Spatial structure in migration routes maintained despite regional convergence among eastern populations of Swainson’s Thrushes

Movement Ecology

Philip D. Taylor¹  Lucas Berrigan²  Barbara Frei³  Ana Morales⁴  André Desrochers⁵  Greg W. Mitchell⁶  Camille Bégin-Marchand⁷  Junior A. Tremblay⁸ 

[1] Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, B4P 2R6, Wolfville, NS, Canada;Birds Canada, P.O. Box 6227, 17 Waterfowl Lane, E4L 1G6, Sackville, NB, Canada;Birds Canada, P.O. Box 6227, 17 Waterfowl Lane, E4L 1G6, Sackville, NB, Canada;McGill Bird Observatory, The Migration Research Foundation, Inc., PO Box 10005, H9X 0A6, Ste Anne de Bellevue, QC, Canada;Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 351 boul. Saint-Joseph, K1A 0H3, Gatineau, QC, Canada;McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Ste., H9X 3V9, Anne de Bellevue, QC, Canada;Université Laval, 2325 Rue de l’Université, G1V 0A6, Québec, QC, Canada;Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1125 Colonel By Rd., K1A 0H3, Ottawa, ON, Canada;Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., K1S 5B6, Ottawa, ON, Canada;Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1550 d’Estimauville, G1J 0C3, Québec, QC, Canada;Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1550 d’Estimauville, G1J 0C3, Québec, QC, Canada;Université Laval, 2325 Rue de l’Université, G1V 0A6, Québec, QC, Canada;

关键词: Migration pace;    Migratory connectivity;    Motus;    Neotropical migrants;    Radio-telemetry;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40462-021-00263-9

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMigratory connectivity links the different populations across the full cycle and across the species range and may lead to differences in survival among populations. Studies on spatial and temporal migratory connectivity along migration routes are rare, especially for small migratory animals.MethodsWe used an automated radio-telemetry array to assess migratory connectivity en route and between early and later stages of the fall migration of the eastern populations of Swainson’s Thrush, and to assess the variation of migration pace between consecutive detection from the different receiving stations along the migratory journey. We tracked 241 individuals from across eastern Canada to determine if populations were mixing around the Gulf of Mexico. We also tested the influence of tagging longitude, latitude and age on migration pace.ResultsMigration routes varied and converged towards the northeast coast of the Gulf of Mexico, but in this region, populations maintained finer-scale spatial structure. Migration pace increased as birds progressed south, independent of age and tagging site.ConclusionsWe showed that for songbirds, migratory connectivity can be maintained at fine spatial scales despite the regional convergence of populations, highlighting the importance of detailed spatial tracking for identification of population specific migration routes. Overall, our study provides a portrait of migratory movements of eastern Swainson’s Thrush and a framework for understanding spatial structure in migration routes for other species.

【 授权许可】

CC BY