Movement and migration ecology of Alaskan golden eagles
Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2020 Golden eagles Aquila chrysaetos are distributed across the Holarctic; however, in Alaska and other northern areas, many are long-distance migrants. Being soaring birds, golden eagles can use weather and features of the energy landscape to off...
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ftunivalaska:oai:scholarworks.alaska.edu:11122/11262 2023-05-15T18:48:45+02:00 Movement and migration ecology of Alaskan golden eagles Eisaguirre, Joseph Michael Breed, Greg Booms, Travis Doak, Pat Kielland, Knut McIntyre, Carol 2020-05 http://hdl.handle.net/11122/11262 en_US eng http://hdl.handle.net/11122/11262 Wildlife Biology and Conservation Program golden eagle migration ecology Alaska Dissertation phd 2020 ftunivalaska 2023-02-23T21:37:39Z Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2020 Golden eagles Aquila chrysaetos are distributed across the Holarctic; however, in Alaska and other northern areas, many are long-distance migrants. Being soaring birds, golden eagles can use weather and features of the energy landscape to offset the energetic costs of movement and migration. In this dissertation, I investigate how dynamic energy landscapes, in addition to other habitat and anthropogenic features, affect the movement and migration ecology of Alaskan golden eagles; in most cases I did such by developing and applying new, biologically-appropriate statistical methods. First, I identified a single, discrete navigation decision that each eagle made during migration and determined which weather variables are primary factors in driving that decision. I found that wind was the primary correlate to the decision, consistent with eagles likely avoiding poor migration conditions and choosing routes based on favorable wind conditions. Second, I investigated how different forms of flight subsidies, which were orographic uplift, thermal uplift, and wind support, drove behavioral budgets and migratory pacing of eagles. I found a consistent daily rhythm in eagle behavior and migratory pace, seemingly driven by daily development of thermal uplift, with extended periods of slower-paced movements, consistent with periods of opportunistic foraging. Third, I investigated the effects of anthropogenic linear features, such as roads and railroads, on eagle movement during migration. I found that eagles selected for roads during spring migration and were more likely to be near roads when making slower-paced movements, which would be most frequent during times when limited thermal uplift is available. Lastly, I compared how floaters (breeding-age, non-territorial individuals) and territorial eagles used space and selected for resources, specifically interested in how their movements and space use might overlap. I found that floater space use was much more ... Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis Alaska Aquila chrysaetos golden eagle University of Alaska: ScholarWorks@UA Fairbanks |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Alaska: ScholarWorks@UA |
op_collection_id |
ftunivalaska |
language |
English |
topic |
golden eagle migration ecology Alaska |
spellingShingle |
golden eagle migration ecology Alaska Eisaguirre, Joseph Michael Movement and migration ecology of Alaskan golden eagles |
topic_facet |
golden eagle migration ecology Alaska |
description |
Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2020 Golden eagles Aquila chrysaetos are distributed across the Holarctic; however, in Alaska and other northern areas, many are long-distance migrants. Being soaring birds, golden eagles can use weather and features of the energy landscape to offset the energetic costs of movement and migration. In this dissertation, I investigate how dynamic energy landscapes, in addition to other habitat and anthropogenic features, affect the movement and migration ecology of Alaskan golden eagles; in most cases I did such by developing and applying new, biologically-appropriate statistical methods. First, I identified a single, discrete navigation decision that each eagle made during migration and determined which weather variables are primary factors in driving that decision. I found that wind was the primary correlate to the decision, consistent with eagles likely avoiding poor migration conditions and choosing routes based on favorable wind conditions. Second, I investigated how different forms of flight subsidies, which were orographic uplift, thermal uplift, and wind support, drove behavioral budgets and migratory pacing of eagles. I found a consistent daily rhythm in eagle behavior and migratory pace, seemingly driven by daily development of thermal uplift, with extended periods of slower-paced movements, consistent with periods of opportunistic foraging. Third, I investigated the effects of anthropogenic linear features, such as roads and railroads, on eagle movement during migration. I found that eagles selected for roads during spring migration and were more likely to be near roads when making slower-paced movements, which would be most frequent during times when limited thermal uplift is available. Lastly, I compared how floaters (breeding-age, non-territorial individuals) and territorial eagles used space and selected for resources, specifically interested in how their movements and space use might overlap. I found that floater space use was much more ... |
author2 |
Breed, Greg Booms, Travis Doak, Pat Kielland, Knut McIntyre, Carol |
format |
Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis |
author |
Eisaguirre, Joseph Michael |
author_facet |
Eisaguirre, Joseph Michael |
author_sort |
Eisaguirre, Joseph Michael |
title |
Movement and migration ecology of Alaskan golden eagles |
title_short |
Movement and migration ecology of Alaskan golden eagles |
title_full |
Movement and migration ecology of Alaskan golden eagles |
title_fullStr |
Movement and migration ecology of Alaskan golden eagles |
title_full_unstemmed |
Movement and migration ecology of Alaskan golden eagles |
title_sort |
movement and migration ecology of alaskan golden eagles |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/11122/11262 |
geographic |
Fairbanks |
geographic_facet |
Fairbanks |
genre |
Alaska Aquila chrysaetos golden eagle |
genre_facet |
Alaska Aquila chrysaetos golden eagle |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/11122/11262 Wildlife Biology and Conservation Program |
_version_ |
1766242010767818752 |