Changes in Behaviour and Proxies of Physiology Suggest Individual Variation in the Building of Migratory Phenotypes in Preparation for Long-Distance Flights
Long-distance migration in birds is a complex syndrome that involves high energy costs and, in some species, substantial physiological re-organisation. Such flexible migratory phenotypes are commonly associated with bird species flying non-stop across vast ecological barriers, where there are few op...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:daaa83c97951451e8e51e0372e64be70 2023-05-15T15:13:14+02:00 Changes in Behaviour and Proxies of Physiology Suggest Individual Variation in the Building of Migratory Phenotypes in Preparation for Long-Distance Flights Tess Handby Julia Slezacek Sara Lupi Kendrew Colhoun Xavier A. Harrison Stuart Bearhop 2022-02-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.749534 https://doaj.org/article/daaa83c97951451e8e51e0372e64be70 EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.749534/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-701X 2296-701X doi:10.3389/fevo.2022.749534 https://doaj.org/article/daaa83c97951451e8e51e0372e64be70 Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Vol 10 (2022) migratory birds spring staging phenotypic flexibility atrophy behaviour Evolution QH359-425 Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.749534 2022-12-31T15:08:26Z Long-distance migration in birds is a complex syndrome that involves high energy costs and, in some species, substantial physiological re-organisation. Such flexible migratory phenotypes are commonly associated with bird species flying non-stop across vast ecological barriers, where there are few opportunities to stop and refuel en route. Prior to making migratory flights, some species have been found to atrophy organs that are not required (e.g., digestive organs) and grow those associated with powering flight (pectora muscles and heart), presumably to optimise costs. However, most studies of this flexibility have required sacrificing study animals and this has limited our capacity to measure individual variation and its potential consequences. Here we investigate the behavioural and, indirectly, physiological adaptation of an arctic breeding long-distance migrant the light-bellied brent goose Branta bernicla hrota, during spring staging in southwest Iceland. We use a sequential sampling approach to record behavioural observations and conduct stable isotope analysis of faecal samples from uniquely marked individuals to assess protein catabolism. Individuals showed a three-phase fuel deposition process, with initial slow intake rates followed by hyperphagia and then a period of inactivity immediately prior to migratory departure (despite multiple days with favourable wind conditions). The C:N ratio and δ15N values in faeces were significantly linked to fat deposition during the latter stages and suggests catabolism (reorganisation of proteins) occurring prior to departure. Our results suggest a strategic delay in migratory departure to enable reorganisation into a flying phenotype and that the extent of this varies among individuals. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Branta bernicla Brent goose Iceland Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 10 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
migratory birds spring staging phenotypic flexibility atrophy behaviour Evolution QH359-425 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
migratory birds spring staging phenotypic flexibility atrophy behaviour Evolution QH359-425 Ecology QH540-549.5 Tess Handby Julia Slezacek Sara Lupi Kendrew Colhoun Xavier A. Harrison Stuart Bearhop Changes in Behaviour and Proxies of Physiology Suggest Individual Variation in the Building of Migratory Phenotypes in Preparation for Long-Distance Flights |
topic_facet |
migratory birds spring staging phenotypic flexibility atrophy behaviour Evolution QH359-425 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Long-distance migration in birds is a complex syndrome that involves high energy costs and, in some species, substantial physiological re-organisation. Such flexible migratory phenotypes are commonly associated with bird species flying non-stop across vast ecological barriers, where there are few opportunities to stop and refuel en route. Prior to making migratory flights, some species have been found to atrophy organs that are not required (e.g., digestive organs) and grow those associated with powering flight (pectora muscles and heart), presumably to optimise costs. However, most studies of this flexibility have required sacrificing study animals and this has limited our capacity to measure individual variation and its potential consequences. Here we investigate the behavioural and, indirectly, physiological adaptation of an arctic breeding long-distance migrant the light-bellied brent goose Branta bernicla hrota, during spring staging in southwest Iceland. We use a sequential sampling approach to record behavioural observations and conduct stable isotope analysis of faecal samples from uniquely marked individuals to assess protein catabolism. Individuals showed a three-phase fuel deposition process, with initial slow intake rates followed by hyperphagia and then a period of inactivity immediately prior to migratory departure (despite multiple days with favourable wind conditions). The C:N ratio and δ15N values in faeces were significantly linked to fat deposition during the latter stages and suggests catabolism (reorganisation of proteins) occurring prior to departure. Our results suggest a strategic delay in migratory departure to enable reorganisation into a flying phenotype and that the extent of this varies among individuals. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Tess Handby Julia Slezacek Sara Lupi Kendrew Colhoun Xavier A. Harrison Stuart Bearhop |
author_facet |
Tess Handby Julia Slezacek Sara Lupi Kendrew Colhoun Xavier A. Harrison Stuart Bearhop |
author_sort |
Tess Handby |
title |
Changes in Behaviour and Proxies of Physiology Suggest Individual Variation in the Building of Migratory Phenotypes in Preparation for Long-Distance Flights |
title_short |
Changes in Behaviour and Proxies of Physiology Suggest Individual Variation in the Building of Migratory Phenotypes in Preparation for Long-Distance Flights |
title_full |
Changes in Behaviour and Proxies of Physiology Suggest Individual Variation in the Building of Migratory Phenotypes in Preparation for Long-Distance Flights |
title_fullStr |
Changes in Behaviour and Proxies of Physiology Suggest Individual Variation in the Building of Migratory Phenotypes in Preparation for Long-Distance Flights |
title_full_unstemmed |
Changes in Behaviour and Proxies of Physiology Suggest Individual Variation in the Building of Migratory Phenotypes in Preparation for Long-Distance Flights |
title_sort |
changes in behaviour and proxies of physiology suggest individual variation in the building of migratory phenotypes in preparation for long-distance flights |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.749534 https://doaj.org/article/daaa83c97951451e8e51e0372e64be70 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Branta bernicla Brent goose Iceland |
genre_facet |
Arctic Branta bernicla Brent goose Iceland |
op_source |
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Vol 10 (2022) |
op_relation |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.749534/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-701X 2296-701X doi:10.3389/fevo.2022.749534 https://doaj.org/article/daaa83c97951451e8e51e0372e64be70 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.749534 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
container_volume |
10 |
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1766343814761414656 |