Whimbrel populations differ in trans-atlantic pathways and cyclone encounters
Abstract Each year hundreds of millions of birds cross the Atlantic Ocean during the peak of tropical cyclone activity. The extent and consequences of migrant-storm interactions remain unknown. We tracked whimbrels from two populations (Mackenzie Delta; Hudson Bay) to examine overlap between migrati...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:8ea2b2336a5f4213bc44a32f8444d293 2023-05-15T16:35:18+02:00 Whimbrel populations differ in trans-atlantic pathways and cyclone encounters Bryan D. Watts Fletcher M. Smith Chance Hines Laura Duval Diana J. Hamilton Tim Keyes Julie Paquet Lisa Pirie-Dominix Jennie Rausch Barry Truitt Brad Winn Paul Woodard 2021-06-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92429-z https://doaj.org/article/8ea2b2336a5f4213bc44a32f8444d293 EN eng Nature Portfolio https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92429-z https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-021-92429-z 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/8ea2b2336a5f4213bc44a32f8444d293 Scientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2021) Medicine R Science Q article 2021 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92429-z 2022-12-31T07:42:52Z Abstract Each year hundreds of millions of birds cross the Atlantic Ocean during the peak of tropical cyclone activity. The extent and consequences of migrant-storm interactions remain unknown. We tracked whimbrels from two populations (Mackenzie Delta; Hudson Bay) to examine overlap between migration routes and storm activity and both the frequency and consequence of storm encounters. Here we show that Mackenzie Delta and Hudson Bay whimbrels follow different routes across the ocean and experience dramatically different rates of storm encounters. Mackenzie Delta whimbrels departed North America from Atlantic Canada, made long ( $$\bar{x}$$ x ¯ = 5440 ± 120.3 km) nonstop flights far out to sea that took several days ( $$\bar{x}$$ x ¯ = 6.1 ± 0.18) to complete and encountered storms during 3 of 22 crossings. Hudson Bay whimbrels departed North America from the south Atlantic Coast, made shorter ( $$\bar{x}$$ x ¯ = 3643 ± 196.2 km) nonstop flights across the Caribbean Basin that took less time ( $$\bar{x}$$ x ¯ = 4.5 ± 0.29) to complete and encountered storms during 13 of 18 crossings. More than half of Hudson Bay storm encounters resulted in groundings on Caribbean islands. Grounded birds required longer ( $$\bar{x}$$ x ¯ = 30.4 ± 5.32 days) to complete trans-Atlantic crossings and three were lost including 2 to hunters and 1 to a predator. One of the Mackenzie Delta whimbrels was lost at sea while crossing the Intertropical Convergence Zone. Whimbrels use two contrasting strategies to cross the Atlantic including (1) a long nonstop flight around the core of storm activity with a low likelihood of encountering storms but no safety net and (2) a shorter flight through the heart of Hurricane Alley with a high likelihood of encountering storms and a safety network of islands to use in the event of an encounter. Demographic consequences of storm encounters will likely play a role in the ongoing evolution of trans-Atlantic migration pathways as global temperatures continue to rise. Article in Journal/Newspaper Hudson Bay Mackenzie Delta Whimbrel Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Hudson Bay Canada Hudson Mackenzie Delta ENVELOPE(-136.672,-136.672,68.833,68.833) Scientific Reports 11 1 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Medicine R Science Q |
spellingShingle |
Medicine R Science Q Bryan D. Watts Fletcher M. Smith Chance Hines Laura Duval Diana J. Hamilton Tim Keyes Julie Paquet Lisa Pirie-Dominix Jennie Rausch Barry Truitt Brad Winn Paul Woodard Whimbrel populations differ in trans-atlantic pathways and cyclone encounters |
topic_facet |
Medicine R Science Q |
description |
Abstract Each year hundreds of millions of birds cross the Atlantic Ocean during the peak of tropical cyclone activity. The extent and consequences of migrant-storm interactions remain unknown. We tracked whimbrels from two populations (Mackenzie Delta; Hudson Bay) to examine overlap between migration routes and storm activity and both the frequency and consequence of storm encounters. Here we show that Mackenzie Delta and Hudson Bay whimbrels follow different routes across the ocean and experience dramatically different rates of storm encounters. Mackenzie Delta whimbrels departed North America from Atlantic Canada, made long ( $$\bar{x}$$ x ¯ = 5440 ± 120.3 km) nonstop flights far out to sea that took several days ( $$\bar{x}$$ x ¯ = 6.1 ± 0.18) to complete and encountered storms during 3 of 22 crossings. Hudson Bay whimbrels departed North America from the south Atlantic Coast, made shorter ( $$\bar{x}$$ x ¯ = 3643 ± 196.2 km) nonstop flights across the Caribbean Basin that took less time ( $$\bar{x}$$ x ¯ = 4.5 ± 0.29) to complete and encountered storms during 13 of 18 crossings. More than half of Hudson Bay storm encounters resulted in groundings on Caribbean islands. Grounded birds required longer ( $$\bar{x}$$ x ¯ = 30.4 ± 5.32 days) to complete trans-Atlantic crossings and three were lost including 2 to hunters and 1 to a predator. One of the Mackenzie Delta whimbrels was lost at sea while crossing the Intertropical Convergence Zone. Whimbrels use two contrasting strategies to cross the Atlantic including (1) a long nonstop flight around the core of storm activity with a low likelihood of encountering storms but no safety net and (2) a shorter flight through the heart of Hurricane Alley with a high likelihood of encountering storms and a safety network of islands to use in the event of an encounter. Demographic consequences of storm encounters will likely play a role in the ongoing evolution of trans-Atlantic migration pathways as global temperatures continue to rise. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Bryan D. Watts Fletcher M. Smith Chance Hines Laura Duval Diana J. Hamilton Tim Keyes Julie Paquet Lisa Pirie-Dominix Jennie Rausch Barry Truitt Brad Winn Paul Woodard |
author_facet |
Bryan D. Watts Fletcher M. Smith Chance Hines Laura Duval Diana J. Hamilton Tim Keyes Julie Paquet Lisa Pirie-Dominix Jennie Rausch Barry Truitt Brad Winn Paul Woodard |
author_sort |
Bryan D. Watts |
title |
Whimbrel populations differ in trans-atlantic pathways and cyclone encounters |
title_short |
Whimbrel populations differ in trans-atlantic pathways and cyclone encounters |
title_full |
Whimbrel populations differ in trans-atlantic pathways and cyclone encounters |
title_fullStr |
Whimbrel populations differ in trans-atlantic pathways and cyclone encounters |
title_full_unstemmed |
Whimbrel populations differ in trans-atlantic pathways and cyclone encounters |
title_sort |
whimbrel populations differ in trans-atlantic pathways and cyclone encounters |
publisher |
Nature Portfolio |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92429-z https://doaj.org/article/8ea2b2336a5f4213bc44a32f8444d293 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-136.672,-136.672,68.833,68.833) |
geographic |
Hudson Bay Canada Hudson Mackenzie Delta |
geographic_facet |
Hudson Bay Canada Hudson Mackenzie Delta |
genre |
Hudson Bay Mackenzie Delta Whimbrel |
genre_facet |
Hudson Bay Mackenzie Delta Whimbrel |
op_source |
Scientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2021) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92429-z https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-021-92429-z 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/8ea2b2336a5f4213bc44a32f8444d293 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92429-z |
container_title |
Scientific Reports |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
1 |
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1766025517229670400 |