1
|
Wang X, Somveille M, Dokter AM, Cao W, Cheng C, Liu J, Ma Z. Macro-scale relationship between body mass and timing of bird migration. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4111. [PMID: 38750018 PMCID: PMC11096376 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48248-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Clarifying migration timing and its link with underlying drivers is fundamental to understanding the evolution of bird migration. However, previous studies have focused mainly on environmental drivers such as the latitudes of seasonal distributions and migration distance, while the effect of intrinsic biological traits remains unclear. Here, we compile a global dataset on the annual cycle of migratory birds obtained by tracking 1531 individuals and 177 populations from 186 species, and investigate how body mass, a key intrinsic biological trait, influenced timings of the annual cycle using Bayesian structural equation models. We find that body mass has a strong direct effect on departure date from non-breeding and breeding sites, and indirect effects on arrival date at breeding and non-breeding sites, mainly through its effects on migration distance and a carry-over effect. Our results suggest that environmental factors strongly affect the timing of spring migration, while body mass affects the timing of both spring and autumn migration. Our study provides a new foundation for future research on the causes of species distribution and movement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodan Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary and Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Marius Somveille
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Adriaan M Dokter
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Wenhua Cao
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary and Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Chuyu Cheng
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary and Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Jiajia Liu
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary and Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Zhijun Ma
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary and Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Brønnvik H, Nourani E, Fiedler W, Flack A. Experience reduces route selection for conspecifics by the collectively migrating white stork. Curr Biol 2024; 34:2030-2037.e3. [PMID: 38636512 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Migration can be an energetically costly behavior with strong fitness consequences in terms of mortality and reproduction.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 Migrants should select migratory routes to minimize their costs, but both costs and benefits may change with experience.12,13,14 This raises the question of whether experience changes how individuals select their migratory routes. Here, we investigate the effect of age on route selection criteria in a collectively migrating soaring bird, the white stork (Ciconia ciconia). We perform step-selection analysis on a longitudinal dataset tracking 158 white storks over up to 9 years to quantify how they select their routes based on the social and atmospheric environments and to examine how this selection changes with age. We find clear ontogenetic shifts in route selection criteria. Juveniles choose routes that have good atmospheric conditions and high conspecific densities. Yet, as they gain experience, storks' selection on the availability of social information reduces-after their fifth migration, experienced birds also choose routes with low conspecific densities. Thus, our results suggest that as individuals age, they gradually replace information gleaned from other individuals with information gained from experience, allowing them to shift their migration timing and increasing the timescale at which they select their routes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hester Brønnvik
- Collective Migration Group, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany; Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany; Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany.
| | - Elham Nourani
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany; Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany; Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, 78468 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Fiedler
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany; Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Andrea Flack
- Collective Migration Group, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany; Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany; Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, 78468 Konstanz, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Carter WA, Pagano SS, Seewagen CL. The effects of diet-shifting from invertebrates towards fruit on the condition of autumn-migrant Catharus thrushes. Oecologia 2024; 204:559-573. [PMID: 38363323 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-024-05511-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Migration is an energetically challenging and risky life history stage for many animals, but could be supported by dietary choices en route, which may create opportunities to improve body and physiological condition. However, proposed benefits of diet shifts, such as between seasonally available invertebrates and fruits, have received limited investigation in free-living animals. We quantified diet composition and magnitude of autumn diet shifts over two time periods in two closely-related species of migratory songbirds on stopover in the northeastern U.S. (Swainson's thrush [Catharus ustulatus], long-distance migrant, N = 83; hermit thrush [C. guttatus], short-distance migrant, N = 79) and used piecewise structural equation models to evaluate the relationships among (1) migration timing, (2) dietary behavior, and (3) morphometric and physiological condition indices. Tissue isotope composition indicated that both species shifted towards greater fruit consumption. Larger shifts in recent weeks corresponded to higher body condition in Swainson's, but not hermit thrushes, and condition was more heavily influenced by capture date in Swainson's thrushes. Presence of "high-antioxidant" fruits in fecal samples was unrelated to condition in Swainson's thrushes and negatively related to multiple condition indices in hermit thrushes, possibly indicating the value of fruits during migration is related more to their energy and/or macronutrient content than antioxidant content. Our results suggest that increased frugivory during autumn migration can support condition, but those benefits might depend on migration strategy: a longer-distance, more capital-dependent migration strategy could require stricter regulation of body condition aided by increased fruit consumption.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wales A Carter
- Great Hollow Nature Preserve and Ecological Research Center, 225 State Route 37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, USA.
| | - Susan Smith Pagano
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, 84 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA
| | - Chad L Seewagen
- Great Hollow Nature Preserve and Ecological Research Center, 225 State Route 37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Scridel D, Pirrello S, Imperio S, Cecere JG, Albanese G, Andreotti A, Arveda G, Borghesi F, La Gioia G, Massa L, Mengoni C, Micheloni P, Mucci N, Nardelli R, Nissardi S, Volponi S, Zucca C, Serra L. Weather, sex and body condition affect post-fledging migration behaviour of the greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2023; 11:51. [PMID: 37612593 PMCID: PMC10464070 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-023-00409-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding which intrinsic and extrinsic factors dictate decision-making processes such as leaving the natal area or not (migratory vs resident strategy), departure time, and non-breeding destination are key-issues in movement ecology. This is particularly relevant for a partially migratory meta-population in which only some individuals migrate. METHODS We investigated these decision making-processes for 40 juvenile greater flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus fledged in three Mediterranean colonies and equipped with GPS-GSM devices. RESULTS Contrary to the body size and the dominance hypotheses, juveniles in better body condition were more likely to migrate than those in worse conditions, which opted for a residence strategy. Flamingo probability of departure was not associated with an increase in local wind intensity, but rather with the presence of tailwinds with departure limited to night-time mostly when the wind direction aligned with the migratory destination. Moreover, a positive interaction between tailwind speed and migration distance suggested that juveniles opted for stronger winds when initiating long-distance journeys. In contrast to previous studies, the prevailing seasonal winds were only partially aligned with the migratory destination, suggesting that other factors (e.g., adults experience in mix-aged flocks, availability of suitable foraging areas en route, density-dependence processes) may be responsible for the distribution observed at the end of the first migratory movement. We found potential evidence of sex-biased timing of migration with females departing on average 10 days later and flying ca. 10 km/h faster than males. Female flight speed, but not male one, was positively influenced by tailwinds, a pattern most likely explained by sexual differences in mechanical power requirements for flight (males being ca. 20% larger than females). Furthermore, juveniles considerably reduced their flight speeds after 400 km from departure, highlighting a physiological threshold, potentially linked to mortality risks when performing long-distance non-stop movements. CONCLUSION These results suggest that not only intrinsic factors such as individual conditions and sex, but also extrinsic factors like weather, play critical roles in triggering migratory behaviour in a partially migratory metapopulation. Furthermore, social factors, including conspecific experience, should be taken into consideration when evaluating the adaptive processes underlying migration phenology, flight performance, and final destination selection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davide Scridel
- Area Avifauna Migratrice (BIO-AVM), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy.
- CNR-IRSA National Research Council-Water Research Institute, via del Mulino 19, 20861, Brugherio, MB, Italy.
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, TS, Italy.
| | - Simone Pirrello
- Area Avifauna Migratrice (BIO-AVM), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Simona Imperio
- Area Avifauna Migratrice (BIO-AVM), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Jacopo G Cecere
- Area Avifauna Migratrice (BIO-AVM), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Andreotti
- Area Avifauna Migratrice (BIO-AVM), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | | | - Fabrizio Borghesi
- Servizio Tutela Ambiente e Territorio, Ufficio Zone Naturali, Comune di Ravenna, via Berlinguer 30, 48121, Ravenna, RA, Italy
| | - Giuseppe La Gioia
- Associazione Ornitologia Mediterranea, via Saponaro 7, 73100, Lecce, LE, Italy
| | - Luisanna Massa
- Parco Naturale Regionale Molentargius Saline, via La Palma n 9, 09126, Cagliari, CA, Italy
| | - Chiara Mengoni
- Area per la Genetica della Conservazione (BIO-CGE), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca. Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Pierfrancesco Micheloni
- Area Avifauna Migratrice (BIO-AVM), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Nadia Mucci
- Area per la Genetica della Conservazione (BIO-CGE), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca. Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Riccardo Nardelli
- Area Avifauna Migratrice (BIO-AVM), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Sergio Nissardi
- Anthus s.n.c., via Luigi Canepa 22, 09129, Cagliari, CA, Italy
| | - Stefano Volponi
- Area per i pareri tecnici e per le strategie di conservazione e gestione del patrimonio faunistico nazionale (BIO-CFN), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Carla Zucca
- Anthus s.n.c., via Luigi Canepa 22, 09129, Cagliari, CA, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Serra
- Area Avifauna Migratrice (BIO-AVM), Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Pandey M, Piedmonte NP, Vinci VC, Falco RC, Daniels TJ, Clark JA. First Detection of the Invasive Asian Longhorned Tick (Acari: Ixodidae) on Migratory Passerines in the Americas. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:2176-2181. [PMID: 36166571 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac144] [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: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann), native to East Asia, was first reported in the United States in 2017 and is now established in at least 17 states. Haemaphysalis longicornis feeds on birds in its range outside of the United States, and migratory birds disperse this tick and tick-borne pathogens. However, early studies in the United States did not find H. longicornis on migrating passerine birds. The transport of the parthenogenetic H. longicornis on birds has the potential to greatly expand its range. We report the first discovery of H. longicornis on migratory passerine birds in the Americas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Medha Pandey
- Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Nicholas P Piedmonte
- New York State Department of Health, Empire State Plaza, Corning Tower Albany, NY 12237, USA
- New York State Department of Health, Louis Calder Center, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Vanessa C Vinci
- New York State Department of Health, Louis Calder Center, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Richard C Falco
- New York State Department of Health, Louis Calder Center, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Thomas J Daniels
- Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - J Alan Clark
- Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Haas EK, La Sorte FA, McCaslin HM, Belotti MCTD, Horton KG. The correlation between eBird community science and weather surveillance radar-based estimates of migration phenology. GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY : A JOURNAL OF MACROECOLOGY 2022; 31:2219-2230. [PMID: 36590324 PMCID: PMC9795923 DOI: 10.1111/geb.13567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
AIM Measuring avian migration can prove challenging given the spatial scope and the diversity of species involved. No one monitoring technique provides all the pertinent measures needed to capture this macroscale phenomenon - emphasizing the need for data integration. Migration phenology is a key metric characterizing large-scale migration dynamics and has been successfully quantified using weather surveillance radar (WSR) data and community science observations. Separately, both platforms have their limitations and measure different aspects of bird migration. We sought to make a formal comparison of the migration phenology estimates derived from WSR and eBird data - of which we predict a positive correlation. LOCATION Contiguous United States. TIME PERIOD 2002-2018. MAJOR TAXA STUDIED Migratory birds. METHODS We estimated spring and autumn migration phenology at 143 WSR stations aggregated over a 17-year period (2002-2018), which we contrast with eBird-based estimates of spring and autumn migration phenology for 293 nocturnally migrating bird species at the 143 WSR stations. We compared phenology metrics derived from all species and WSR stations combined, for species in three taxonomic orders (Anseriformes, Charadriiformes and Passeriformes), and for WSR stations in three North American migration flyways (western, central and eastern). RESULTS We found positive correlations between WSR and eBird-based estimates of migration phenology and differences in the strength of correlations among taxonomic orders and migration flyways. The correlations were stronger during spring migration, for Passeriformes, and generally for WSR stations in the eastern flyway. Autumn migration showed weaker correlation, and in Anseriformes correlations were weakest overall. Lastly, eBird-based estimates slightly preceded those derived from WSR in the spring, but trailed WSR in the autumn, suggesting that the two data sources measure different components of migration phenology. MAIN CONCLUSIONS We highlight the complementarity of these two approaches, but also reveal strong taxonomic and geographic differences in the relationships between the platforms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elaina K. Haas
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | | | - Hanna M. McCaslin
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Maria C. T. D. Belotti
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Kyle G. Horton
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Acácio M, Catry I, Soriano-Redondo A, Silva JP, Atkinson PW, Franco AMA. Timing is critical: consequences of asynchronous migration for the performance and destination of a long-distance migrant. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2022; 10:28. [PMID: 35725653 PMCID: PMC9901525 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-022-00328-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Migration phenology is shifting for many long-distance migrants due to global climate change, however the timing and duration of migration may influence the environmental conditions individuals encounter, with potential fitness consequences. Species with asynchronous migrations, i.e., with variability in migration timing, provide an excellent opportunity to investigate how of the conditions individuals experience during migration can vary and affect the migratory performance, route, and destination of migrants. METHODS Here, we use GPS tracking and accelerometer data to examine if timing of autumn migration influences the migratory performance (duration, distance, route straightness, energy expenditure) and migration destinations of a long-distance, asynchronous, migrant, the white stork (Ciconia ciconia). We also compare the weather conditions (wind speed, wind direction, and boundary layer height) encountered on migration and examine the influence of wind direction on storks' flight directions. RESULTS From 2016 to 2020, we tracked 172 white storks and obtained 75 complete migrations from the breeding grounds in Europe to the sub-Saharan wintering areas. Autumn migration season spanned over a 3-month period (July-October) and arrival destinations covered a broad area of the Sahel, 2450 km apart, from Senegal to Niger. We found that timing of migration influenced both the performance and conditions individuals experienced: later storks spent fewer days on migration, adopted shorter and more direct routes in the Sahara Desert and consumed more energy when flying, as they were exposed to less supportive weather conditions. In the Desert, storks' flight directions were significantly influenced by wind direction, with later individuals facing stronger easterly winds (i.e., winds blowing to the west), hence being more likely to end their migration in western areas of the Sahel region. Contrastingly, early storks encountered more supportive weather conditions, spent less energy on migration and were exposed to westerly winds, thus being more likely to end migration in eastern Sahel. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that the timing of migration influences the environmental conditions individuals face, the energetic costs of migration, and the wintering destinations, where birds may be exposed to different environmental conditions and distinct threats. These findings highlight that on-going changes in migration phenology, due to environmental change, may have critical fitness consequences for long-distance soaring migrants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Acácio
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
| | - Inês Catry
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade Do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Andrea Soriano-Redondo
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade Do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal
- Helsinki Lab of Interdisciplinary Conservation Science (HELICS), Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - João Paulo Silva
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade Do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | | | - Aldina M A Franco
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lawrence KB, Barlow CR, Bensusan K, Perez C, Willis SG. Phenological trends in the pre- and post-breeding migration of long-distance migratory birds. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:375-389. [PMID: 34606660 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Phenological mismatch is often cited as a putative driver of population declines in long-distance migratory birds. The mechanisms and cues utilized to advance breeding ground arrival will impact the adaptability of species to further warming. Furthermore, timing of post-breeding migration potentially faces diverging selective pressures, with earlier onset of tropical dry seasons favouring migration advancement, while longer growing seasons in temperate areas could facilitate delayed departures. Despite this, few studies exist of migration phenology on the non-breeding grounds or on post-breeding passage. Here, we use first arrival and last departure dates of 20 species of trans-Saharan migratory birds from tropical non-breeding grounds (The Gambia), between 1964 and 2019. Additionally, we use first arrival and last departure dates, as well as median arrival and departure dates, at an entry/departure site to/from Europe (Gibraltar), between 1991 and 2018. We assess phenological trends in pre- and post-breeding migration, as well as individual species' durations of stay in breeding and non-breeding areas. Furthermore, we assess the extent to which inter-annual variation in these timings may be explained by meteorological and ecological variables. We find significant advances in pre-breeding migration at both locations, while post-breeding migration is delayed. At Gibraltar, these trends do not differ between first/last and median dates of migration. The combination of these trends suggests substantial changes in the temporal usage of the two continents by migratory birds. Duration of stay (of species, not individuals) within Europe increased by 16 days, on average, over the 27-year monitoring period. By contrast, duration of species' stays on the non-breeding range declined by 63 days, on average, over the 56-year monitoring period. Taken together these changes suggest substantial, previously unreported alterations to annual routines in Afro-Palaearctic migrants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Keith Bensusan
- The Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society (GONHS), Gibraltar City, Gibraltar
| | - Charles Perez
- The Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society (GONHS), Gibraltar City, Gibraltar
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Supp SR, Bohrer G, Fieberg J, La Sorte FA. Estimating the movements of terrestrial animal populations using broad-scale occurrence data. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2021; 9:60. [PMID: 34895345 PMCID: PMC8665594 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-021-00294-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
As human and automated sensor networks collect increasingly massive volumes of animal observations, new opportunities have arisen to use these data to infer or track species movements. Sources of broad scale occurrence datasets include crowdsourced databases, such as eBird and iNaturalist, weather surveillance radars, and passive automated sensors including acoustic monitoring units and camera trap networks. Such data resources represent static observations, typically at the species level, at a given location. Nonetheless, by combining multiple observations across many locations and times it is possible to infer spatially continuous population-level movements. Population-level movement characterizes the aggregated movement of individuals comprising a population, such as range contractions, expansions, climate tracking, or migration, that can result from physical, behavioral, or demographic processes. A desire to model population movements from such forms of occurrence data has led to an evolving field that has created new analytical and statistical approaches that can account for spatial and temporal sampling bias in the observations. The insights generated from the growth of population-level movement research can complement the insights from focal tracking studies, and elucidate mechanisms driving changes in population distributions at potentially larger spatial and temporal scales. This review will summarize current broad-scale occurrence datasets, discuss the latest approaches for utilizing them in population-level movement analyses, and highlight studies where such analyses have provided ecological insights. We outline the conceptual approaches and common methodological steps to infer movements from spatially distributed occurrence data that currently exist for terrestrial animals, though similar approaches may be applicable to plants, freshwater, or marine organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R. Supp
- Data Analytics Program, Denison University, Granville, OH 43023 USA
| | - Gil Bohrer
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
| | - John Fieberg
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA
| | - Frank A. La Sorte
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850 USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Baltag ES, Kovacs I, Sfîcă L. Common Buzzards wintering strategies as an effect of weather conditions and geographic barriers. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:9697-9706. [PMID: 34306655 PMCID: PMC8293765 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Migration is a constantly changing adaptation due to the climate condition evolution. The struggle for surviving during harsh winter season is different across Europe, being more complex toward the inner parts of the continent. The current approach explores the Common Buzzard number variation during the cold season and the climatic predictors of birds of prey wintering movements in relation to the possible influences of the Carpathian Mountains, which may act as a geographical barrier providing shelter from cold air outbreak from north and northeast of the continent. LOCATION Romania (45°N25°E). TAXON Birds of Prey. METHODS We applied a GLMM to investigate the relation between continental and local climatic factors with the number of Common Buzzard observations in two regions. The first region is located inside the Carpathian Arch and the other one outside, east of this large mountains chain. RESULTS The Common Buzzard numbers wintering Eastern from the Carpathian Mountains are highly influenced by AO (Z = 2.87, p < .05%), while those wintering western are influenced by NAO (Z = 2.17, p < .05%). This is the first proof of separating influences for biodiversity of AO and NAO at continental scale, outlining the influence limit placed over the Eastern Carpathian Mountains. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The Carpathian Mountains act like a geographic barrier, separating the wintering Common Buzzard populations from both sides of the mountain range. While the high number of individuals in Moldova is related to their eastern and northeastern Europe origins, in Transylvania the large number of individuals observed is related to the more sheltered characteristics of the region attracting individuals from central Europe. Also, since Transylvania region is well sheltered during cold air outbreak, it represents a more favorable region for wintering. From this point of view, we can consider that the Carpathian Mountains are a geographic barrier for wintering birds of prey.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emanuel Stefan Baltag
- Marine Biological Station “Prof. Dr. Ioan Borcea”, Agigea“Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of IasiIasiIasiRomania
| | - Istvan Kovacs
- Association for Bird and Nature Protection “Milvus Group”Targu MuresRomania
| | - Lucian Sfîcă
- Faculty of Geography and Geology“Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of IasiIasiRomania
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kürschner T, Scherer C, Radchuk V, Blaum N, Kramer‐Schadt S. Movement can mediate temporal mismatches between resource availability and biological events in host-pathogen interactions. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:5728-5741. [PMID: 34026043 PMCID: PMC8131764 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Global change is shifting the timing of biological events, leading to temporal mismatches between biological events and resource availability. These temporal mismatches can threaten species' populations. Importantly, temporal mismatches not only exert strong pressures on the population dynamics of the focal species, but can also lead to substantial changes in pairwise species interactions such as host-pathogen systems. We adapted an established individual-based model of host-pathogen dynamics. The model describes a viral agent in a social host, while accounting for the host's explicit movement decisions. We aimed to investigate how temporal mismatches between seasonal resource availability and host life-history events affect host-pathogen coexistence, that is, disease persistence. Seasonal resource fluctuations only increased coexistence probability when in synchrony with the hosts' biological events. However, a temporal mismatch reduced host-pathogen coexistence, but only marginally. In tandem with an increasing temporal mismatch, our model showed a shift in the spatial distribution of infected hosts. It shifted from an even distribution under synchronous conditions toward the formation of disease hotspots, when host life history and resource availability mismatched completely. The spatial restriction of infected hosts to small hotspots in the landscape initially suggested a lower coexistence probability due to the critical loss of susceptible host individuals within those hotspots. However, the surrounding landscape facilitated demographic rescue through habitat-dependent movement. Our work demonstrates that the negative effects of temporal mismatches between host resource availability and host life history on host-pathogen coexistence can be reduced through the formation of temporary disease hotspots and host movement decisions, with implications for disease management under disturbances and global change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Kürschner
- Department of Ecological DynamicsLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
| | - Cédric Scherer
- Department of Ecological DynamicsLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
| | - Viktoriia Radchuk
- Department of Ecological DynamicsLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
| | - Niels Blaum
- Plant Ecology and Nature ConservationUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
| | - Stephanie Kramer‐Schadt
- Department of Ecological DynamicsLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
- Department of EcologyTechnische Universität BerlinBerlinGermany
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ciaglo M, Calhoun R, Yanco SW, Wunder MB, Stricker CA, Linkhart BD. Evidence of postbreeding prospecting in a long-distance migrant. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:599-611. [PMID: 33437454 PMCID: PMC7790652 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Organisms assess biotic and abiotic cues at multiple sites when deciding where to settle. However, due to temporal constraints on this prospecting, the suitability of available habitat may be difficult for an individual to assess when cues are most reliable, or at the time they are making settlement decisions. For migratory birds, the postbreeding season may be the optimal time to prospect and inform settlement decisions for future breeding seasons.We investigated the fall movements of flammulated owls (Psiloscops flammeolus) within breeding habitat after fledglings had gained independence and before adults left for migration. From 2013 to 2016, we trapped owls within a breeding population wherein all nesting owls and their young have been banded since 1981. We used stable isotopes in combination with mark-recapture data to identify local individuals and differentiate potential prospecting behavior from other seasonal movements such as migration or staging.We commonly captured owls in the fall-predominantly hatch-year owls-that were not known residents of the study area. Several of these nonresident owls were later found breeding within the study area. Stable isotope data suggested a local origin for virtually all owls captured during the fall.Our results suggest that hatch-year flammulated owls, but also some after-hatch-year owls, use the period between the breeding season and fall migration to prospect for future breeding sites. The timing of this behavior is likely driven by seasonally variable costs associated with prospecting.Determining the timing of prospecting and the specific cues that are being assessed will be important in helping predict the extent to which climate change and/or altered disturbance regimes will modify the ecology, behavior, and demographics associated with prospecting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Max Ciaglo
- Department of Organismal Biology and EcologyColorado CollegeColorado SpringsCOUSA
| | - Ross Calhoun
- Department of Organismal Biology and EcologyColorado CollegeColorado SpringsCOUSA
| | - Scott W. Yanco
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of Colorado DenverDenverCOUSA
| | - Michael B. Wunder
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of Colorado DenverDenverCOUSA
| | | | - Brian D. Linkhart
- Department of Organismal Biology and EcologyColorado CollegeColorado SpringsCOUSA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Anderson CM, Gilchrist HG, Ronconi RA, Shlepr KR, Clark DE, Fifield DA, Robertson GJ, Mallory ML. Both short and long distance migrants use energy-minimizing migration strategies in North American herring gulls. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2020; 8:26. [PMID: 32549986 PMCID: PMC7294659 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-020-00207-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies have proposed that birds migrating short distances migrate at an overall slower pace, minimizing energy expenditure, while birds migrating long distances minimize time spent on migration to cope with seasonal changes in environmental conditions. METHODS We evaluated variability in the migration strategies of Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus), a generalist species with flexible foraging and flight behaviour. We tracked one population of long distance migrants and three populations of short distance migrants, and compared the directness of their migration routes, their overall migration speed, their travel speed, and their use of stopovers. RESULTS Our research revealed that Herring Gulls breeding in the eastern Arctic migrate long distances to spend the winter in the Gulf of Mexico, traveling more than four times farther than gulls from Atlantic Canada during autumn migration. While all populations used indirect routes, the long distance migrants were the least direct. We found that regardless of the distance the population traveled, Herring Gulls migrated at a slower overall migration speed than predicted by Optimal Migration Theory, but the long distance migrants had higher speeds on travel days. While long distance migrants used more stopover days overall, relative to the distance travelled all four populations used a similar number of stopover days. CONCLUSIONS When taken in context with other studies, we expect that the migration strategies of flexible generalist species like Herring Gulls may be more influenced by habitat and food resources than migration distance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christine M. Anderson
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, 33 Westwood Ave, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6 Canada
| | - H. Grant Gilchrist
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6 Canada
| | - Robert A. Ronconi
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 45 Alderney Dr, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 2N6 Canada
| | - Katherine R. Shlepr
- Atlantic Lab for Avian Research, Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 4400, 10 Bailey Drive, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3 Canada
| | - Daniel E. Clark
- Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Water Supply Protection, 485 Ware Road, Belchertown, MA 01007 USA
| | - David A. Fifield
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 6 Bruce Street, Mount Pearl, NL A1N 4T3 Canada
| | - Gregory J. Robertson
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 6 Bruce Street, Mount Pearl, NL A1N 4T3 Canada
| | - Mark L. Mallory
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, 33 Westwood Ave, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6 Canada
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Dorian NN, Lloyd-Evans TL, Reed JM. Non-parallel changes in songbird migration timing are not explained by changes in stopover duration. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8975. [PMID: 32477833 PMCID: PMC7243817 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Shifts in the timing of animal migration are widespread and well-documented; however, the mechanism underlying these changes is largely unknown. In this study, we test the hypothesis that systematic changes in stopover duration—the time that individuals spend resting and refueling at a site—are driving shifts in songbird migration timing. Specifically, we predicted that increases in stopover duration at our study site could generate increases in passage duration—the number of days that a study site is occupied by a particular species—by changing the temporal breadth of observations and vise versa. We analyzed an uninterrupted 46-year bird banding dataset from Massachusetts, USA using quantile regression, which allowed us to detect changes in early-and late-arriving birds, as well as changes in passage duration. We found that median spring migration had advanced by 1.04 days per decade; that these advances had strengthened over the last 13 years; and that early-and late-arriving birds were advancing in parallel, leading to negligible changes in the duration of spring passage at our site (+0.07 days per decade). In contrast, changes in fall migration were less consistent. Across species, we found that median fall migration had delayed by 0.80 days per decade, and that changes were stronger in late-arriving birds, leading to an average increase in passage duration of 0.45 days per decade. Trends in stopover duration, however, were weak and negative and, as a result, could not explain any changes in passage duration. We discuss, and provide some evidence, that changes in population age-structure, cryptic geographic variation, or shifts in resource availability are consistent with increases in fall passage duration. Moreover, we demonstrate the importance of evaluating changes across the entire phenological distribution, rather than just the mean, and stress this as an important consideration for future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - J Michael Reed
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Broad-Scale Weather Patterns Encountered during Flight Influence Landbird Stopover Distributions. REMOTE SENSING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/rs12030565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The dynamic weather conditions that migrating birds experience during flight likely influence where they stop to rest and refuel, particularly after navigating inhospitable terrain or large water bodies, but effects of weather on stopover patterns remain poorly studied. We examined the influence of broad-scale weather conditions encountered by nocturnally migrating Nearctic-Neotropical birds during northward flight over the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) on subsequent coastal stopover distributions. We categorized nightly weather patterns using historic maps and quantified region-wide densities of birds in stopover habitat with data collected by 10 weather surveillance radars from 2008 to 2015. We found spring weather patterns over the GOM were most often favorable for migrating birds, with winds assisting northward flight, and document regional stopover patterns in response to specific unfavorable weather conditions. For example, Midwest Continental High is characterized by strong northerly winds over the western GOM, resulting in high-density concentrations of migrants along the immediate coastlines of Texas and Louisiana. We show, for the first time, that broad-scale weather experienced during flight influences when and where birds stop to rest and refuel. Linking synoptic weather patterns encountered during flight with stopover distributions contributes to the emerging macro-ecological understanding of bird migration, which is critical to consider in systems undergoing rapid human-induced changes.
Collapse
|
16
|
Haest B, Hüppop O, van de Pol M, Bairlein F. Autumn bird migration phenology: A potpourri of wind, precipitation and temperature effects. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:4064-4080. [PMID: 31273866 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Climate change has caused a clear and univocal trend towards advancement in spring phenology. Changes in autumn phenology are much more diverse, with advancement, delays, and 'no change' all occurring frequently. For migratory birds, patterns in autumn migration phenology trends have been identified based on ecological and life-history traits. Explaining interspecific variation has nevertheless been challenging, and the underlying mechanisms have remained elusive. Radar studies on non-species-specific autumn migration intensity have repeatedly suggested that there are strong links with weather. In long-term species-specific studies, the variance in autumn migration phenology explained by weather has, nevertheless, been rather low, or a relationship was even lacking entirely. We performed a spatially explicit time window analysis of weather effects on mean autumn passage of four trans-Saharan and six intra-European passerines to gain insights into this apparent contradiction. We analysed data from standardized daily captures at the Heligoland island constant-effort site (Germany), in combination with gridded daily temperature, precipitation and wind data over a 55-year period (1960-2014), across northern Europe. Weather variables at the breeding and stopover grounds explained up to 80% of the species-specific interannual variability in autumn passage. Overall, wind conditions were most important. For intra-European migrants, wind was even twice as important as either temperature or precipitation, and the pattern also held in terms of relative contributions of each climate variable to the temporal trends in autumn phenology. For the trans-Saharan migrants, however, the pattern of relative trend contributions was completely reversed. Temperature and precipitation had strong trend contributions, while wind conditions had only a minor impact because they did not show any strong temporal trends. As such, understanding species-specific effects of climate on autumn phenology not only provides unique insights into each species' ecology but also how these effects shape the observed interspecific heterogeneity in autumn phenological trends.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Birgen Haest
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Ommo Hüppop
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Martijn van de Pol
- Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Lin T, Winner K, Bernstein G, Mittal A, Dokter AM, Horton KG, Nilsson C, Van Doren BM, Farnsworth A, La Sorte FA, Maji S, Sheldon D. M
ist
N
et
: Measuring historical bird migration in the US using archived weather radar data and convolutional neural networks. Methods Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tsung‐Yu Lin
- College of Information and Computer Sciences University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst MA USA
| | - Kevin Winner
- College of Information and Computer Sciences University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst MA USA
| | - Garrett Bernstein
- College of Information and Computer Sciences University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst MA USA
| | - Abhay Mittal
- College of Information and Computer Sciences University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst MA USA
| | | | - Kyle G. Horton
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology Cornell University Ithaca NY USA
- Department o f Fish Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Subhransu Maji
- College of Information and Computer Sciences University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst MA USA
| | - Daniel Sheldon
- College of Information and Computer Sciences University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst MA USA
- Department of Computer Science Mount Holyoke College South Hadley MA USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
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
|
19
|
Horton KG, Van Doren BM, La Sorte FA, Cohen EB, Clipp HL, Buler JJ, Fink D, Kelly JF, Farnsworth A. Holding steady: Little change in intensity or timing of bird migration over the Gulf of Mexico. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:1106-1118. [PMID: 30623528 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying the timing and intensity of migratory movements is imperative for understanding impacts of changing landscapes and climates on migratory bird populations. Billions of birds migrate in the Western Hemisphere, but accurately estimating the population size of one migratory species, let alone hundreds, presents numerous obstacles. Here, we quantify the timing, intensity, and distribution of bird migration through one of the largest migration corridors in the Western Hemisphere, the Gulf of Mexico (the Gulf). We further assess whether there have been changes in migration timing or intensity through the Gulf. To achieve this, we integrate citizen science (eBird) observations with 21 years of weather surveillance radar data (1995-2015). We predicted no change in migration timing and a decline in migration intensity across the time series. We estimate that an average of 2.1 billion birds pass through this region each spring en route to Nearctic breeding grounds. Annually, half of these individuals pass through the region in just 18 days, between April 19 and May 7. The western region of the Gulf showed a mean rate of passage 5.4 times higher than the central and eastern regions. We did not detect an overall change in the annual numbers of migrants (2007-2015) or the annual timing of peak migration (1995-2015). However, we found that the earliest seasonal movements through the region occurred significantly earlier over time (1.6 days decade-1 ). Additionally, body mass and migration distance explained the magnitude of phenological changes, with the most rapid advances occurring with an assemblage of larger-bodied shorter-distance migrants. Our results provide baseline information that can be used to advance our understanding of the developing implications of climate change, urbanization, and energy development for migratory bird populations in North America.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle G Horton
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | | | - Frank A La Sorte
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Emily B Cohen
- Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Hannah L Clipp
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
| | - Jeffrey J Buler
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
| | - Daniel Fink
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Jeffrey F Kelly
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
- Corix Plains Institute, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
| | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
La Sorte FA, Horton KG, Nilsson C, Dokter AM. Projected changes in wind assistance under climate change for nocturnally migrating bird populations. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:589-601. [PMID: 30537359 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2018] [Revised: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Current climate models and observations indicate that atmospheric circulation is being affected by global climate change. To assess how these changes may affect nocturnally migrating bird populations, we need to determine how current patterns of wind assistance at migration altitudes will be enhanced or reduced under future atmospheric conditions. Here, we use information compiled from 143 weather surveillance radars stations within the contiguous United States to estimate the daily altitude, density, and direction of nocturnal migration during the spring and autumn. We intersected this information with wind projections to estimate how wind assistance is expected to change during this century at current migration altitudes. The prevailing westerlies at midlatitudes are projected to increase in strength during spring migration and decrease in strength to a lesser degree during autumn migration. Southerly winds will increase in strength across the continent during both spring and autumn migration, with the strongest gains occurring in the center of the continent. Wind assistance is projected to increase across the central (0.44 m/s; 10.1%) and eastern portions of the continent (0.32 m/s; 9.6%) during spring migration, and wind assistance is projected to decrease within the central (0.32 m/s; 19.3%) and eastern portions of the continent (0.17 m/s; 6.6%) during autumn migration. Thus, across a broad portion of the continent where migration intensity is greatest, the efficiency of nocturnal migration is projected to increase in the spring and decrease in the autumn, potentially affecting time and energy expenditures for many migratory bird species. These findings highlight the importance of placing climate change projections within a relevant ecological context informed through empirical observations, and the need to consider the possibility that climate change may generate both positive and negative implications for natural systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frank A La Sorte
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Kyle G Horton
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Cecilia Nilsson
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Adriaan M Dokter
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Hill JM, Renfrew RB. Migratory patterns and connectivity of two North American grassland bird species. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:680-692. [PMID: 30680148 PMCID: PMC6342103 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective management and conservation of migratory bird populations require knowledge and incorporation of their movement patterns and space use throughout the annual cycle. To investigate the little-known migratory patterns of two grassland bird species, we deployed 180 light-level geolocators on Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum) and 29 Argos-GPS tags on Eastern Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna) at Konza Prairie, Kansas, USA, and six US Department of Defense (DoD) installations distributed across the species' breeding ranges. We analyzed location data from 34 light-level geolocators and five Argos-GPS tags attached for 1 year to Grasshopper Sparrows and Eastern Meadowlarks, respectively. Grasshopper Sparrows were present on the breeding grounds from mid-April through early October, substantially longer than previously estimated, and migrated on average ~2,500 km over ~30 days. Grasshopper Sparrows exhibited strong migratory connectivity only at a continental scale. The North American Great Lakes region likely serves as a migratory divide for Midwest and East Coast Grasshopper Sparrows; Midwest populations (Kansas, Wisconsin, and North Dakota; n = 13) largely wintered in Texas or Mexico, whereas East Coast populations (Maryland and Massachusetts, n = 20) wintered in the northern Caribbean or Florida. Our data from Eastern Meadowlarks provided evidence for a diversity of stationary and short- and long-distance migration strategies. By providing the most extensive examination of the nonbreeding movement ecology for these two North American grassland bird species to date, we refine information gaps and provide key insight for their management and conservation.
Collapse
|
22
|
Horton KG, Van Doren BM, La Sorte FA, Fink D, Sheldon D, Farnsworth A, Kelly JF. Navigating north: how body mass and winds shape avian flight behaviours across a North American migratory flyway. Ecol Lett 2018; 21:1055-1064. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.12971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle G. Horton
- Department of Biology University of Oklahoma Norman OK USA
- Oklahoma Biological Survey University of Oklahoma Norman OK USA
- Advanced Radar Research Center University of Oklahoma Norman OK USA
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology Cornell University Ithaca New York USA
| | | | | | - Daniel Fink
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology Cornell University Ithaca New York USA
| | - Daniel Sheldon
- College of Information and Computer Sciences University of Massachusetts Amherst MA USA
- Department of Computer Science Mount Holyoke College South Hadley MA USA
| | | | - Jeffrey F. Kelly
- Department of Biology University of Oklahoma Norman OK USA
- Oklahoma Biological Survey University of Oklahoma Norman OK USA
- Corix Plains Institute University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Van Doren BM, Horton KG, Dokter AM, Klinck H, Elbin SB, Farnsworth A. High-intensity urban light installation dramatically alters nocturnal bird migration. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:11175-11180. [PMID: 28973942 PMCID: PMC5651764 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1708574114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Billions of nocturnally migrating birds move through increasingly photopolluted skies, relying on cues for navigation and orientation that artificial light at night (ALAN) can impair. However, no studies have quantified avian responses to powerful ground-based light sources in urban areas. We studied effects of ALAN on migrating birds by monitoring the beams of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum's "Tribute in Light" in New York, quantifying behavioral responses with radar and acoustic sensors and modeling disorientation and attraction with simulations. This single light source induced significant behavioral alterations in birds, even in good visibility conditions, in this heavily photopolluted environment, and to altitudes up to 4 km. We estimate that the installation influenced ≈1.1 million birds during our study period of 7 d over 7 y. When the installation was illuminated, birds aggregated in high densities, decreased flight speeds, followed circular flight paths, and vocalized frequently. Simulations revealed a high probability of disorientation and subsequent attraction for nearby birds, and bird densities near the installation exceeded magnitudes 20 times greater than surrounding baseline densities during each year's observations. However, behavioral disruptions disappeared when lights were extinguished, suggesting that selective removal of light during nights with substantial bird migration is a viable strategy for minimizing potentially fatal interactions among ALAN, structures, and birds. Our results also highlight the value of additional studies describing behavioral patterns of nocturnally migrating birds in powerful lights in urban areas as well as conservation implications for such lighting installations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M Van Doren
- Information Science Program, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY 14850
- Edward Grey Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, United Kingdom
| | - Kyle G Horton
- Information Science Program, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY 14850
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019
- Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019
| | - Adriaan M Dokter
- Information Science Program, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY 14850
| | - Holger Klinck
- Bioacoustics Research Program, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY 14850
| | | | - Andrew Farnsworth
- Information Science Program, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY 14850;
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Shamoun-Baranes J, Liechti F, Vansteelant WMG. Atmospheric conditions create freeways, detours and tailbacks for migrating birds. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2017; 203:509-529. [PMID: 28508130 PMCID: PMC5522504 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-017-1181-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Revised: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The extraordinary adaptations of birds to contend with atmospheric conditions during their migratory flights have captivated ecologists for decades. During the 21st century technological advances have sparked a revival of research into the influence of weather on migrating birds. Using biologging technology, flight behaviour is measured across entire flyways, weather radar networks quantify large-scale migratory fluxes, citizen scientists gather observations of migrant birds and mechanistic models are used to simulate migration in dynamic aerial environments. In this review, we first introduce the most relevant microscale, mesoscale and synoptic scale atmospheric phenomena from the point of view of a migrating bird. We then provide an overview of the individual responses of migrant birds (when, where and how to fly) in relation to these phenomena. We explore the cumulative impact of individual responses to weather during migration, and the consequences thereof for populations and migratory systems. In general, individual birds seem to have a much more flexible response to weather than previously thought, but we also note similarities in migratory behaviour across taxa. We propose various avenues for future research through which we expect to derive more fundamental insights into the influence of weather on the evolution of migratory behaviour and the life-history, population dynamics and species distributions of migrant birds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Judy Shamoun-Baranes
- Theoretical and Computational Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94248, 1090 GE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Felix Liechti
- Department of Bird Migration, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, 6204, Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Wouter M G Vansteelant
- Theoretical and Computational Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94248, 1090 GE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Vansteelant Eco Research, Dijkgraaf 35, 6721 NJ, Bennekom, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
La Sorte FA, Fink D. Projected changes in prevailing winds for transatlantic migratory birds under global warming. J Anim Ecol 2017; 86:273-284. [PMID: 27973732 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
A number of terrestrial bird species that breed in North America cross the Atlantic Ocean during autumn migration when travelling to their non-breeding grounds in the Caribbean or South America. When conducting oceanic crossings, migratory birds tend to associate with mild or supportive winds, whose speed and direction may change under global warming. The implications of these changes for transoceanic migratory bird populations have not been addressed. We used occurrence information from eBird (1950-2015) to estimate the geographical location of population centres at a daily temporal resolution across the annual cycle for 10 transatlantic migratory bird species. We used this information to estimate the location and timing of autumn migration within the transatlantic flyway. We estimated how prevailing winds are projected to change within the transatlantic flyway during this time using daily wind speed anomalies (1996-2005 and 2091-2100) from 29 Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Models implemented under CMIP5. Autumn transatlantic migrants have the potential to encounter strong westerly crosswinds early in their transatlantic journey at intermediate and especially high migration altitudes, strong headwinds at low and intermediate migration altitudes within the Caribbean that increase in strength as the season progresses, and weak tailwinds at intermediate and high migration altitudes east of the Caribbean. The CMIP5 simulations suggest that, during this century, the likelihood of autumn transatlantic migrants encountering strong westerly crosswinds will diminish. As global warming progresses, the need for species to compensate or drift under the influence of strong westerly crosswinds during the initial phase of their autumn transatlantic journey may be diminished. Existing strategies that promote headwind avoidance and tailwind assistance will likely remain valid. Thus, climate change may reduce time and energy requirements and the chance of mortality or vagrancy during a specific but likely critical portion of these species' autumn migration journey.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frank A La Sorte
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Daniel Fink
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Stepanian PM, Horton KG, Melnikov VM, Zrnić DS, Gauthreaux SA. Dual‐polarization radar products for biological applications. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Phillip M. Stepanian
- Advanced Radar Research Center University of Oklahoma 120 David L. Boren Boulevard Norman Oklahoma 73072 USA
- School of Meteorology University of Oklahoma 120 David L. Boren Boulevard Norman Oklahoma 73072 USA
| | - Kyle G. Horton
- Advanced Radar Research Center University of Oklahoma 120 David L. Boren Boulevard Norman Oklahoma 73072 USA
- Oklahoma Biological Survey University of Oklahoma 120 David L. Boren Boulevard Norman Oklahoma 73072 USA
- Department of Biology University of Oklahoma 120 David L. Boren Boulevard Norman Oklahoma 73072 USA
| | - Valery M. Melnikov
- National Severe Storms Laboratory 120 David L. Boren Boulevard Norman Oklahoma 73072 USA
- Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies 120 David L. Boren Boulevard Norman Oklahoma 73072 USA
| | - Dušan S. Zrnić
- National Severe Storms Laboratory 120 David L. Boren Boulevard Norman Oklahoma 73072 USA
| | - Sidney A. Gauthreaux
- Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign 205 North Mathews Avenue Urbana Illinois 61801 USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Kelly JF, Horton KG, Stepanian PM, Beurs KM, Fagin T, Bridge ES, Chilson PB. Novel measures of continental‐scale avian migration phenology related to proximate environmental cues. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey F. Kelly
- Oklahoma Biological Survey University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
- Department of Biology University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
| | - Kyle G. Horton
- Oklahoma Biological Survey University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
- Department of Biology University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
- Advanced Radar Research Center University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
| | - Phillip M. Stepanian
- Advanced Radar Research Center University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
- School of Meteorology University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
| | - Kirsten M. Beurs
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
| | - Todd Fagin
- Oklahoma Biological Survey University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
| | - Eli S. Bridge
- Oklahoma Biological Survey University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
| | - Phillip B. Chilson
- Advanced Radar Research Center University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
- School of Meteorology University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73019 USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
La Sorte FA, Fink D, Hochachka WM, Kelling S. Convergence of broad-scale migration strategies in terrestrial birds. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 283:rspb.2015.2588. [PMID: 26791618 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.2588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Migration is a common strategy used by birds that breed in seasonal environments. Selection for greater migration efficiency is likely to be stronger for terrestrial species whose migration strategies require non-stop transoceanic crossings. If multiple species use the same transoceanic flyway, then we expect the migration strategies of these species to converge geographically towards the most optimal solution. We test this by examining population-level migration trajectories within the Western Hemisphere for 118 migratory species using occurrence information from eBird. Geographical convergence of migration strategies was evident within specific terrestrial regions where geomorphological features such as mountains or isthmuses constrained overland migration. Convergence was also evident for transoceanic migrants that crossed the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean. Here, annual population-level movements were characterized by clockwise looped trajectories, which resulted in faster but more circuitous journeys in the spring and more direct journeys in the autumn. These findings suggest that the unique constraints and requirements associated with transoceanic migration have promoted the spatial convergence of migration strategies. The combination of seasonal atmospheric and environmental conditions that has facilitated the use of similar broad-scale migration strategies may be especially prone to disruption under climate and land-use change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frank A La Sorte
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Daniel Fink
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Wesley M Hochachka
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Steve Kelling
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Wainwright CE, Stepanian PM, Horton KG. The role of the US Great Plains low-level jet in nocturnal migrant behavior. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2016; 60:1531-1542. [PMID: 26872654 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-016-1144-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Revised: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The movements of aerial animals are under the constant influence of atmospheric flows spanning a range of spatiotemporal scales. The Great Plains nocturnal low-level jet is a large-scale atmospheric phenomenon that provides frequent strong southerly winds through a shallow layer of the airspace. The jet can provide substantial tailwind assistance to spring migrants moving northward, while hindering southward migration during autumn. This atmospheric feature has been suspected to play a prominent role in defining migratory routes, but the flight strategies used with respect to these winds are yet to be examined. Using collocated vertically pointing radar and lidar, we investigate the altitudinal selection behavior of migrants over Oklahoma during two spring and two autumn migration seasons. In general, migrants choose to fly within the jet in spring, often concentrating in the favorable wind speed maximum. Autumn migrants typically fly below the jet, although some will rapidly climb to reach altitudes above the inhibiting winds. The intensity of migration was relatively constant throughout the spring due to the predominantly favorable southerly jet winds. Conversely, autumn migrants were more apt to delay departure to wait for the relatively infrequent northerly winds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte E Wainwright
- School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA.
- Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
| | - Phillip M Stepanian
- School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Advanced Radar Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - Kyle G Horton
- Advanced Radar Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Oklahoma Biological Survey, Norman, OK, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
La Sorte FA, Hochachka WM, Farnsworth A, Dhondt AA, Sheldon D. The implications of mid‐latitude climate extremes for North American migratory bird populations. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Frank A. La Sorte
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Cornell University Ithaca New York 14850 USA
| | - Wesley M. Hochachka
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Cornell University Ithaca New York 14850 USA
| | - Andrew Farnsworth
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Cornell University Ithaca New York 14850 USA
| | - André A. Dhondt
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Cornell University Ithaca New York 14850 USA
| | - Daniel Sheldon
- College of Information and Computer Science University of Massachusetts Amherst Massachusetts 01003 USA
- Department of Computer Science Mount Holyoke College South Hadley Massachusetts 01075 USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Crysler ZJ, Ronconi RA, Taylor PD. Differential fall migratory routes of adult and juvenile Ipswich Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis princeps). MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2016; 4:3. [PMID: 26819707 PMCID: PMC4729120 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-016-0067-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Island breeding birds present an ideal system for studying migratory movements in passerines because their populations are clearly demarcated, and individuals must depart on migration from a single location. The Ipswich Sparrow (Paserculus sandwichensis princeps) is a subspecies of the Savannah Sparrow that breeds exclusively on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada and winters along the Atlantic coast of North America. We used a network of 34 automated VHF telemetry receivers to track radio-tagged adult and juvenile Ipswich Sparrows from their breeding island southward through the first half of their fall migratory journey. RESULTS We compared adult to juvenile timing and routes. We show that juveniles leave the island approximately 24 days prior to adults and remain temporally separated from them during migration through Nova Scotia. Juveniles have different overwater orientations that result in migratory routes with shorter ocean crossings and a longer overall distance travelled compared to adults. Juveniles also have more frequent and longer stopovers, and displayed some reverse migration. CONCLUSION We demonstrate that migratory routes differ between adults and juveniles, suggesting that routes change as individuals age, possibly through learning or social interactions. These differential routes also suggest that sparrows experience risk in different ways with juveniles selecting shorter overwater flights with less navigational risk at the cost of increased time spent in migration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zoe J. Crysler
- />Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, B4P 2R6, NS Canada
| | - Robert A. Ronconi
- />Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, B4P 2R6, NS Canada
- />Canadian Wildlife Service, Environmental Stewardship Branch, Environment Canada, 45 Alderney Drive, Dartmouth, B2y 2N6, NS Canada
| | - Philip D. Taylor
- />Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, B4P 2R6, NS Canada
- />Bird Studies Canada, Port Rowan, N0E 1M0, ON Canada
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
La Sorte FA, Hochachka WM, Farnsworth A, Sheldon D, Van Doren BM, Fink D, Kelling S. Seasonal changes in the altitudinal distribution of nocturnally migrating birds during autumn migration. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2015; 2:150347. [PMID: 27019724 PMCID: PMC4807445 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.150347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Wind plays a significant role in the flight altitudes selected by nocturnally migrating birds. At mid-latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, atmospheric conditions are dictated by the polar-front jet stream, whose amplitude increases in the autumn. One consequence for migratory birds is that the region's prevailing westerly winds become progressively stronger at higher migration altitudes. We expect this seasonality in wind speed to result in migrants occupying progressively lower flight altitudes, which we test using density estimates of nocturnal migrants at 100 m altitudinal intervals from 12 weather surveillance radar stations located in the northeastern USA. Contrary to our expectations, median migration altitudes deviated little across the season, and the variance was lower during the middle of the season and higher during the beginning and especially the end of the season. Early-season migrants included small- to intermediate-sized long-distance migrants in the orders Charadriiformes and Passeriformes, and late-season migrants included large-bodied and intermediate-distance migrants in the order Anseriformes. Therefore, seasonality in the composition of migratory species, and related variation in migration strategies and behaviours, resulted in a convex-concave bounded distribution of migration altitudes. Our results provide a basis for assessing the implications for migratory bird populations of changes in mid-latitude atmospheric conditions probably occurring under global climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frank A. La Sorte
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Wesley M. Hochachka
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Andrew Farnsworth
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Daniel Sheldon
- College of Information and Computer Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA 01075, USA
| | | | - Daniel Fink
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Steve Kelling
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| |
Collapse
|