Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Georg Rueppel, Ommo Huppop, Sander Lagerveld, Heiko Schmaljohann, Vera Brust
Summary: Migrating birds adjust their migratory decisions based on internal and external factors, such as energy stores and weather. In this study, all three decisions of departing, routing, and landing were recorded in free-flying migratory songbirds, and it was found that weather played a crucial role in these decisions. The avoidance of adverse weather conditions was identified as an important function of stopover.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yaara Aharon-Rotman, Gidon Perlman, Yosef Kiat, Tal Raz, Amir Balaban, Takuya Iwamura
Summary: This study found that male redstarts advanced arrival to a stopover site, while blackcaps and barred warblers did not significantly shift their arrival timing. Barred warblers with longer wings in the early arrival phase may represent different populations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Ornithology
Vera Brust, Heiko Schmaljohann, Ommo Hueppop
Summary: Songbirds spend more time at stopover sites during migration to rest and recover. Different subpecies of the northern wheatear choose different migration routes and optimize their stopover selection based on their species-specific migration patterns.
JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Aakansha Sharma, Devraj Singh, Priya Gupta, Sanjay Kumar Bhardwaj, Inderjeet Kaur, Vinod Kumar
Summary: Day length plays a crucial role in regulating the development of migratory and reproductive phenotypes in avian migrants. This study used molecular approaches to show that photostimulation under long-day conditions led to enhanced expression of genes related to fatty acid synthesis and transport, promoting migratory preparedness in birds. Additionally, changes in molecular correlates of fatty acid transport and metabolism may influence the decision for migratory departure from wintering areas in songbird migrants.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Jessica E. Deakin, Christopher G. Guglielmo, Yolanda E. Morbey
Summary: This study aimed to explore how the social environment influences the spring migration traits of male yellow-rumped warblers. The results showed that sex ratio did not affect body mass or molt progression, but males in the male-biased treatment exhibited significantly less locomotor movement. These findings suggest that the social environment can impact the behavior of songbirds, but do not support the hypothesis that a male-biased sex ratio accelerates migration.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Reyd A. Smith, Maryse Gagne, Kevin C. Fraser
Summary: Artificial light at night is increasing globally and can cause shifts in animal phenology, especially impacting birds. Research shows that birds experiencing more nights with artificial light may exhibit earlier spring migration, potentially affecting survival and reproductive success.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biology
Ben J. Vernasco, Heather E. Watts
Summary: This study examines the relationship between telomere length and spring migratory behavior in captive pine siskins and supports the selective adoption hypothesis. The results indicate that telomere length is related to migratory behavior, with longer telomeres associated with later migration.
Article
Ecology
Vera Brust, Cas Eikenaar, Florian Packmor, Heiko Schmaljohann, Ommo Hueppop, Gabor A. Czirjak
Summary: The immune status of migratory songbirds may be linked to their stopover and departure behavior, showing a correlation across different seasons and bird species.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Bart Kranstauber, Silke Bauer, Judy Shamoun-Baranes
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between the timing of nocturnal bird migration and geographic features, using weather radars. The study reveals that migration is more evenly spread in spring and has an early peak at night in fall. Moreover, migration is more pronounced early in the night near or just upstream of major geographic barriers. These findings provide important information for adjusting wind park curtailment, lights-out initiatives, or other conflicts between migratory birds and human activities.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Fan Jiang, Sisi Meng, Nafisa Halim, Pallab Mozumder
Summary: This paper contributes to the literature on hurricane evacuation timing decisions by investigating the factors that influence household time preference. The study found that prior evacuation experience, evacuation orders, and risk perceptions were the most important determinants of evacuation, while prior evacuation experiences, days spent at the evacuation destination, and the cost of evacuation were the most important determinants of early evacuation. These results have implications for future hurricane evacuation planning and improving emergency management practices.
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH RECORD
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Nathan W. Cooper, Bryant C. Dossman, Lucas E. Berrigan, J. Morgan Brown, Dominic A. Cormier, Camille Begin-Marchand, Amanda D. Rodewald, Philip D. Taylor, Junior A. Tremblay, Peter P. Marra
Summary: By analyzing automated radio telemetry data from four species of songbirds collected at five breeding and wintering sites in North America, along with hourly weather data from a global weather model, it was found that changes in atmospheric pressure were related to the probability of departure from breeding and wintering sites for all species. In contrast, wind profit, precipitation, and cloud cover were only informative predictors of departure probability for one species.
Article
Biology
Francoise Amelineau, Nicolas Delbart, Philipp Schwemmer, Riho Marja, Jerome Fort, Stefan Garthe, Jaanus Elts, Philippe Delaporte, Pierre Rousseau, Francoise Duraffour, Pierrick Bocher
Summary: Long-distance migrants may synchronize their circannual clock according to the phenology of their environment during the breeding season, adjusting their migration timing based on conditions encountered at their breeding site the year before. Spring departure date is influenced by green-up date of the previous year, while arrival date at the breeding site is determined mainly by the latitude and longitude of the site.
Article
Biology
Thiemo Karwinkel, Michael Winklhofer, Lars Erik Janner, Vera Brust, Ommo Hueppop, Franz Bairlein, Heiko Schmaljohann
Summary: Based on current evidence, migratory animals are believed to use map information from the geomagnetic field for navigation. However, the sensory basis for this ability is still unclear. The effectiveness of a commonly used experimental manipulation procedure involving magnetic pulses is inconsistent, indicating uncertain utilization of the geomagnetic map by birds or the possible limited impact of magnetic pulses on the sensory system underlying geomagnetic map detection.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Cas Eikenaar, Alessia Ostolani, Vera Brust, Thiemo Karwinkel, Heiko Schmaljohann, Caroline Isaksson
Summary: Birds have high metabolic rates during migratory flight, which can lead to physiological exhaustion. Oxidative damage is a feature of exhaustion, caused by an overwhelmed antioxidant defense system. Stopovers have been suggested to restore the oxidative balance during migration. However, this study found no evidence that oxidative balance affects stopover departure decisions.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Sara Lupi, Yolanda E. Morbey, Scott A. MacDougall-Shackleton, Hiroyuki Kaiya, Leonida Fusani, Christopher G. Guglielmo
Summary: This study reveals the important role of ghrelin in the behavioral decisions of migratory birds during migration. It also provides insights into the regulatory functions of metabolic hormones in the dialogue between the gut and brain in birds.
HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Narelle K. Hill, Bradley K. Woodworth, Stuart R. Phinn, Nicholas J. Murray, Richard A. Fuller
Summary: Tidal flats are globally important coastal ecosystems for biodiversity and ecosystem services, but are facing rapid losses due to human impacts. Protection of tidal flats in protected areas has made progress globally, but significant shortfalls exist, particularly in Asia. High human pressure on tidal flats highlights the need for deeper understanding of driving factors and effective policies for holistic coastal and catchment management strategies.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Bradley K. Woodworth, Richard A. Fuller, Graham Hemson, Andrew McDougall, Bradley C. Congdon, Matthew Low
Summary: The study reveals declining trends in seabird populations on the Great Barrier Reef, with different species and sites showing varying changes, some increasing while others decreasing. The stability of certain species at key sites plays a crucial role in the overall trends, highlighting the importance of long-term conservation efforts at these locations.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jonas Wobker, Wieland Heim, Heiko Schmaljohann
Summary: The study focused on the spring and autumn phenologies of 36 migrant songbirds in the Russian Far East, finding that sex- and age-specific differences in migration are common, with molt strategy also playing a role in migration timing. Sex-differential migration is more pronounced in spring, while age-differences are more common in autumn, with adults molting before migration showing delayed phenology compared to first-year birds. These patterns align with those found in other migration flyways, suggesting similar driving forces for differential migration across different systems.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Heiko Schmaljohann, Cas Eikenaar, Nir Sapir
Summary: The global movement patterns of migratory birds demonstrate their remarkable abilities to cross continents and oceans. Stopovers, where birds land multiple times during their journeys, serve various functions and should be considered in a comprehensive manner. The decision to stopover or continue migration is influenced by selective forces that vary depending on species, sex, and migration strategy.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Joseph B. Burant, Eric W. Heisey, Nathaniel T. Wheelwright, Amy E. M. Newman, Shannon Whelan, Daniel J. Mennill, Stephanie M. Doucet, Greg W. Mitchell, Bradley K. Woodworth, D. Ryan Norris
Summary: Phenotypic plasticity allows organisms to adjust breeding timing in response to environmental conditions, with pre-breeding temperature and age significantly affecting lay date, rather than breeding population density. Natal precipitation interacts with age to influence lay date plasticity.
Article
Ecology
Nathalie Kuerten, Heiko Schmaljohann, Coraline Bichet, Birgen Haest, Oscar Vedder, Jacob Gonzalez-Solis, Sandra Bouwhuis
Summary: Understanding the patterns, sources, and consequences of migratory behavior is crucial for the conservation of migratory species. This study tracked 138 migratory journeys of 64 common terns and found significant between-individual variation in their annual spatiotemporal distribution, as well as strong individual repeatability in certain aspects of their migratory behavior.
Article
Ornithology
Abby L. J. Hensel, Sarah L. Dobney, Ines G. Moran, Ian P. Thomas, Joseph B. Burant, Bradley K. Woodworth, Stephanie M. Doucet, Amy E. M. Newman, D. Ryan Norris, Heather Williams, Daniel J. Mennill
Summary: Passive acoustic monitoring provides an alternative method for studying population size and demographic parameters of breeding birds. In this study, we used autonomous recorders to estimate the population size and demographic features of Savannah Sparrows. Our results showed that passive acoustic monitoring underestimated the true population size and demographic rates, but it provided reliable estimates of population size and longevity in wild birds.
ORNITHOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Cas Eikenaar, Erica Winslott, Heiko Schmaljohann, Hong-Lei Wang, Caroline Isaksson
Summary: During migratory endurance flights, migrating birds upregulate their antioxidant defence system to limit oxidative damage. They also limit oxidative lipid damage by using relatively fewer polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) as fuel. Nocturnal migrants, which fly longer distances, have lower PUFA levels and therefore lower susceptibility to lipid peroxidation.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Vera Brust, Cas Eikenaar, Florian Packmor, Heiko Schmaljohann, Ommo Hueppop, Gabor A. Czirjak
Summary: The immune status of migratory songbirds may be linked to their stopover and departure behavior, showing a correlation across different seasons and bird species.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Thiemo Karwinkel, Michael Winklhofer, Lars Erik Janner, Vera Brust, Ommo Hueppop, Franz Bairlein, Heiko Schmaljohann
Summary: Based on current evidence, migratory animals are believed to use map information from the geomagnetic field for navigation. However, the sensory basis for this ability is still unclear. The effectiveness of a commonly used experimental manipulation procedure involving magnetic pulses is inconsistent, indicating uncertain utilization of the geomagnetic map by birds or the possible limited impact of magnetic pulses on the sensory system underlying geomagnetic map detection.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Sam Nicol, Marie-Josee Cros, Nathalie Peyrard, Regis Sabbadin, Ronan Trepos, Richard A. Fuller, Bradley K. Woodworth
Summary: This article introduces the concept of FlywayNet, a discrete network model based on observed count data, to determine the structure of migratory networks in birds. By modeling noisy observations and flexible stopover durations using interacting hidden semi-Markov models, this approach advances previous studies and provides a flexible framework for studying migratory networks in birds and other organisms.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Vera Brust, Heiko Schmaljohann, Ommo Hueppop
Summary: Songbirds spend more time at stopover sites during migration to rest and recover. Different subpecies of the northern wheatear choose different migration routes and optimize their stopover selection based on their species-specific migration patterns.
JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Georg Rueppel, Ommo Huppop, Sander Lagerveld, Heiko Schmaljohann, Vera Brust
Summary: Migrating birds adjust their migratory decisions based on internal and external factors, such as energy stores and weather. In this study, all three decisions of departing, routing, and landing were recorded in free-flying migratory songbirds, and it was found that weather played a crucial role in these decisions. The avoidance of adverse weather conditions was identified as an important function of stopover.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Georg Rueppel, Ommo Hueppop, Heiko Schmaljohann, Vera Brust
Summary: Birds migrating different distances exhibit different behavioral decisions to similar environmental cues during spring migration compared to autumn migration. Selection may favor more similar behavioral decisions in spring, as early arrivals at the breeding grounds are ultimately favored regardless of migration distance.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thiemo Karwinkel, Michael Winklhofer, Paula Christoph, Dario Allenstein, Ommo Hueppop, Vera Brust, Franz Bairlein, Heiko Schmaljohann
Summary: This study examined the effects of a magnetic pulse on experienced and naive long-distance migrant songbirds. Contrary to expectations, the results showed no significant after-effect of the magnetic pulse on migratory traits, suggesting that the geomagnetic map is not essential for the intermediate autumn migration phase.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE
(2022)