Small intra-tropical long-distance migratory birds track rainy seasons across hemispheres

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 292(2039)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

The main features of long-distance migration are derived from landbirds breeding in the Northern Hemisphere. Little is known about within tropics, presumably because tropical species typically move opportunistically and over shorter distances. However, such generalizations weakened by a lack solid data on spatial, temporal behavioural patterns intra-tropical migrations. To start filling research gap, we provide comprehensive for small-sized intra-African migrants, woodland kingfishers. We inferred stationary locations, timing, flight behaviour wind experienced en route multi-sensor loggers recording atmospheric pressure, light acceleration. After South Africa, all tagged individuals migrated 4000 km to Sudan, spending their non-breeding period 100 each other. Thereby, kingfishers tracked climatic niche, using two rainy seasons open across Equator. Migratory flights were strictly nocturnal, reaching 2890 m.a.s.l. Flights unusually short, but lengthened when crossing rainforests, adjustment similar barrier-crossing along well-described flyways. These results suggest that displays surprisingly other Pending confirmation species, migrations might be more extensive less flexible than assumed, underlining importance further guiding conservation efforts.

Language: Английский

---

The landscape of fear in cattle farms? How the presence of barn swallow influences the activity of pest flies

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 61(6), P. 1269 - 1278

Published: March 21, 2024

Abstract Insectivorous birds are key suppliers of crucial ecosystem services, especially important for pest control in agricultural systems, and globally decreasing at a fast rate. Among them, the declining barn swallow Hirundo rustica is particularly linked to cattle farms, where it impacted by changes livestock husbandry practices. The presence swallows sheds might contribute insect pests, but such an effect had never been explored. With this work, we evaluated potential exerted on economically relevant insects, filth flies. To assess whether inside influence activity rate flies (especially Musca domestica Stomoxys calcitrans ), assessed relative abundance over 16 weeks nine different farms Non valley (Trentino, North‐east Italy), either occupied or not nesting swallows. From April 2022 August 2022, collected weekly data placing eight white spot cards each counting deposition faecal regurgitation spots Simultaneously, regarding occurrence, brood size, number age chicks. We applied generalised linear mixed models flies, with card farm as nested random effects, account variability between farms. then through model selection cows, swallows, temperature week alternatively. Temperature were modelled also interaction Fly followed seasonal trend peak July, which was markedly lower present. Moreover, positive relationship lessened when abundant. Synthesis applications . Barn effective biological agents lowering fly Farmers actively involved conservation within their sheds, shared memorandum‐of‐intent. Harnessing services supplied farmland could bring outcomes people biodiversity.

Language: Английский

---

Avian migration clocks in a changing world

Journal of Comparative Physiology A, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 210(4), P. 691 - 716

Published: Feb. 2, 2024

Abstract Avian long-distance migration requires refined programming to orchestrate the birds’ movements on annual temporal and continental spatial scales. Programming is particularly important as typically anticipate future environmental conditions. Hence, has long been of particular interest in chronobiology. Captivity studies using a proxy, shift nocturnality during seasons (i.e., migratory restlessness), have revealed circannual circadian regulation, well an innate sense direction. Thanks rapid development tracking technology, detailed information from free-flying birds, including annual-cycle data actograms, now allows relating this mechanistic background behaviour wild. Likewise, genomic approaches begin unravel many physiological pathways that contribute migration. Despite these advances, it still unclear how programmes are integrated with specific conditions experienced journey. Such knowledge imminently environments undergo anthropogenic modification. Migratory birds group not dealing changes, yet some species show remarkable adjustments at behavioural genetic levels. Integrated research interdisciplinary collaborations needed understand range responses change, more broadly, functioning timing under natural

Language: Английский

---

Quantifying nocturnal bird migration using acoustics: opportunities and challenges

Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 5, 2025

Abstract Acoustic recordings have emerged as a promising tool to monitor nocturnal bird migration, it can uniquely provide species‐level detection of migratory movements under the darkness night sky. This study explores use acoustics quantify migration across Europe, region where research on topic remains relatively sparse. We examine three intensity measures derived from acoustic recordings, that is, flight call rates, passage rates and species diversity, in French Pyrenees 2021 2022. To assess effectiveness these measurements, we compare them with traffic estimated by dedicated radar at taxonomic levels: all birds, passerines thrushes. also test if weather conditions influence relationships whether combining data multiple simultaneous sites improve predictive performance. Nocturnal number passing birds independent abundance, outperformed predictions using diversity or rates. The accuracy increased detail: predicting thrush was far more accurate ( R 2 = 63%) than for 29%) general 27%). Prediction measurements several strongly reduced uncertainty quantification. did not find any evidence affected performance data. Accurate, automated monitoring flows is crucial many face steep population declines. offers valuable species‐specific insights, making powerful studies. advances integration methods into testing their benefits limitations provides recommendations guidelines enhance future studies

Language: Английский

---

Conservation‐focused mapping of avian migratory routes using a pan‐European automated telemetry network

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 24, 2025

Accelerated biodiversity loss has destabilized functional links within and between ecosystems. Species that cross different ecosystems during migration breeding nonbreeding sites are particularly sensitive to global change because they exposed various, often ecosystem-specific, threats. Because these threats have lethal nonlethal effects on populations, many migratory species declining, making this group especially vulnerable change. To mitigate their decline, research at a continental flyway scale is required adequately monitor changes in the demographic processes of populations all parts annual cycle. The Motus Wildlife Tracking System (Motus) could provide solution data gaps exist for small, species. an automated telemetry system animal tracking uses single very-high-frequency radio signal track tagged individuals. can information movements made by individuals small migrant species, thereby aiding understanding aspects affect parameters. Conservation-focused opportunities related include identification critical stopover support connect multiple insight into decisions birds environmental stressors, such as artificial light night. Examples studies from existing network demonstrate its utility high-conservation-value area blackpoll warbler (Setophaga striata) eastern United States. Geographical across Mediterranean region Europe need be filled continent-wide movements. individual-level variety small-bodied taxa, drive expand will improve ability direct conservation plans

Language: Английский

---

Sahara and other African deserts

Elsevier eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 115 - 134

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Extreme migratory connectivity and apparent mirroring of non-breeding grounds conditions in a severely declining breeding population of an Afro-Palearctic migratory bird

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Jan. 26, 2025

Understanding the distribution of breeding populations migratory animals in non-breeding period (migratory connectivity) is important for understanding their response to environmental change. High connectivity (low population dispersion) may lower resilience climate change and increase vulnerability habitat loss within range. Very high levels are reportedly rare, but this conclusion be limited by methodology. Using multiple tracking methods, we demonstrate extremely a strongly declining, peripheral long-distance migrant, Common Nightingale UK. Non-breeding dispersion than previously tracked other species likely can usually detected light-level geolocation, main method small bodied species. Extremely low mixing were also detected, so any impacts on grounds unlikely shared with more distant populations, corresponding observed patterns European According model using independent field data, population's had suitability others declined before able assess. These results support hypotheses that climatic habitat-related deterioration contributes declines high-connectivity migrants, including one studied here.

Language: Английский

---

Response to high ambient temperatures in short‐distance and trans‐Saharan migratory species

Journal of Avian Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 2025(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

In consideration of current global climate change, ecophysiological research on wild birds has increased its emphasis approaches related to thermal tolerance. Many studies have investigated how desert specialists are adapted physiologically the hot and xeric conditions they live in. Our aim was test whether migratory passerines from temperate areas also physiological adaptations cope with heat stress such may be habitat or migration distance. Using video recording flow‐through respirometry, we measured temperatures panting onset ( T PANT ) 113 individuals 14 different species, exposed increasing ambient temperature. study species differed in size, type (short‐distance migrants vs. trans‐Saharan migrants) preferences (woodland, farmland, reeds). We found that started at higher A than short‐distance similar but no difference between habitats. This finding suggests facing a crossing decrease risk dehydration while maintaining body temperature below critical range. According this, suggest there selection traits modulation respiratory water loss cross Sahara Desert during migration. Flexibility these will crucial importance warmer future.

Language: Английский

---

Expanding protected area coverage for migratory birds could improve long-term population trends

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: Feb. 20, 2025

Abstract Populations of many migratory taxa have been declining over recent decades. Although protected areas are a cornerstone for conservation, their role in protecting species can be incomplete due to the dynamic distributions these species. Here, we use pan-European citizen science bird occurrence dataset (EurobirdPortal) with Spatiotemporal Exploratory Modelling assess how weekly 30 passerine and near overlap Europe compare this range adjusted policy protection targets. Thirteen our were inadequately covered by some, or all, European part annual cycle under target based on 2020 Convention Biodiversity framework none adequately 2030 framework. Species associated farmland had lowest percentage distribution protected. The species’ within was positively correlated its long-term population trend, even after accounting confounding factors, suggesting positive influence trends. This emphasises contribution that an informed expansion area system could play future conservation land birds.

Language: Английский

---

European Breeding Bird Declines Associated With Narrower Climatic Niches

Journal of Biogeography, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 9, 2025

ABSTRACT Aim Anthropogenic climate change has increasingly been identified as a major threat to global biodiversity. However, the extent of this is likely be uneven across species, due differences in life histories or exposure environmental change. The range climatic conditions species experiences its extent, known realised niche, may an indicator resilience Species with large extents, occurring diverse conditions, are expected less affected by lower physiological constraints and tolerance wider climates. not case if local populations adapted specific conditions. In study, we investigate whether species' also niche breadth, linked their long‐term population trends. Location Europe. Taxon Birds. Methods We extract data breeding‐only resident ranges 159 European bird use ordination method produce representation niches. then relate breadth each area incorporate relationship, along diet, main habitat type, migratory status average body mass, relationship trend. Results small areas showed larger variation than ranges. For similar areas, those broader were declining narrow Main Conclusions These findings can help us understand threats associated allow for rapid assessment importance factors on trends, providing invaluable tool targeting conservation.

Language: Английский

---