 Canada
| | - Christian A. Friis
- Canadian Wildlife Service Environment and Climate Change Canada 4905 Dufferin Street Toronto ON M3H 5T4 Canada
| | - James E. Lyons
- U.S. Geological Survey Patuxent Wildlife Research Center 12100 Beech Forest Road Laurel MD 20708 USA
| | - Yves Aubry
- Canadian Wildlife Service Environment and Climate Change Canada 801–1550 d'Estimauville Avenue Québec QC G1J 0C3 Canada
| | - Erica Nol
- Department of Biology Trent University 2140 East Bank Drive Peterborough ON K9L 0G2 Canada
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22
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Vanni L, Cerritelli G, Turchi A, Giunchi D. Migratory restlessness and stopover duration in Wood sandpiper Tringa glareola. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2021.1878282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Vanni
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via A. Volta 6, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Giulia Cerritelli
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via A. Volta 6, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Alessandro Turchi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via A. Volta 6, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Dimitri Giunchi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via A. Volta 6, Pisa 56126, Italy
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23
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González‐Varo JP, Onrubia A, Pérez‐Méndez N, Tarifa R, Illera JC. Fruit abundance and trait matching determine diet type and body condition across frugivorous bird populations. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Juan P. González‐Varo
- Depto de Biología, IVAGRO, Univ. de Cádiz, Campus Río San Pedro Puerto Real Cádiz Spain
| | - Alejandro Onrubia
- Migres Foundation, International Bird Migration Center (CIMA) Tarifa Cádiz Spain
| | - Néstor Pérez‐Méndez
- Inst. de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentaries (IRTA), Estació Experimental de l'Ebre Amposta Tarragona Spain
| | - Rubén Tarifa
- Depto de Biología Animal, Vegetal y Ecología, Univ. de Jaén Jaén Spain
| | - Juan C. Illera
- Research Unit of Biodiversity (UO‐CSIC‐PA), Depto de Biología de Organismos y Sistemas, Unidad Mixta de Investigación en Biodiversidad, Univ. de Oviedo, Campus of Mieres Mieres Asturias Spain
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24
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Wilson SM, Robinson KA, Gutzmann S, Moore JW, Patterson DA. Limits on performance and survival of juvenile sockeye salmon ( Oncorhynchus nerka) during food deprivation: a laboratory-based study. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coab014. [PMID: 33815801 PMCID: PMC8009553 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Long-distance migrations can be energetically demanding and can represent phases of high mortality. Understanding relationships between body condition and migratory performance can help illuminate the challenges and vulnerabilities of migratory species. Juvenile anadromous sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) may migrate over 1000 km from their freshwater nursery habitats to estuary and ocean feeding grounds. During the period corresponding to the seaward migration of sockeye salmon, we held smolts in the laboratory to ask the following: (i) Does non-feeding migration duration influence prolonged swim performance and survival? (ii) What are the relationships between individual body condition and swim performance and survival? Wild sockeye salmon were intercepted during their migration and held without food for up to 61 days to represent the non-feeding freshwater migration and the extremes of poor estuary habitat. We conducted 40 sets of prolonged swim trials on 319 fish from 3 treatment groups that represented entrance to the marine environment on (i) an average,(ii) a delayed and (iii) a severely delayed migration schedule. Experimentally controlled freshwater migration duration did not impact swim performance or survival. Swim performance decreased concomitant with condition factor, where smolts with a Fulton's condition factor of <0.69 were less likely (<50% probability) to complete the swim test (90 min swim test, at ~0.50 m/s). Survival of salmon smolts in the laboratory was less likely at energy densities of less than 3.47 MJ/kg. Swim performance decreased much sooner than survival, suggesting that swim performance, and therefore condition factor, may be a good indicator of survival of migratory smolts, as fish with reduced swim performance will likely be predated. These two relationships, one more ecologically relevant and one more clinical, help reveal the limits of long-distance migration for juvenile salmon and can be used to determine population-specific starvation risk associated with various freshwater and marine habitat conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Wilson
- Earth to Ocean Research Group, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Kendra A Robinson
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Cooperative Resource Management Institute, School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Sarah Gutzmann
- Earth to Ocean Research Group, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Jonathan W Moore
- Earth to Ocean Research Group, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - David A Patterson
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Cooperative Resource Management Institute, School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
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25
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Koleček J, Reif J, Šálek M, Hanzelka J, Sottas C, Kubelka V. Global population trends in shorebirds: migratory behaviour makes species at risk. Naturwissenschaften 2021; 108:9. [PMID: 33580336 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-021-01717-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Linking population trends to species' traits is informative for the detection of the most important threatening factors and for assessing the effectiveness of conservation measures. Although some previous studies performed such an analysis at local to continental scales, the global-scale focus is the most relevant for conservation of the entire species. Here we evaluate information on global population trends of shorebirds, a widely distributed and ecologically diversified group, where some species connect different parts of the world by migration, while others are residents. Nowadays, shorebirds face rapid environmental changes caused by various human activities and climate change. Numerous signs of regional population declines have been recently reported in response to these threats. The aim of our study was to test whether breeding and non-breeding habitats, migratory behaviour (migrants vs. residents) and migration distance, breeding latitude, generation time and breeding range size mirror species' global population trends. We found that a majority of shorebird species have declined globally. After accounting for the influence of traits and species taxonomy, linear mixed-effects models showed that populations of migratory shorebirds decreased more than populations of residents. Besides that, declines were more frequent for species breeding at high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, but these patterns did not hold after excluding the non-migratory species. Our findings suggest that factors linked to migration, such as habitat loss as well as deterioration at stop-over or wintering sites and a pronounced climate change impact at high latitudes, are possible drivers of the observed worldwide population decreases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaroslav Koleček
- Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Benátská 2, 128 01, Prague 2, Czech Republic.
| | - Jiří Reif
- Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Benátská 2, 128 01, Prague 2, Czech Republic.,Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology, Faculty of Science, Palacký University in Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Šálek
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Hanzelka
- Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Benátská 2, 128 01, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Camille Sottas
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtěch Kubelka
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Department of Biodiversity Research, Global Change Research Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.,Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, UK
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26
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González AM, Bayly NJ, Hobson KA. Earlier and slower or later and faster: Spring migration pace linked to departure time in a Neotropical migrant songbird. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:2840-2851. [PMID: 32989739 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Migratory birds travel vast distances and the timing of migratory flights can affect survival and the ability to reproduce. For Neotropical migrant songbirds, early spring departure from wintering sites, early arrival to the breeding grounds and higher reproductive success have been related to the use of suitable habitats and environmental conditions during the non-breeding season. However, how migratory strategies are shaped by winter habitat choice is largely unknown due to the general inability to track birds from specific wintering habitats to stopovers or breeding destinations. We assessed how winter habitat (native forest vs. shade-grown coffee plantations) relates to spring departure date and migration pace in Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus. We also determined the effect of departure date and total migration duration on the arrival date of birds detected near or within their breeding range. We used a novel application of Motus radiotelemetry arrays to track individuals from their wintering grounds in the Andes of South America along their migratory journey to North America. We found variation in migratory strategies between habitats, with birds wintering in native forest departing later than birds in coffee. We present isotopic evidence for native forest being of higher quality than shade-coffee for Swainson's Thrush and hypothesize that moister conditions in forest, as shown by stable isotope (δ13 C) analysis of thrush whole blood, provides favourable pre-migratory conditions allowing birds to delay departure from wintering grounds. Habitat, between-site and -year variation in departure date, suggests that birds made facultative adjustments to winter habitat quality and environmental conditions. Independent of habitat, birds that departed later migrated faster and this pattern was maintained along the migration route (n = 44). Migrating earlier and slower or later and faster was unlikely to result in significant differences in arrival time to breeding destinations. Our findings reveal underappreciated complexity in migratory decisions by long-distance migrants that contrast with the current paradigm of earlier departures and arrival from optimal habitats. The next step is to understand the relative fitness benefits of early versus late schedules or whether each strategy is an equally good response to experienced conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M González
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.,SELVA: Investigación para la Conservación en el Neotrópico, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Nicholas J Bayly
- SELVA: Investigación para la Conservación en el Neotrópico, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Keith A Hobson
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.,Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.,Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, UK
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27
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Cardells-Peris J, Gonzálvez M, Ortega-Porcel J, Ruiz de Ybáñez MR, Martínez-Herrero MC, Garijo-Toledo MM. Parasitofauna survey of song thrushes (Turdus philomelos) from the eastern part of Spain. Parasitol Int 2020; 79:102176. [PMID: 32777533 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2020.102176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Thrushes (Turdus spp.) are migratory passerine birds found in northern Europe during the summer months and in southern Europe and north of Africa during the winter. They constitute an important small game bird group very appreciated by Spanish hunters. Between October 2013 and February 2014, 90 adult song thrushes were collected for their exam. After necropsies, three species of helminths were macroscopically recovered from 15 birds (16.7%): Morishitium sp. (16.7%), Splendidofilaria mavis (6.7%) and Dilepis undula (7.8%). One of them showed an adult cestode in the lung. Moreover, 12 of the positive thrushes (80%) harboured microfilaria in pulmonary blood vessels and three of them (20%) were infected by Sarcocystis sp. on skeletal musculature. All parasitized birds showed lesions, ranging from mild to moderate airsacculitis, bronchitis and coelomitis associated to Morishitium sp. infection. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first description of Sarcocystis spp. in song thrushes from Spain. Our results reveal the need for further studies to evaluate the epidemiological role of song thrushes as spreaders of parasites during their annual migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Cardells-Peris
- Grupo PARAVET (Parasitología y Enfermedades Parasitarias), PASAPTA, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, C/Tirant lo Blanc, 7, Alfara del Patriarca, 46115. Valencia, Spain
| | - Moisés Gonzálvez
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Joaquín Ortega-Porcel
- Anatomía Patológica, Departamento de Producción y Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Salud Pública Veterinaria y Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos, C/Tirant lo Blanc, 7, Alfara del Patriarca, 46115. Valencia, Spain
| | - María Rocío Ruiz de Ybáñez
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - María Carmen Martínez-Herrero
- Grupo PARAVET (Parasitología y Enfermedades Parasitarias), PASAPTA, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, C/Tirant lo Blanc, 7, Alfara del Patriarca, 46115. Valencia, Spain
| | - María Magdalena Garijo-Toledo
- Grupo PARAVET (Parasitología y Enfermedades Parasitarias), PASAPTA, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, C/Tirant lo Blanc, 7, Alfara del Patriarca, 46115. Valencia, Spain.
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Maslo B, Burkhalter JC, Bushek D, Yuhas T, Schumm B, Burger J, Lockwood JL. Assessing conservation conflict: Does intertidal oyster aquaculture inhibit foraging behavior of migratory shorebirds? Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Brooke Maslo
- Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick New Jersey 08901 USA
| | | | - David Bushek
- Haskin Shellfish Research Lab New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Port Norris New Jersey 08349 USA
| | - Tanner Yuhas
- Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick New Jersey 08901 USA
| | - Brian Schumm
- Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick New Jersey 08901 USA
| | - Joanna Burger
- Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick New Jersey 08901 USA
- Division of Life Sciences Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Piscataway New Jersey 08854 USA
| | - Julie L. Lockwood
- Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick New Jersey 08901 USA
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Smith PA, McKinnon L, Meltofte H, Lanctot RB, Fox AD, Leafloor JO, Soloviev M, Franke A, Falk K, Golovatin M, Sokolov V, Sokolov A, Smith AC. Status and trends of tundra birds across the circumpolar Arctic. AMBIO 2020; 49:732-748. [PMID: 31955397 PMCID: PMC6989588 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01308-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Tundra-breeding birds face diverse conservation challenges, from accelerated rates of Arctic climate change to threats associated with highly migratory life histories. Here we summarise the status and trends of Arctic terrestrial birds (88 species, 228 subspecies or distinct flyway populations) across guilds/regions, derived from published sources, raw data or, in rare cases, expert opinion. We report long-term trends in vital rates (survival, reproduction) for the handful of species and regions for which these are available. Over half of all circumpolar Arctic wader taxa are declining (51% of 91 taxa with known trends) and almost half of all waterfowl are increasing (49% of 61 taxa); these opposing trends have fostered a shift in community composition in some locations. Declines were least prevalent in the African-Eurasian Flyway (29%), but similarly prevalent in the remaining three global flyways (44-54%). Widespread, and in some cases accelerating, declines underscore the urgent conservation needs faced by many Arctic terrestrial bird species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A. Smith
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6 Canada
- National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6 Canada
| | - Laura McKinnon
- Department of Multidisciplinary Studies and Graduate Program in Biology, York University, Glendon Campus, 2275 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M5B 3M6 Canada
| | - Hans Meltofte
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Richard B. Lanctot
- Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503 USA
| | - Anthony D. Fox
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Kalø, Grenåvej 14, 8410 Rønde, Denmark
| | - James O. Leafloor
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6 Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 150-123 Main St, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4W2 Canada
- National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6 Canada
| | - Mikhail Soloviev
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia 119991
| | - Alastair Franke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Knud Falk
- www.vandrefalk.dk, Ljusstöparbacken 11A, 11765 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mikhail Golovatin
- Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 8 Marta Str, 202, Ekaterinburg, Russia 620144
| | - Vasiliy Sokolov
- Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 8 Marta Str, 202, Ekaterinburg, Russia 620144
| | - Aleksandr Sokolov
- Arctic Research Station, Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Zelenaya Gorka Str., 21, Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, Labytnangi, Russia 629400
| | - Adam C. Smith
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6 Canada
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6 Canada
- National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6 Canada
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Goossens S, Wybouw N, Van Leeuwen T, Bonte D. The physiology of movement. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2020; 8:5. [PMID: 32042434 PMCID: PMC7001223 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-020-0192-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Movement, from foraging to migration, is known to be under the influence of the environment. The translation of environmental cues to individual movement decision making is determined by an individual's internal state and anticipated to balance costs and benefits. General body condition, metabolic and hormonal physiology mechanistically underpin this internal state. These physiological determinants are tightly, and often genetically linked with each other and hence central to a mechanistic understanding of movement. We here synthesise the available evidence of the physiological drivers and signatures of movement and review (1) how physiological state as measured in its most coarse way by body condition correlates with movement decisions during foraging, migration and dispersal, (2) how hormonal changes underlie changes in these movement strategies and (3) how these can be linked to molecular pathways. We reveale that a high body condition facilitates the efficiency of routine foraging, dispersal and migration. Dispersal decision making is, however, in some cases stimulated by a decreased individual condition. Many of the biotic and abiotic stressors that induce movement initiate a physiological cascade in vertebrates through the production of stress hormones. Movement is therefore associated with hormone levels in vertebrates but also insects, often in interaction with factors related to body or social condition. The underlying molecular and physiological mechanisms are currently studied in few model species, and show -in congruence with our insights on the role of body condition- a central role of energy metabolism during glycolysis, and the coupling with timing processes during migration. Molecular insights into the physiological basis of movement remain, however, highly refractory. We finalise this review with a critical reflection on the importance of these physiological feedbacks for a better mechanistic understanding of movement and its effects on ecological dynamics at all levels of biological organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Goossens
- Department of Biology, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nicky Wybouw
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thomas Van Leeuwen
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dries Bonte
- Department of Biology, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Tucker AM, McGowan CP, Catalano MJ, DeRose‐Wilson A, Robinson RA, Zimmerman J. Foraging ecology mediates response to ecological mismatch during migratory stopover. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anna M. Tucker
- School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Auburn University Auburn Alabama USA
| | - Conor P. McGowan
- Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit U.S. Geological Survey Auburn University Auburn Alabama USA
| | - Matthew J. Catalano
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences Auburn University Auburn Alabama USA
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32
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Anderson AM, Duijns S, Smith PA, Friis C, Nol E. Migration Distance and Body Condition Influence Shorebird Migration Strategies and Stopover Decisions During Southbound Migration. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Duijns S, Anderson AM, Aubry Y, Dey A, Flemming SA, Francis CM, Friis C, Gratto-Trevor C, Hamilton DJ, Holberton R, Koch S, McKellar AE, Mizrahi D, Morrissey CA, Neima SG, Newstead D, Niles L, Nol E, Paquet J, Rausch J, Tudor L, Turcotte Y, Smith PA. Long-distance migratory shorebirds travel faster towards their breeding grounds, but fly faster post-breeding. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9420. [PMID: 31263125 PMCID: PMC6603026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45862-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-distance migrants are assumed to be more time-limited during the pre-breeding season compared to the post-breeding season. Although breeding-related time constraints may be absent post-breeding, additional factors such as predation risk could lead to time constraints that were previously underestimated. By using an automated radio telemetry system, we compared pre- and post-breeding movements of long-distance migrant shorebirds on a continent-wide scale. From 2014 to 2016, we deployed radio transmitters on 1,937 individuals of 4 shorebird species at 13 sites distributed across North America. Following theoretical predictions, all species migrated faster during the pre-breeding season, compared to the post-breeding season. These differences in migration speed between seasons were attributable primarily to longer stopover durations in the post-breeding season. In contrast, and counter to our expectations, all species had higher airspeeds during the post-breeding season, even after accounting for seasonal differences in wind. Arriving at the breeding grounds in good body condition is beneficial for survival and reproductive success and this energetic constraint might explain why airspeeds are not maximised in the pre-breeding season. We show that the higher airspeeds in the post-breeding season precede a wave of avian predators, which could suggest that migrant shorebirds show predation-minimizing behaviour during the post-breeding season. Our results reaffirm the important role of time constraints during northward migration and suggest that both energy and predation-risk constrain migratory behaviour during the post-breeding season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sjoerd Duijns
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada. .,Environment and Climate Change Canada, Wildlife Research Division, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Alexandra M Anderson
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - Yves Aubry
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Amanda Dey
- Endangered and Nongame Species, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, Trenton, USA
| | - Scott A Flemming
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - Charles M Francis
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Christian Friis
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Cheri Gratto-Trevor
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology Branch, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Diana J Hamilton
- Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, Canada
| | - Rebecca Holberton
- Lab of Avian Biology, Department of Biology & Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Stephanie Koch
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Sudbury, MA, USA
| | - Ann E McKellar
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | | | - Christy A Morrissey
- Department of Biology and School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, SK, Canada
| | - Sarah G Neima
- Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, Canada
| | - David Newstead
- Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program (CBBEP), Corpus Christi, TX, USA
| | - Larry Niles
- Wildlife Restoration Partnerships LLC, Greenwich, NJ, USA
| | - Erica Nol
- Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - Julie Paquet
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Sackville, NB, Canada
| | - Jennie Rausch
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Yellowknife, NT, Canada
| | - Lindsay Tudor
- Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Bangor, ME, USA
| | - Yves Turcotte
- Département des sciences et techniques biologiques, Collège de La Pocatière, La Pocatière, QC, Canada
| | - Paul A Smith
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Wildlife Research Division, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Bastille-Rousseau G, Yackulic CB, Gibbs JP, Frair JL, Cabrera F, Blake S. Migration triggers in a large herbivore: Galápagos giant tortoises navigating resource gradients on volcanoes. Ecology 2019; 100:e02658. [PMID: 30998258 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Revised: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
To understand how migratory behavior evolved and to predict how migratory species will respond to global environmental change it is important to quantify the fitness consequences of intra- and inter-individual variation in migratory behavior. Intra-individual variation includes behavioral responses to changing environmental conditions and hence behavioral plasticity in the context of novel or variable conditions. Inter-individual variation determines the degree of variation on which selection can act and the rate of evolutionary responses to changes in average and extreme environmental conditions. Here we focus on variation in the partial migratory behavior of giant Galápagos tortoises (Chelonoidis spp.) and its energetic consequences. We evaluate the extent and mechanisms by which tortoises adjust migration timing in response to varying annual environmental conditions, and integrate movement data within a bioenergetic model of tortoise migration to quantify the fitness consequences of migration timing. We find strong inter-individual variation in the timing of migration, which was not affected by environmental conditions prevailing at the time of migration but rather by average expectations estimated from multi-annual averaged conditions. This variation is associated with an average annual loss in efficiency of ~15% relative to optimal timing based on year-specific conditions. These results point towards a limited ability of tortoises to adjust the timing of their migrations based on prevailing (and, by extension, future) conditions, suggesting that the adaptability of tortoise migratory behavior to changing conditions is predicated more by past "normal" conditions than responses to prevailing, changing conditions. Our work offers insights into the level of environmental-tuning in migratory behavior and a general framework for future research across taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York, 13210, USA
- Roosevelt Wild Life Station, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York, 13210, USA
| | - Charles B Yackulic
- U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, Arizona, 86001, USA
| | - James P Gibbs
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York, 13210, USA
- Roosevelt Wild Life Station, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York, 13210, USA
| | - Jacqueline L Frair
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York, 13210, USA
- Roosevelt Wild Life Station, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York, 13210, USA
| | - Freddy Cabrera
- Charles Darwin Foundation, Puerto Ayora, Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Stephen Blake
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York, 13210, USA
- Charles Darwin Foundation, Puerto Ayora, Galápagos, Ecuador
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Radolfzell, Germany
- Whitney Harris World Ecology Center, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, 63121, USA
- Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, 3507 Laclede Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri, 63103, USA
- WildCare Institute, Saint Louis Zoo, 1 Government Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri, 63110, USA
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Bianchini K, Morrissey CA. Assessment of Shorebird Migratory Fueling Physiology and Departure Timing in Relation to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Contamination in the Gulf of Mexico. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:13562-13573. [PMID: 30362719 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b04571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Shorebirds depend on staging sites in the Gulf of Mexico that are frequently subject to pollution by oil and its toxic constituents, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). It was hypothesized that PAH contamination lowers staging site quality for migratory shorebirds, with consequences for fueling and departure timing. Sediment total PAH concentrations were measured at six staging sites along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. Sites in Louisiana were expected to have higher total PAH concentrations as they were more heavily impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. From 2015 to 2017, 165 Sanderling ( Calidris alba) and 55 Red knots ( C. canutus) were captured at these same sites during their northward migration (late April to mid May). Mass, body morphometrics, and plasma metabolite measurements were taken to determine fuel loads and fueling rates, and a subset of birds (120 Sanderling and 39 Red knots) received a coded radio tag to determine departure dates using the Motus telemetry array. Compared to Texas sites, sediment in Louisiana had higher total PAH concentrations, dominated by heavier 6 ring indeno[1,2,3- cd]pyrene (48%). Plasma metabolite profiles suggested that fueling rates for Sanderling, but not Red knots, tended to be lower in Louisiana, and both species departed later than the study average from Louisiana. However, multiple factors, including migration patterns, food supply, and other contaminants, also likely influenced fueling and departures. PAH contamination in the Gulf of Mexico remains an ongoing issue that may be impacting the staging site quality and migration timing of long-distance migratory birds.
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Maloney T, Phelan R, Simmons N. Saving the horseshoe crab: A synthetic alternative to horseshoe crab blood for endotoxin detection. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2006607. [PMID: 30312293 PMCID: PMC6200278 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2006607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Horseshoe crabs have been integral to the safe production of vaccines and injectable medications for the past 40 years. The bleeding of live horseshoe crabs, a process that leaves thousands dead annually, is an ecologically unsustainable practice for all four species of horseshoe crab and the shorebirds that rely on their eggs as a primary food source during spring migration. Populations of both horseshoe crabs and shorebirds are in decline. This study confirms the efficacy of recombinant Factor C (rFC), a synthetic alternative that eliminates the need for animal products in endotoxin detection. Furthermore, our findings confirm that the biomedical industry can achieve a 90% reduction in the use of reagents derived from horseshoe crabs by using the synthetic alternative for the testing of water and other common materials used in the manufacturing process. This represents an extraordinary opportunity for the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries to significantly contribute to the conservation of horseshoe crabs and the birds that depend on them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Maloney
- Revive & Restore, Sausalito, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Ryan Phelan
- Revive & Restore, Sausalito, California, United States of America
| | - Naira Simmons
- Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, San Francisco, California, United States of America
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37
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Novcic I, Beauchamp G. Effect of forager density on feeding rates in spring-staging Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) using different foraging modes. CAN J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2017-0238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We examined the influence of the density of foragers on feeding rates of Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla (Linnaeus, 1766)) while using different foraging modes at a spring stopover site in Delaware Bay, USA. Using dynamic estimates of interindividual distances obtained at short intervals of time, we explored how forager density affected feeding rates when Semipalmated Sandpipers used visual pecking or tactile probing. Pecking rate significantly increased with interindividual distances, whereas probe rate was not affected by density. Our study also showed that in fast-moving foragers, such as Semipalmated Sandpipers, in which the number of nearby foragers and distance to the nearest neighbour continuously change throughout the foraging bout, pecking rates are more affected by nearest neighbour distance than by the number of foragers in their immediate vicinity. In addition, our study implies that foragers using different foraging modes might be differently affected by nearby competitors perhaps in response to prey disturbance by neighbours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Novcic
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kean University, Union, NJ 07083, USA
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38
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Burger J, Niles L, Jeitner C, Gochfeld M. Habitat risk: Use of intertidal flats by foraging red knots (Calidris canutus rufa), ruddy turnstones, (Arenaria interpres), semipalmated sandpipers (Calidris pusilla), and sanderling (Calidris alba) on Delaware Bay beaches. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 165:237-246. [PMID: 29734024 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Shorebirds usually forage on intertidal flats that are exposed during low tide, and roost on higher areas when the tidal flats are covered with water. During spring migration on Delaware Bay (New Jersey) shorebirds mainly forage on horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) eggs that are concentrated at the high tide line. However, they also use other habitats for foraging. We examined habitat use of 4 species of shorebirds (with declining populations) at five Delaware Bay beaches to determine their use of the intertidal habitat (2015, 2016). We observed birds in three sections at different distances from the mean high tideline (< 100 m, 101-200 m, and 201-300 m)ne. We examined the presence of red knots (Calidris canutus rufa), ruddy turnstones (Arenaria interpres), semipalmated sandpipers (Calidris pusilla), and sanderling (Calidris alba) as a function of date, tide cycle, section shorebirds foraged from the mean high tide line, and presence of other shorebird species. Understanding how these species use the intertidal flats is important because these habitats are at risk from coastal development, sea level rise, and decreases in intertidal space, including the possible expansion of intertidal oyster culture. Overall, knots were present in the intertidal on 67% of the surveys, turnstones were present on 86% of the surveys, semipalmated sandpipers were present on 77% of the surveys, and sanderling were present on 86% of the surveys. Use of the intertidal flats varied among beaches. Peak and mean numbers of shorebirds/ decreased in each census section, as distance to mean high tideline increased. In general, shorebirds foraged at the waters' edge during high tide, and then moved out onto the intertidal flats. The strongest interspecific associations were between red knots and ruddy turnstones, and the lowest associations were between sanderling and semipalmated sandpipers. Variations in numbers of each species in 2016 were mainly explained by the number of other species, section (distance from the mean high tide line), location (one of 5 beaches), and date for all species (and minutes to low tide for sanderling). These data indicate that these 4 species use intertidal flats as they become available, and that the mean number in each newly exposed census section of the flats may be lower than in the previous one, partly as a result of some birds remaining in each previously-exposed section. We discuss the management and regulatory implications of shorebird use of the intertidal flats, which include protection of high quality intertidal for foraging by shorebirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Burger
- Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8082, USA.
| | - Lawrence Niles
- Niles and Associates and Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, 109 Market land, Greenwich, NJ 08323, USA
| | - Christian Jeitner
- Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8082, USA
| | - Michael Gochfeld
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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Moura JF, Tavares DC, Lemos LS, Silveira VVB, Siciliano S, Hauser-Davis RA. Variation in mercury concentration in juvenile Magellanic penguins during their migration path along the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 238:397-403. [PMID: 29587210 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Revised: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The vulnerability of seabirds related to their migratory dynamics is frequently linked to environmental problems along the migration path. In this context, Magellanic penguins (Sphenicus magellanicus) seem to be vulnerable to an extensive range of environmental disturbances during their northward migration along the Atlantic waters of South America, which include by catch, marine debris ingestion, overfishing and environmental contamination. In this study, we investigate mercury accumulation in muscle and hepatic tissues of juveniles penguins collected along the Brazilian coast during three migratory seasonal years (2006, 2008 and 2012) and three areas along a latitudinal gradient. We found significant differences in Hg levels across the years, with higher hepatic Hg levels found in tissues of penguins sampled in 2008. The higher Hg levels in samples of penguins from 2008 might be attributed to variations in body condition or Hg uptake, associated with the trophic imbalance linked to an extreme El Niño event during that year. Significant differences in Hg accumulation across the latitudinal areas were also observed. The penguins sampled at the farthest area from the breeding ground presented the higher levels of Hg and also the poorest body condition. Body condition and other traits may influence the levels of chemical pollutants and decrease the migratory success rate in the juvenile age phase, compromising population dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jailson F Moura
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research - ZMT, Bremen, Germany.
| | - Davi C Tavares
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research - ZMT, Bremen, Germany
| | - Leila S Lemos
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Newport, USA
| | | | | | - Rachel A Hauser-Davis
- Centro de Estudos da Saúde do Trabalhador e Ecologia Humana, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Duijns S, Niles LJ, Dey A, Aubry Y, Friis C, Koch S, Anderson AM, Smith PA. Body condition explains migratory performance of a long-distance migrant. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.1374. [PMID: 29093218 PMCID: PMC5698639 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.1374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Body condition (i.e. relative mass after correcting for structural size) affects the behaviour of migrating birds, but how body condition affects migratory performance, timing and fitness is still largely unknown. Here, we studied the effects of relative body condition on individual departure decisions, wind selectivity, flight speed and timing of migration for a long-distance migratory shorebird, the red knot Calidris canutus rufa. By using automated VHF telemetry on a continental scale, we studied knots' migratory movements with unprecedented temporal resolution over a 3-year period. Knots with a higher relative body condition left the staging site later than birds in lower condition, yet still arrived earlier to their Arctic breeding grounds compared to knots in lower relative body condition. They accomplished this by selecting more favourable winds at departure, thereby flying faster and making shorter stops en route. Individuals with a higher relative body condition in spring migrated south up to a month later than individuals in lower condition, suggesting that individuals in better condition were more likely to have bred successfully. Moreover, individuals with a lower relative body condition in spring had a lower probability of being detected in autumn, suggestive of increased mortality. The pressure to arrive early to the breeding grounds is considered to be an important constraint of migratory behaviour and this study highlights the important influence of body condition on migratory decisions, performance and potentially fitness of migrant birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sjoerd Duijns
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6 .,Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3
| | - Lawrence J Niles
- LJ Niles Associates LLC, 109 Market Lane, Greenwich, NJ 08323, USA
| | - Amanda Dey
- New Jersey Fish and Wildlife, 8747 Ferry Road, Millville, NJ 08332, USA
| | - Yves Aubry
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 801-1550, avenue d'Estimauville, Quebec, Canada G1J 0C3
| | - Christian Friis
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3H 5T4
| | - Stephanie Koch
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 73 Weir Hill Road, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA
| | - Alexandra M Anderson
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9J 7B8
| | - Paul A Smith
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3
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High-resolution GPS tracking reveals sex differences in migratory behaviour and stopover habitat use in the Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus. Sci Rep 2018; 8:5391. [PMID: 29599447 PMCID: PMC5876360 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-23605-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex-, size- or age-dependent variation in migration strategies in birds is generally expected to reflect differences in competitive abilities. Theoretical and empirical studies thereby focus on differences in wintering areas, by which individuals may benefit from avoiding food competition during winter or ensuring an early return and access to prime nesting sites in spring. Here, we use GPS tracking to assess sex- and size-related variation in the spatial behaviour of adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Larus fuscus) throughout their annual cycle. We did not find sex- or size-dependent differences in wintering area or the timing of spring migration. Instead, sexual differences occurred prior to, and during, autumn migration, when females strongly focussed on agricultural areas. Females exhibited a more protracted autumn migration strategy, hence spent more time on stopover sites and arrived 15 days later at their wintering areas, than males. This shift in habitat use and protracted autumn migration coincided with the timing of moult, which overlaps with chick rearing and migration. Our results suggest that this overlap between energy-demanding activities may lead females to perform a more prolonged autumn migration, which results in spatiotemporal differences in foraging habitat use between the sexes.
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