Migratory bird populations frequently consist of individuals that overwinter variable
distances from the breeding site. Seasonal changes in photoperiod, which varies with latitude, underlie seasonal changes in singing frequency in birds. Therefore, migratory populations that consist of individuals that overwinter at different latitudes with large overwintering ranges could experience within-population variation in seasonal production of song. To test the influence of overwintering latitude on intrapopulation variance in song production in the spring, we subjected two groups of Eastern Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia melodia) from the same partially migratory breeding population to different photoperiodic schedules associated with a 1,300-km difference in overwintering location. One group remained on the natural photoperiodic schedule of the breeding site (resident group) while the other group experienced a nonbreeding photoperiod that mimicked a southern migration in the fall followed by a northern migration back to the breeding site in the spring (migratory group). We compared song output between the two groups in three different stages (nonbreeding, prebreeding, and breeding). Little singing occurred during nonbreeding stage sample dates (20 November, 6 December) for the resident group, and no singing occurred for the migrant group. During the prebreeding stage (27 January, 7 February), significantly more singing occurred in the resident group than in the migrant group. During the breeding stage (21 March, 4 April), after a simulated migration for the migrants, song output was similar in both groups. These results suggest that within-population variation in wintering latitude may contribute to variation in seasonal changes in singing behavior, which may covary with readiness to breed. Studies utilizing confirmed migrants and residents, rather than merely simulated migrants and residents, are also needed to better understand these processes.
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Does Migration Constrain Glucocorticoid Phenotypes? Testing Corticosterone Levels during Breeding in Migratory Versus Resident Birds
Corticosterone, the main glucocorticoid in birds, is a major mediator of the incredible physiological feat of migration. Corticosterone plays important roles in migration, from preparation to in-flight energy mobilization to refueling, and corticosterone levels often show distinct elevations or depressions during certain stages of the migratory process. Here, we ask whether corticosterone's role in migration shapes its modulation during other life-history stages, as is the case with some other phenotypically flexible traits involved in migration. Specifically, we use a global dataset of corticosterone measures to test whether birds’ migratory status (migrant versus resident) predicts corticosterone levels during breeding. Our results indicate that migratory status predicts neither baseline nor stress-induced corticosterone levels in breeding birds; despite corticosterone’s role in migration, we find no evidence that migratory corticosterone phenotypes carry over to breeding. We encourage future studies to continue to explore corticosterone in migrants versus residents across the annual cycle. Additionally, future efforts should aim to disentangle the possible effects of environmental conditions and migratory status on corticosterone phenotypes; potentially fruitful avenues include focusing on regions where migrants and residents overlap during breeding. Overall, insights from work in this area could demonstrate whether migration shapes traits during other important life stages, identify tradeoffs or limitations associated with the migratory lifestyle, and ultimately shed light on the evolution of flexible traits and migration.
more » « less- PAR ID:
- 10530749
- Publisher / Repository:
- Oxford University Press
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Integrative And Comparative Biology
- ISSN:
- 1540-7063
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract Migration is driven by a combination of environmental and genetic factors, but many questions remain about those drivers. Potential interactions between genetic and environmental variants associated with different migratory phenotypes are rarely the focus of study. We pair low coverage whole genome resequencing with a de novo genome assembly to examine population structure, inbreeding, and the environmental factors associated with genetic differentiation between migratory and resident breeding phenotypes in a species of conservation concern, the western burrowing owl (
Athene cunicularia hypugaea ). Our analyses reveal a dichotomy in gene flow depending on whether the population is resident or migratory, with the former being genetically structured and the latter exhibiting no signs of structure. Among resident populations, we observed significantly higher genetic differentiation, significant isolation‐by‐distance, and significantly elevated inbreeding. Among migratory breeding groups, on the other hand, we observed lower genetic differentiation, no isolation‐by‐distance, and substantially lower inbreeding. Using genotype–environment association analysis, we find significant evidence for relationships between migratory phenotypes (i.e., migrant versus resident) and environmental variation associated with cold temperatures during the winter and barren, open habitats. In the regions of the genome most differentiated between migrants and residents, we find significant enrichment for genes associated with the metabolism of fats. This may be linked to the increased pressure on migrants to process and store fats more efficiently in preparation for and during migration. Our results provide a significant contribution toward understanding the evolution of migratory behavior and vital insight into ongoing conservation and management efforts for the western burrowing owl. -
The final stage of migration, when animals terminate migratory movements and transition to a more sedentary state, remains the least understood phase of migration. Whereas migrants that return to the same locations each year may use mechanisms associated with locating a specific destination, migrants with low site fidelity, such as nomadic migrants, may rely on local environmental cues to determine when to cease migratory movements. Using an experiment with captive birds, we tested whether the presence of a conspecific influences the termination of migration, indicated by changes in behaviour and physiology, in a nomadic migrant (the pine siskin, Spinus pinus ). We paired migratory birds with a non-migratory individual or left migratory and non-migratory individuals unpaired. Migratory paired birds had a significant decline in nocturnal activity immediately after pairing and activity levels remained lower two weeks later, with significant declines in energetic reserves and flight muscle size also observed. By contrast, migratory unpaired birds maintained high levels of activity and energetic reserves. These results provide evidence for a role of the social environment in migratory termination decisions. Social cues may be particularly useful in nomadic migrants, such as pine siskins, to facilitate settling in high quality, but unfamiliar, habitats.more » « less
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Abstract Given increasing evidence that climate change affects the annual cycles of birds, it is important to understand the mechanisms underlying individual migration strategies and population-level patterns in partial migrants. In this study, we found that thermoregulation (body size and winter temperatures) was a key driver of American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) migration decisions. The annual proportion of migrants in the population, however, was not explained by winter weather and may be the result of differential survival. We measured stable hydrogen isotope values (δD) of talon tissues collected from 501 breeding and overwintering birds to distinguish migrant from resident kestrels in a partially migratory population of American Kestrels in southwestern Idaho in 2013–2021. We then evaluated drivers of migration decisions by assessing potential correlates of migration strategies, whether individuals switched migration strategies between years, and whether the proportion of migrants in the population changed over time or was correlated with winter weather. Male kestrels were 1.6 times more likely to migrate than females, and in colder than average winters, smaller birds of both sexes were more likely to migrate than larger birds. Only 27% of 26 recaptured individuals showed evidence of switching their migration strategies on an annual basis. There was no temporal trend in the proportion of migrants in the population, but proportions varied between years. Interestingly, there was no association between winter minimum temperature anomalies and annual migrant proportions in the population, suggesting that differential over-winter survival, or other stochastic processes, may play an important role in population composition. As winters continue to warm, fewer kestrels may migrate and more may remain resident on breeding grounds. However, it is unclear how changes in migration strategies might affect population-level patterns and resilience to climate change.
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Abstract Aim We tested the effects of season and migratory status (residents‐versus‐seasonal migrants) on island biogeography of bird assemblages through partitioning beta diversity into richness and turnover components and community nestedness metrics. We predicted that total beta diversity, the richness component of beta diversity and community nestedness will be lower for bird assemblages in winter than in summer, and lowest of all for winter visitors. These predictions were derived from published ideas about resource availability, movement and habitat choice in birds in different seasons.
Location Thousand Island Lake, China.
Methods Bird species were sampled using line transects on 36 islands during five breeding and winter seasons (2009−2014). Birds were grouped into assemblages of winter residents, winter visitors and summer residents. Associations between beta diversity partitioning, island area, isolation and habitat richness were tested using partial Mantel correlations. We complemented these tests with measures of nestedness and null model approaches.
Results Contrary to expectation, beta diversity, nestedness and difference of beta diversity or its components from null models were higher for winter residents than either summer resident or winter visitor assemblages. As predicted, winter visitors showed little association with habitat richness, and beta diversity was rarely different from null communities. Summer residents had the highest correlations of beta diversity components with habitat richness, but showed the lowest level of total beta diversity, a low richness component and were anti‐nested (less nested than random).
Main conclusions Substantial differences were found in the biogeography of winter‐versus‐summer residents, and seasonal visitor (migratory)‐versus‐resident bird assemblages, which match expectations derived from bird biology and population ecology. Summer residents highlighted the role of habitat‐related niche differences, whereas winter residents showed area‐related selective extinction. By contrast, winter visitors appeared to be more randomly distributed.
