Flight speeds and climb rates of Brent Geese: mass-dependent differences between spring and autumn migration
Aerodynamic theories of bird flight predict that horizontal flight speed will increase with increasing load whereas vertical Eight speed will decrease. Horizontal flight speed for birds minimizing overall time on migration is predicted to be higher than flight speed for birds minimizing energy expen...
Published in: | Journal of Avian Biology |
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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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Wiley-Blackwell
2000
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Online Access: | https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/145991 https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-048X.2000.310213.x https://portal.research.lu.se/files/2592180/625078.pdf |
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ftulundlup:oai:lup.lub.lu.se:10c6c46e-2d0a-4116-8d7a-04b8df1bce6d 2023-05-15T15:46:31+02:00 Flight speeds and climb rates of Brent Geese: mass-dependent differences between spring and autumn migration Green, Martin Alerstam, Thomas 2000 application/pdf https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/145991 https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-048X.2000.310213.x https://portal.research.lu.se/files/2592180/625078.pdf eng eng Wiley-Blackwell https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/145991 http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-048X.2000.310213.x https://portal.research.lu.se/files/2592180/625078.pdf scopus:0033869035 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Journal of Avian Biology; 31(2), pp 215-225 (2000) ISSN: 0908-8857 Biological Sciences Ecology contributiontojournal/article info:eu-repo/semantics/article text 2000 ftulundlup https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-048X.2000.310213.x 2023-02-01T23:28:24Z Aerodynamic theories of bird flight predict that horizontal flight speed will increase with increasing load whereas vertical Eight speed will decrease. Horizontal flight speed for birds minimizing overall time on migration is predicted to be higher than flight speed for birds minimizing energy expenditure. In this study we compare flight speeds of Brent Geese Branta b. bernicla recorded by tracking radar and optical range finder during spring and autumn migration in southernmost Sweden, testing the above-mentioned predictions. Geese passing Sweden in spring are substantially heavier than in autumn and there might also be a stronger element of time-selection in spring than in autumn. Recorded airspeeds were significantly higher in spring (mean 19.0 m s(-1)) than in autumn (mean 17.3 m s(-1)), the average difference bring slightly larger than predicted due to the mass difference alone. The effects on airspeed of wind, vertical speed, flock size and altitude were also analysed, but none of these factors could explain the seasonal difference in airspeed. Hence, the results support the hypothesis of mass-dependent flight speed adjustment. The difference between the two seasons was not large enough to corroborate the hypothesis of a stronger element of time-selection in spring, but this hypothesis cannot be rejected. Vertical flight speeds were lower in spring than in autumn, supporting a negative effect of load on birds' Right power margin. Article in Journal/Newspaper brent geese Lund University Publications (LUP) Journal of Avian Biology 31 2 215 225 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Lund University Publications (LUP) |
op_collection_id |
ftulundlup |
language |
English |
topic |
Biological Sciences Ecology |
spellingShingle |
Biological Sciences Ecology Green, Martin Alerstam, Thomas Flight speeds and climb rates of Brent Geese: mass-dependent differences between spring and autumn migration |
topic_facet |
Biological Sciences Ecology |
description |
Aerodynamic theories of bird flight predict that horizontal flight speed will increase with increasing load whereas vertical Eight speed will decrease. Horizontal flight speed for birds minimizing overall time on migration is predicted to be higher than flight speed for birds minimizing energy expenditure. In this study we compare flight speeds of Brent Geese Branta b. bernicla recorded by tracking radar and optical range finder during spring and autumn migration in southernmost Sweden, testing the above-mentioned predictions. Geese passing Sweden in spring are substantially heavier than in autumn and there might also be a stronger element of time-selection in spring than in autumn. Recorded airspeeds were significantly higher in spring (mean 19.0 m s(-1)) than in autumn (mean 17.3 m s(-1)), the average difference bring slightly larger than predicted due to the mass difference alone. The effects on airspeed of wind, vertical speed, flock size and altitude were also analysed, but none of these factors could explain the seasonal difference in airspeed. Hence, the results support the hypothesis of mass-dependent flight speed adjustment. The difference between the two seasons was not large enough to corroborate the hypothesis of a stronger element of time-selection in spring, but this hypothesis cannot be rejected. Vertical flight speeds were lower in spring than in autumn, supporting a negative effect of load on birds' Right power margin. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Green, Martin Alerstam, Thomas |
author_facet |
Green, Martin Alerstam, Thomas |
author_sort |
Green, Martin |
title |
Flight speeds and climb rates of Brent Geese: mass-dependent differences between spring and autumn migration |
title_short |
Flight speeds and climb rates of Brent Geese: mass-dependent differences between spring and autumn migration |
title_full |
Flight speeds and climb rates of Brent Geese: mass-dependent differences between spring and autumn migration |
title_fullStr |
Flight speeds and climb rates of Brent Geese: mass-dependent differences between spring and autumn migration |
title_full_unstemmed |
Flight speeds and climb rates of Brent Geese: mass-dependent differences between spring and autumn migration |
title_sort |
flight speeds and climb rates of brent geese: mass-dependent differences between spring and autumn migration |
publisher |
Wiley-Blackwell |
publishDate |
2000 |
url |
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/145991 https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-048X.2000.310213.x https://portal.research.lu.se/files/2592180/625078.pdf |
genre |
brent geese |
genre_facet |
brent geese |
op_source |
Journal of Avian Biology; 31(2), pp 215-225 (2000) ISSN: 0908-8857 |
op_relation |
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/145991 http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-048X.2000.310213.x https://portal.research.lu.se/files/2592180/625078.pdf scopus:0033869035 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-048X.2000.310213.x |
container_title |
Journal of Avian Biology |
container_volume |
31 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
215 |
op_container_end_page |
225 |
_version_ |
1766381200087187456 |