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Combining direct and indirect tracking techniques to assess the impact of sub-Saharan conditions on cross-continental songbird migration

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Abstract

Understanding how events throughout the annual cycle interact to influence individual fitness and hence population dynamics is crucial to optimize conservation strategies for migratory birds. Despite major advancements in technology, direct tracking devices for passerine songbirds are still limited by the need for recapturing tagged individuals. Stable-isotope analysis of bird tissue has the opportunity to supply information on a larger number of individuals, although it is limited by the indirect knowledge of the geographical position of the birds. In this study, we provide a first attempt to combine annual spatio-temporal data achieved from direct tracking with information on local environmental conditions by using stable isotopes (δ 13C and δ 15N). We use this approach to investigate if environmental conditions at the wintering area in southern Africa influence timing of spring migration and carry-over to affect breeding performance in a long-distance migratory passerine bird, the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio). We found that individuals wintering in relatively moist conditions (depleted in δ 13C) and at lower latitudes (closer to the breeding grounds) departed later on spring migration than individuals in more xeric habitats. However, the effect of non-breeding area conditions and latitude were not found at subsequent migration stages and late departing individuals spent fewer days on migration towards the breeding grounds. Although conditions in the non-breeding range have previously been suggested to influence population fluctuations in Red-backed Shrikes, we found no evidence of a carry-over effect on breeding performance. This study highlights the potential of combining different approaches when investigating seasonal interactions in migratory animals.

Zusammenfassung

Kombination von direkten und indirekten Ortungsmethoden zur Bewertung des Einflusses der Bedingungen in der Subsahara auf den interkontinentalen Zug von Singvögeln Das Verständnis dafür, wie die diversen Ereignisse im Verlauf eines ganzen Jahres miteinander zusammenhängen und die individuelle Fitness und damit die gesamte Populationsdynamik beeinflussen, ist ausschlaggebend für die Optimierung von Strategien zum Schutz von Zugvögeln. Trotz erheblicher technischer Fortschritte besteht die Einschränkung, dass Geräte zur direkten Ortung davon abhängig sind, damit ausgestattete Vögel wiederfangen zu müssen. Die Analyse stabiler Isotope aus Vogelgeweben bietet die Möglichkeit, Informationen von einer großen Anzahl Individuen zu sammeln, ist aber dadurch eingeschränkt, dass sie keine direkten Informationen über die geographische Position der Vögel liefert. In dieser Untersuchung stellen wir einen ersten Versuch vor, räumlich-zeitliche Daten aus direkten Ortungen mit Informationen über lokale Umgebungsbedingungen, gewonnen aus Bestimmungen stabiler Isotopen (δ 13C and δ 15N), zu kombinieren. Dieser Ansatz wurde gewählt, um herauszufinden, ob die Umgebungsbedingungen an den Überwinterunsgplätzen im südlichen Afrika den Beginn des Frühjahrszugs beeinflussen und beim Langstreckenzieher, dem Neuntöter (Lanius collurio), eventuell noch auf den Bruterfolg durchwirken. Wir stellten fest, dass Vögel, die in einer relativ feuchten Umgebung (wenig δ 13C ) und in geringeren geographischen Breiten (näher an den Brutgebieten) überwintert hatten, den Frühjahrszug später begannen als Vögel aus trockeneren Gebieten. Eine Auswirkung von Umgebungsbedingungen außerhalb der Brutgebiete und/oder von der geographischen Breite auf spätere Stadien des Zugs konnte jedoch nicht festgestellt werden; später startende Individuen verbrachten weniger Tage auf dem Zug in die Brutgebiete. Obwohl schon früher vermutet wurde, dass sich beim Neuntöter die Bedingungen außerhalb der Brutgebiete eventuell auf Populationsfluktuationen auswirkten, konnten wir keinen Beweis für derartige „carry-over“-Effekte auf den Bruterfolg feststellen. Diese Studie unterstreicht das Potential, das bei der Untersuchung saisonaler Interaktionen bei Tieren mit Zugverhalten in der Kombination unterschiedlicher Ansätze liegt.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Per Ekberg Pedersen, Troels Leuenhagen Petersen, Peter Søgaard Jørgensen, and Daniel Palm Eskildsen for field assistance; Kristen Feige, April Vuletich and the staff at QFIR for lab assistance; Kasper Thorup for advice on data analyses; reviewers for valuable comments that helped improve this manuscript; the Frimodt-Heineke Foundation, the Bodil Pedersen Foundation, the Augustinus Foundation, the Oticon Foundation and Clément’s scholarship for financial support; L.P. and A.P.T acknowledge the Aage V Jensen Foundation as well as the Danish National Research Foundation for supporting the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate (Grant No. DNRF96). Capture and sampling methods carried out was approved by the Copenhagen Bird Ringing Center with permission from the Danish Nature Agency (J.nr. SN 302-009).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Lykke Pedersen & Anders P. Tøttrup

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, 50 Sifton Road, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Kevin C. Fraser

  3. Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Miller Hall, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada

    T. Kurt Kyser

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  2. Kevin C. Fraser
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  3. T. Kurt Kyser
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  4. Anders P. Tøttrup
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Correspondence to Lykke Pedersen.

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Communicated by F. Bairlein.

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Pedersen, L., Fraser, K.C., Kyser, T.K. et al. Combining direct and indirect tracking techniques to assess the impact of sub-Saharan conditions on cross-continental songbird migration. J Ornithol 157, 1037–1047 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-016-1360-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-016-1360-4

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