scholarly journals Winter Site Fidelity of Prairie Warblers in the Dominican Republic

The Condor ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 455-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven C. Latta ◽  
John Faaborg
Keyword(s):  
Dominican Republic ◽  
Habitat Heterogeneity ◽  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Migratory Birds ◽  
Pectoral Muscle ◽  
Pine Forest ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Return Rates ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Dendroica Discolor

Abstract Wintering Prairie Warblers (Dendroica discolor) were studied in pine forest, desert thorn scrub, and desert wash habitats of the Sierra de Bahoruco, Dominican Republic from October–April 1996–1998 and January–February 1999. We used mist netting, color banding, and extensive resighting of color-banded birds to quantify habitat-specific demographies, site fidelity, and fitness indices. Males predominated early in the season in pine habitat while females predominated in the desert. Sex ratios were more equal through the drier months of late winter although females continued to be more frequent in the desert. Adult birds predominated throughout all habitats and time periods. Nonterritorial wanderers were far more common in desert habitats than in pine forest, and females predominated among these wanderers. Site persistence was moderately high, but variable between habitats and time periods, and was significantly lower in the drier months in thorn scrub than it was in the desert wash or pine forest. Annual return rates were generally high and did not vary significantly among years. Birds showed significant declines in pectoral-muscle-mass scores in both of the desert habitats but not in the pine forest. Data presented here emphasize the importance of dry-season events and habitat heterogeneity in the winter ecology of migratory birds. Fidelidad al Territorio Invernal de Dendroica discolor en la República Dominicana Resumen. En los meses de octubre a abril de 1996 a 1998 y enero y febrero de 1999, investigamos a Dendroica discolor en el bosque de pino, en los matorrales del desierto y en el arroyo seco de desierto en la Sierra de Bahoruco, República Dominicana. Para llevar a cabo esto, se utilizaron redes ornitológicas y anillos colorados. Se realizó una revisión extensiva de las aves anilladas para cuantificar la demografía en los tres hábitats, la fidelidad al territorio invernal, y los índices de aptitud (“fitness”). Al comenzar el invierno, los machos predominaron en el bosque de pino mientras que las hembras lo hicieron en el desierto. La proporción entre los machos y las hembras mantuvo una mayor igualidad entre los sexos en los meses más secos del invierno, aunque hay que considerar que las hembras predominaban en el desierto. Se observó que las aves adultas predominaban en los tres hábitats durante todo el período investigado. Las aves sin territorio eran más comunes en el desierto y eran mayormente hembras. La fidelidad al lugar fue moderadamente alta pero variable entre los hábitats y los períodos y fue significativamente más baja en los meses secos en los matorrales del desierto que en los arroyos secos y los bosques de pino. La tasa anual de retorno de esta especie fue generalmente alta y no varió significativamente entre años. La masa de los músculos pectorales bajó significativamente en las aves que se encontraban en los matorrales del desierto y en el arroyo seco pero no en los bosques de pino. Los datos mencionados aquí acentúan la importancia de eventos que ocurren en la época seca del período invernal y de la heterogenidad del hábitat en la ecología invernal de las aves migratorias.

scholarly journals Effects of Scaley-Leg Mite Infestations on Body Condition and Site Fidelity of Migratory Warblers in The Dominican Republic

The Auk ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
pp. 730-743
Author(s):  
Steven C. Latta
Keyword(s):  
Dominican Republic ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Pectoral Muscle ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Pine Forest ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Parasite Infestation

Abstract Rates of infestation by the scaley leg mite (Knemidokoptes jamaicensis) were examined on two overwintering Nearctic-Neotropical migrants, Palm Warbler (Dendroica palmarum) and Prairie Warbler (D. discolor), in low-elevation desert thorn scrub and high-elevation pine forest in the Dominican Republic. Ectoparasites were common on birds in the dry thorn scrub where birds roosted communally, but were never found on birds in the moister pine forest where communal roosting was not detected. Prevalence of ectoparasites varied between years and generally increased in prevalence within winters, with mean rates of infestation reaching as high as 25% among Palm Warblers in late-winter. Parasitized Palm Warblers showed significant decreases in mean pectoral muscle mass scores indicating a negative effect on body condition and physiological stress. Infestation had a significant effect on overwinter site persistence and annual return rates; no infected individuals ever returned the following year. Results of a path analysis indicated that mite infestation was more important than general physiological condition (as represented by pectoral muscle score) in determining annual return. Data suggest that environmental variables and host behavior may affect parasite infestation rates, and further attention should be given to the potential contribution of parasite infestation to winter limitation of avian populations.

scholarly journals Migratory Connectivity in Bicknell's Thrush: Locating Missing Populations With Hydrogen Isotopes

The Condor ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 905-909 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith A. Hobson ◽  
Yves Aubry ◽  
Leonard I. Wassenaar
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Dominican Republic ◽  
Migratory Birds ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Source Population ◽  
Catharus Bicknelli ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Early Fall ◽  
Bicknell's Thrush ◽  
Two Populations

Abstract The measurement of the abundance of naturally occurring deuterium (δD) in feathers grown in North America can provide geographical information on location where the feather was grown. Previously, we used this technique to link populations of Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) breeding in northeastern North America (to 46°N) with wintering grounds in the Dominican Republic. That study indicated the presence of a subpopulation of wintering birds with more depleted feather δD values than those measured on their known breeding grounds. This suggested either a more northerly or a higher altitude breeding source population than previously measured. We located two populations of Bicknell's Thrush in Quebec, Canada, at Mine Madeleine (49°N) and at Mont Gosford (45°N). The Mine Madeleine birds had feather δD values overlapping those of the unidentified subpopulation found wintering in the Dominican Republic. At Mont Gosford, hatch-year birds were more depleted in their feather δD values than after-second-year birds suggesting their more northerly origins and capture during the early fall migration period. Our study demonstrates how the stable-isotope approach can be used to document connectivity between breeding and wintering populations of migratory birds. Conectividad Migratoria en Catharus bicknelli: Localización de Poblaciones Perdidas con Isótopos de Hidrógeno Resumen. La medición de la abundancia de deuterio en estado natural (δD) en las plumas formadas en América del Norte puede brindar información geográ fica sobre la localización en donde se formó la pluma. Anteriormente usamos esta técnica para relacionar las poblaciones de Catharus bicknelli que se reproducen en el noreste de América del Norte (hasta 46°N) con las áreas de invernada en República Dominicana. Ese estudio indicó la presencia de una subpoblación de aves invernantes con valores de δD en las plumas por debajo de los valores medidos de los sitios conocidos de cría. Esto sugirió la presencia de una población reproductiva proveedora de individuos localizada más al norte o a mayor elevación que las registradas anteriormente. Localizamos dos poblaciones de C. bicknelli en Québec, Canadá, una en Mine Madeleine (49°N) y otra en Mont Gosford (45°N). Las aves de Mine Madeleine tuvieron valores de δD en las plumas que se superpusieron con aquellos de la subpoblación no identificada encontrada invernando en República Dominicana. En Mont Gosford, las aves del primer año de edad presentaron valores más bajos de δD en las plumas que aquellos encontrados en aves del segundo año de edad o mayores, sugiriendo un origen más boreal y que fueron capturadas durante el inicio del período de migración otoñal. Nuestro estudio demuestra como el mé todo de isótopos estables puede ser usado para documentar conectividad entre poblaciones reproductivas e invernales de aves migratorias.

scholarly journals Site Fidelity and Annual Survival of the Western Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens auricollis) at the Northern Edge of its Range

2012 ◽  
Vol 126 (2) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
René McKibbin ◽  
Christine A. Bishop
Keyword(s):  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Dispersal Distance ◽  
Northern Limit ◽  
Apparent Survival ◽  
Return Rates ◽  
The Core ◽  
Icteria Virens ◽  
Endangered Population ◽  
Northern Edge ◽  
Dispersal Distances

We studied return rates, site fidelity, dispersal, and survivorship of an endangered population of the Western Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens auricollis) in the southern Okanagan River valley, British Columbia, between 2001 and 2007. Between 2001 and 2006, we banded a total of 75 adults and 385 nestlings. Apparent survival for male Western Yellow-breasted Chats banded as adults was 65%, and survival and recapture were constant across time. Other results were as follows: 44% of males and 13% of females banded as adults were re-sighted during the period 2002–2007; 33% of males and 10% of females were re-sighted the year after they were banded; 31% of males and 10% of females had fidelity to the study site where they were banded as adults; 10% of Western Yellow-breasted Chats banded as nestlings returned and, of these, 62% of males and 54% of females returned to their natal study site to breed. The dispersal distance for males banded as adults (n = 5) that did not return to their sites ranged from 6.4 km to 42.9 km. Natal dispersal ranged from 2.5 km to 15.6 km for males (n = 7) and 2.3 km to 2.6 km for females (n = 2); 16 males and 7 females banded as nestlings did not disperse. These findings contrast with predictions that species at the northern limit of their range will have low site fidelity and return rates and higher dispersal distances than passerine populations at the core of their range.

scholarly journals Theoretically possible spatial accuracy of geomagnetic maps used by migrating animals

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (128) ◽  
pp. 20161002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrei V. Komolkin ◽  
Pavel Kupriyanov ◽  
Andrei Chudin ◽  
Julia Bojarinova ◽  
Kirill Kavokin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Intensity ◽  
Geomagnetic Field ◽  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Migratory Birds ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Northern Europe ◽  
Spatial Accuracy ◽  
Total Field ◽  
Migrating Birds

Many migrating animals, belonging to different taxa, annually move across the globe and cover hundreds and thousands of kilometres. Many of them are able to show site fidelity, i.e. to return to relatively small migratory targets, from distant areas located beyond the possible range of direct sensory perception. One widely debated possibility of how they do it is the use of a magnetic map, based on the dependence of parameters of the geomagnetic field (total field intensity and inclination) on geographical coordinates. We analysed temporal fluctuations of the geomagnetic field intensity as recorded by three geomagnetic observatories located in Europe within the route of many avian migrants, to study the highest theoretically possible spatial resolution of the putative map. If migratory birds measure total field intensity perfectly and take the time of day into account, in northern Europe 81% of them may return to a strip of land of 43 km in width along one of coordinates, whereas in more southern areas such a strip may be narrower than 10 km. However, if measurements are performed with an error of 0.1%, the strip width is increased by approximately 40 km, so that in spring migrating birds are able to return to within 90 km of their intended goal. In this case, migrating birds would probably need another navigation system, e.g. an olfactory map, intermediate between the large-scale geomagnetic map and the local landscape cues, to locate their goal to within several kilometres.

Compensatory growth of wapiti (Cervus elaphus) on aspen parkland ranges

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 1682-1688 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. G. Watkins ◽  
R. J. Hudson ◽  
P. L. J. Fargey
Keyword(s):  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Compensatory Growth ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Feeding Time ◽  
Digestive Efficiency ◽  
Aspen Parkland ◽  
Summer Pasture ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Compensatory Gain ◽  
And Performance

We studied the behavior and performance of wapiti on aspen parkland ranges in central Alberta after a winter in which one group received a pelleted alfalfa–barley supplement and another served as a control, on an unsupplemented diet. Wapiti that were lighter at the end of winter because they were young or because they did not receive nutritional supplementation grew faster on summer pasture. This compensatory gain was not explained by any one factor. Intake rates, bite rates, bite sizes, and diet selectivity varied by habitat and date, but did not differ consistently between wapiti receiving supplemented and unsupplemented diets. Irrespective of winter nutrition treatment, wapiti apportioned feeding time to different habitats in relation to foraging returns. However, by feeding longer, those on an unsupplemented diet consumed more forage during the spring flush in mid-April, and over all time periods, lighter individuals consumed more relative to body weight. Diet digestibility as a consequence of either greater forage selectivity or digestive efficiency was unaffected by nutritional history. Resting metabolic rates increased from 495 kJ∙kg−0.75∙d in late winter to 641 kJ∙kg−0.75∙d in summer, but were not significantly related to compensatory gain or reproductive status.

Long-term winter-site fidelity in Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia)

The Auk ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 136 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tosha R Kelly ◽  
Keith A Hobson ◽  
Garth W Casbourn ◽  
Elizabeth A MacDougall-Shackleton ◽  
Scott A MacDougall-Shackleton
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Migratory Birds ◽  
Melospiza Melodia ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Song Sparrows ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Wintering Areas ◽  
Migratory Movements

Abstract In migratory animals, the degree to which individuals return to the same wintering sites across multiple years can affect fitness and population dynamics, and thus has important implications for conservation. Despite this, long-term evaluations of wintering-site fidelity are rare for migratory birds: many populations are intensively studied on their breeding grounds but tracking the migratory movements of small birds once they leave the breeding grounds is challenging. To evaluate patterns of overwintering location and fidelity, we collected winter-grown claw tissue from 301 Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia; 449 samples) captured in spring at their breeding grounds over 6 consecutive yr and assessed stable hydrogen isotope (δ2Hc) values to determine within-individual repeatability and between-year variation in wintering latitudes. We also retrieved useable data from 8 geolocators over 2 consecutive winters. Geolocator-derived wintering positions correlated with origins based on δ2Hc values. Consistent with previous findings, male δ2Hc values reflected more northerly wintering areas than those of females, indicating shorter latitudinal migration distances for males, but the magnitude of the sex difference varied across years. The distribution of wintering latitudes was generally consistent among years, except for the 2015 舑2016 winter, which had unusually negative δ2Hc values. Values of δ2Hc were repeatable for males but not for females, suggesting that winter-site fidelity could differ between sexes. The data presented here emphasize the importance of tracking migratory populations across multiple years to uncover factors affecting population dynamics.

scholarly journals Factors influencing variation in site fidelity of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in southeastern British Columbia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heiko Wittmer ◽  
B McLellan ◽  
F Hovey
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Snow Accumulation ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Behavioural Plasticity ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Caribou ◽  
Early Winter ◽  
Woodland Caribou

Where predation is a major limiting factor, it has been postulated that woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788)) reduce movements to minimize contact with predators and exhibit fidelity to seasonal ranges. We examined fidelity behaviour within season and among years of woodland caribou based on locations of 65 radio-collared individuals in British Columbia, Canada. We used average linear distances between all possible pairs of radiolocations of individuals to assess fidelity. Among-year interlocation distances were similar to within-season interlocation distances during summer, indicating that caribou did not shift their distribution during seasons when they were most vulnerable to predation. Among-year interlocation distances were significantly greater than within-season interlocation distances during both early winter and late winter, indicating that individual caribou shifted their distribution among winters. The amount that an individual's distribution shifted among winters varied among and within individuals over different years. During early winter this behavioural plasticity was correlated with snow accumulation, with individuals having greater interlocation distances in years with high snow accumulation. Our results indicate that site fidelity outside the calving season is unlikely solely influenced by predator avoidance. We suggest that seasonal shifts in the importance of limiting factors vary from predation in summer to food in winter. © 2006 NRC.

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