Fine-scale changes in speed and altitude suggest protean movements in homing pigeon flights

The power curve provides a basis for predicting adjustments that animals make in flight speed, for example in relation to wind, distance, habitat foraging quality and objective. However, relatively few studies have examined how animals respond to the landscape below them, which could affect speed and power allocation through modifications in climb rate and perceived predation risk. We equipped homing pigeons ( Columba livia ) with high-frequency loggers to examine how flight speed, and hence effort, varies in relation to topography and land cover. Pigeons showed mixed evidence for an energy-saving strategy, as they minimized climb rates by starting their ascent ahead of hills, but selected rapid speeds in their ascents. Birds did not modify their speed substantially in relation to land cover, but used higher speeds during descending flight, highlighting the importance of considering the rate of change in altitude before estimating power use from speed. Finally, we document an unexpected variability in speed and altitude over fine scales; a source of substantial energetic inefficiency. We suggest this may be a form of protean behaviour adopted to reduce predation risk when flocking is not an option, and that such a strategy could be widespread.

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Fine-scale changes in speed and altitude suggest protean movements in homing pigeon flights

10.1101/2021.01.20.427436 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Baptiste Garde ◽

Rory P. Wilson ◽

Emmanouil Lempidakis ◽

Luca Börger ◽

Steven J. Portugal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Cover ◽

Predation Risk ◽

High Frequency ◽

Columba Livia ◽

Homing Pigeon ◽

Rate Of Change ◽

Flight Speed ◽

Homing Pigeons ◽

Substantial Impact ◽

Perceived Predation Risk

AbstractThe flight speeds that animals should adopt to minimise energy expenditure in different scenarios can be predicted by the curve of power against speed. However, relatively few studies have examined how animals respond to the landscape below them, which could affect speed through modifications in climb rate and perceived predation risk. We equipped homing pigeons (Columba livia) with high frequency loggers to examine how flight speed varies in relation to topography and land cover, predicting that these parameters may have a substantial impact on flight speed and hence cost. Pigeons showed mixed evidence for an energy saving strategy, as they minimised climb rates by starting their ascent ahead of hills, but selected rapid speeds in their ascents. Birds did not modify their speed substantially in relation to land cover, but higher speeds were observed during descending flight, highlighting the importance to consider the rate of change in altitude before estimating power use from speed. Finally, we document an unexpected variability in speed and altitude over fine scales; a source of substantial inefficiency. We suggest this may a form of protean behaviour adopted to reduce predation risk when flocking is not an option, and that such a strategy could be widespread.

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Whole genome resequencing data for rock pigeon (Columba livia)

BMC Research Notes ◽

10.1186/s13104-021-05718-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ali Esmailizadeh ◽

Hamed Kharrati-Koopaee ◽

Hojjat Assadoullahpour Nanaei

Keyword(s):

Whole Genome Sequencing ◽

Genome Sequencing ◽

Columba Livia ◽

Homing Pigeon ◽

Genetic Mechanism ◽

Whole Genome ◽

Genome Resequencing ◽

Homing Pigeons ◽

Rock Pigeon ◽

Whole Genome Resequencing

Abstract Objective Navigation is the most important feature of homing pigeons, however no integrated response to genetic mechanism of navigation has been reported. The generated data herein represent whole-genome resequencing data for homing pigeon and three other breeds of rock pigeons. Selective sweep analysis between homing pigeon and other breeds of rock pigeon can provide new insight about identification of candidate genes and biological pathways for homing pigeon ability. Data description Whole-genomes sequence data related to 95 birds from four breeds of rock pigeons including, 29 feral pigeons, 24 Shiraz tumblers, 24 Persian high flyers and 18 homing pigeons were provided. More than 6.94 billion short reads with coverage (average ≈7.50 x) and 407.1 Gb data were produced. Whole genome sequencing was carried out on the Illumina Hiseq 2000 platform using a 350 bp library size and 150 bp paired-end read lengths. The whole genome sequencing data have been submitted at the NCBI SRA Database (PRJNA532675). The presented data set can provide useful genomic information to explain the genetic mechanism of navigation ability of homing pigeons and also testing other genetic hypothesis by genomic analysis.

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Group decisions and individual differences: route fidelity predicts flight leadership in homing pigeons ( Columba livia )

Biology Letters ◽

10.1098/rsbl.2010.0627 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 63-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Robin Freeman ◽

Richard Mann ◽

Tim Guilford ◽

Dora Biro

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Individual Variation ◽

Columba Livia ◽

Homing Pigeon ◽

Scientific Interest ◽

Homing Pigeons ◽

Collective Decisions ◽

The Subject ◽

Leadership Decisions

How social-living animals make collective decisions is currently the subject of intense scientific interest, with increasing focus on the role of individual variation within the group. Previously, we demonstrated that during paired flight in homing pigeons, a fully transitive leadership hierarchy emerges as birds are forced to choose between their own and their partner's habitual routes. This stable hierarchy suggests a role for individual differences mediating leadership decisions within homing pigeon pairs. What these differences are, however, has remained elusive. Using novel quantitative techniques to analyse habitual route structure, we show here that leadership can be predicted from prior route-following fidelity. Birds that are more faithful to their own route when homing alone are more likely to emerge as leaders when homing socially. We discuss how this fidelity may relate to the leadership phenomenon, and propose that leadership may emerge from the interplay between individual route confidence and the dynamics of paired flight.

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Separating effects of spatial location and microhabitat density on perceived predation risk in small mammals

acta ethologica ◽

10.1007/s10211-021-00365-y ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

K. N. Denny ◽

K. N. Bilodeau ◽

C. A. Dumont ◽

Z. H. Olson

Keyword(s):

Predation Risk ◽

Small Mammals ◽

Spatial Location ◽

Perceived Predation Risk

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A novel approach for quantifying high-frequency urban land cover changes at the block level with scarce clear-sky Landsat observations

Remote Sensing of Environment ◽

10.1016/j.rse.2021.112293 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 255 ◽

pp. 112293

Author(s):

Chuanbao Jing ◽

Weiqi Zhou ◽

Yuguo Qian ◽

Wenjuan Yu ◽

Zhong Zheng

Keyword(s):

Land Cover ◽

High Frequency ◽

Urban Land ◽

Land Cover Changes ◽

Clear Sky ◽

Urban Land Cover ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Block Level

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Elevating perceived predation risk modifies the relationship between parental effort and song complexity in the song sparrowMelospiza melodia

Journal of Avian Biology ◽

10.1111/jav.00758 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. 57-68 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Melissa L. Grunst ◽

John T. Rotenberry ◽

Andrea S. Grunst

Keyword(s):

Predation Risk ◽

Parental Effort ◽

Song Complexity ◽

The Relationship ◽

Perceived Predation Risk

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The relative importance of location and feature cues for homing pigeon (Columba livia) goal recognition.

Journal of Comparative Psychology ◽

10.1037/0735-7036.110.1.77 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 110 (1) ◽

pp. 77-87 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Rosemary Strasser ◽

Verner P. Bingman

Keyword(s):

Columba Livia ◽

Homing Pigeon ◽

Relative Importance ◽

Goal Recognition

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Perceived predation risk, parasitism, and the foraging behavior of a freshwater snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum)

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z98-122 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 76 (10) ◽

pp. 1878-1884 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Edward P Levri

Keyword(s):

Predation Risk ◽

Foraging Behavior ◽

Freshwater Snail ◽

Potamopyrgus Antipodarum ◽

Plain Water ◽

Fish Diet ◽

Fish Predator ◽

Size Dependent ◽

Individual Size ◽

Perceived Predation Risk

Foraging behavior can be influenced by such factors as predation risk, individual size, and parasite infection. Snails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) placed in tanks with large rocks were exposed to four types of water: (1) water with crushed snails, (2) water from a tank in which fish (Gobiomorphus cotidianus) were fed only trout chow, (3) water from a tank where the fish were also fed snails, and (4) plain water. Snails could respond by moving to the top of rocks (where algal food was present) or to the bottom of rocks (where the predation risk was lower). The snails responded to fish chemicals by moving to the bottom of rocks. The response was dependent on snail size and fish diet. Smaller snails moved to the bottom of rocks more than larger snails did. Trematode-infected snails were found on top of the rocks more than other classes of snails, but infected snails still moved to the bottom of rocks in response to the fish predator. Snails eaten by fish in the field tend to be smaller than snails in the overall available population. Thus, snails that are more vulnerable to predation respond more intensely to the odor of fish by moving to the bottom of rocks. This size-dependent response to fish appears to be independent of the occurrence of trematode infection.

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