Dataset Information

Migration tracking reveals geographic variation in the vulnerability of a Nearctic-Neotropical migrant bird.

ABSTRACT: We compared the vulnerability of a Nearctic-Neotropical migrant (Swainson's Thrush, Catharus ustulatus) for three geographically-defined breeding populations in California by linking breeding and wintering regions, estimating migration distances, and quantifying relative forest loss. Using data from light-level geolocator and GPS tags, we found that breeding birds from the relatively robust coastal population in the San Francisco Bay area wintered predominantly in western Mexico (n?=?18), whereas the far rarer breeding birds from two inland populations that occur near one another in the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades mountain ranges migrated to farther wintering destinations, with birds from the Lassen region (n?=?5) predominantly going to Central America and birds from the Tahoe region (n?=?7) predominantly to South America. Landscape-level relative forest loss was greater in the breeding and wintering regions of the two Cascade-Sierra populations than those of coastal birds. Longer migration distances and greater exposure to recent forest loss suggest greater current vulnerability of Cascade-Sierra birds. Our results demonstrate that for some species, quantifying migration distances and destinations across relatively small distances among breeding populations (in this case, 140-250?km apart) can identify dramatically different vulnerabilities that need to be considered in conservation planning.

SUBMITTER: Humple DL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7099063 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Migration tracking reveals geographic variation in the vulnerability of a Nearctic-Neotropical migrant bird.

Humple Diana L DL Cormier Renée L RL Richardson T Will TW Burnett Ryan D RD Seavy Nathaniel E NE Dybala Kristen E KE Gardali Thomas T

Scientific reports 20200326 1

We compared the vulnerability of a Nearctic-Neotropical migrant (Swainson's Thrush, Catharus ustulatus) for three geographically-defined breeding populations in California by linking breeding and wintering regions, estimating migration distances, and quantifying relative forest loss. Using data from light-level geolocator and GPS tags, we found that breeding birds from the relatively robust coastal population in the San Francisco Bay area wintered predominantly in western Mexico (n = 18), wherea ...[more]

PMID: 32218483

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Project description:Geographic variation in the reproductive traits of animal-pollinated plants can be shaped by spatially variable selection imposed by differences in the local pollination environment. We investigated this process in Babiana ringens (Iridaceae), an enigmatic species from the Western Cape region of South Africa. B. ringens has evolved a specialized perch facilitating cross-pollination by sunbirds and displays striking geographic variation in perch size and floral traits. Here, we investigate whether this variation can be explained by geographic differences in the pollinator communities. We measured floral and inflorescence traits, and abiotic variables (N, P, C, and rainfall) and made observations of sunbirds in populations spanning the range of B. ringens. In each population, we recorded sunbird species identity and measured visitation rates, interfloral pollen transfer, and whether the seed set of flowers was pollen limited. To evaluate whether competition from co-occurring sunbird-pollinated species might reduce visitation, we quantified nectar rewards in B. ringens and of other co-flowering bird-pollinated species in local communities in which populations occurred. Variation in abiotic variables was not associated with geographical variation of traits in B. ringens. Malachite sunbirds were the dominant visitor (97% of visits) and populations with larger-sized traits exhibited higher visitation rates, more between-flower pollen transfer and set more seed. No sunbirds were observed in four populations, all with smaller-sized traits. Sunbird visitation to B. ringens was not associated with local sunbird activity in communities, but sunbird visitation was negatively associated with the amount of B. ringens sugar relative to the availability of alternative nectar sources. Our study provides evidence that B. ringens populations with larger floral traits are visited more frequently by sunbirds, and we propose that visitation rates to B. ringens may be influenced, in part, by competition with other sunbird-pollinated species.

Dataset Information

Migration tracking reveals geographic variation in the vulnerability of a Nearctic-Neotropical migrant bird.

Publications

Migration tracking reveals geographic variation in the vulnerability of a Nearctic-Neotropical migrant bird.

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