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Generational shift in spring staging site use by a long-distance migratory bird
Mo A Verhoeven1, A H Jelle Loonstra2, Jos C E W Hooijmeijer2
1Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands m.a.verhoeven@rug.nl.
Biology Letters
|February 16, 2018
Summary
Young black-tailed godwits rapidly shifted their migratory routes from Spain to Portugal, driven by developmental plasticity, not natural selection. This suggests new migratory behaviors can emerge within a single generation.
Area of Science:
- Ornithology
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Species are altering migratory behaviors in response to environmental changes.
- Distinguishing between inherited, plastic, or flexible behavioral changes is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the drivers of a rapid, population-level shift in migratory routes of continental black-tailed godwits (Limosa limosa limosa).
- To determine if the observed shift was due to developmental plasticity or natural selection.
Main Methods:
- Observing a population-level migratory route shift of over 300 km in continental black-tailed godwits.
- Analyzing adult godwit site fidelity to staging grounds.
- Comparing reproductive success and survival rates between individuals using different migratory routes.
Main Results:
- The migratory route shift predominantly involved young godwits utilizing Portugal instead of Spain.
- Adult godwits exhibited consistent use of traditional staging sites.
- No significant differences in reproductive success or survival were found between the two groups of individuals.
Conclusions:
- The migratory route shift in black-tailed godwits is attributed to developmental plasticity in young individuals.
- New migratory routes can emerge rapidly, within a single generation.
- Young birds may be key agents in the rapid evolution of migratory behaviors.
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