Adjustable wind selectivity in shearwaters implies knowledge of the foraging landscape

Area of Science:

• Animal behavior
• Ecology
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Highly mobile animals face complex decisions balancing energy expenditure with resource acquisition.
• Seabirds utilize wind for efficient long-distance travel but also target specific foraging areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how Manx shearwaters make foraging decisions by trading off flight efficiency with navigation to known targets.
• To understand the dynamic adjustments in wind selectivity based on different flight contexts.

Main Methods:

• Tracking over 600 foraging trips of breeding Manx shearwaters (Puffinus puffinus) using GPS accelerometers.
• Analyzing the relationship between wind conditions and flapping effort during flight.

Main Results:

• Manx shearwaters generally exhibit wind selectivity but adjust it based on flight goals.
• Reduced wind selectivity was observed during homing flights, low wind speeds, and longer flight durations, indicating a focus on target-driven navigation.
• Shearwaters appear to balance flight costs with the benefits of traveling to known foraging areas.

Conclusions:

• Animal foraging strategies dynamically optimize the trade-off between efficient travel and accessing known resources.
• Decision-making incorporates prior knowledge of the cost-benefit landscape, extending beyond immediate sensory detection.