Seasonal rainfall at long-term migratory staging sites is associated with altered carry-over effects in a Palearctic-African migratory bird

dc.contributor.authorSorensen, Marjorie C
dc.contributor.authorFairhurst, Graham D
dc.contributor.authorJenni-Eiermann, Susanne
dc.contributor.authorNewton, Jason
dc.contributor.authorYohannes, Elizabeth
dc.contributor.authorSpottiswoode, Claire N
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T06:20:19Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T06:20:19Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.description.abstractAbstract Background An understanding of year-round habitat use is essential for determining how carry-over effects shape population dynamics in long-distance migratory songbirds. The recent discovery of long-term migratory staging sites in many species, prior to arrival at final wintering sites, adds complexity to efforts to decipher non-breeding habitat use and connections between sites. We investigated whether habitat conditions during migratory staging carry over to influence great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) body condition at final wintering sites in Zambia. We asked whether the presence/absence and strength of such carry-over effects were modified by contrasting rainfall conditions during 2 years. Results First, we found that individuals staging in a dry year had higher corticosterone (CORT f ) and stable nitrogen isotope values (suggesting higher aridity) than birds staging in a wet year, indicating that regional weather affected staging conditions. Second, we found that carry-over effects from staging habitat conditions (measured via carbon and nitrogen isotopes) to final winter site body condition (measured via scaled mass index and β-hydroxybutyrate) were only present in a dry year, suggesting that environmental factors have consequences for the strength of carry-over effects. Our results also suggest that wet conditions at final winter sites may buffer the effects of poor staging conditions, at least in the short term, since individuals that staged in a dry year had higher scaled mass indices in Zambia than individuals that staged in a wet year. Conclusions This study provides a first insight into the connections between long-term migratory staging sites and final wintering sites, and suggests that local environmental factors can modify the strength of carry-over effects for long-distance migratory birds.
dc.identifier.apacitationSorensen, M. C., Fairhurst, G. D., Jenni-Eiermann, S., Newton, J., Yohannes, E., & Spottiswoode, C. N. (2016). Seasonal rainfall at long-term migratory staging sites is associated with altered carry-over effects in a Palearctic-African migratory bird. <i>BMC Ecology</i>, 16(1), 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34251en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationSorensen, Marjorie C, Graham D Fairhurst, Susanne Jenni-Eiermann, Jason Newton, Elizabeth Yohannes, and Claire N Spottiswoode "Seasonal rainfall at long-term migratory staging sites is associated with altered carry-over effects in a Palearctic-African migratory bird." <i>BMC Ecology</i> 16, 1. (2016): 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34251en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationSorensen, M.C., Fairhurst, G.D., Jenni-Eiermann, S., Newton, J., Yohannes, E. & Spottiswoode, C.N. 2016. Seasonal rainfall at long-term migratory staging sites is associated with altered carry-over effects in a Palearctic-African migratory bird. <i>BMC Ecology.</i> 16(1):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34251en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1472-6785
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Sorensen, Marjorie C AU - Fairhurst, Graham D AU - Jenni-Eiermann, Susanne AU - Newton, Jason AU - Yohannes, Elizabeth AU - Spottiswoode, Claire N AB - Abstract Background An understanding of year-round habitat use is essential for determining how carry-over effects shape population dynamics in long-distance migratory songbirds. The recent discovery of long-term migratory staging sites in many species, prior to arrival at final wintering sites, adds complexity to efforts to decipher non-breeding habitat use and connections between sites. We investigated whether habitat conditions during migratory staging carry over to influence great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) body condition at final wintering sites in Zambia. We asked whether the presence/absence and strength of such carry-over effects were modified by contrasting rainfall conditions during 2 years. Results First, we found that individuals staging in a dry year had higher corticosterone (CORT f ) and stable nitrogen isotope values (suggesting higher aridity) than birds staging in a wet year, indicating that regional weather affected staging conditions. Second, we found that carry-over effects from staging habitat conditions (measured via carbon and nitrogen isotopes) to final winter site body condition (measured via scaled mass index and β-hydroxybutyrate) were only present in a dry year, suggesting that environmental factors have consequences for the strength of carry-over effects. Our results also suggest that wet conditions at final winter sites may buffer the effects of poor staging conditions, at least in the short term, since individuals that staged in a dry year had higher scaled mass indices in Zambia than individuals that staged in a wet year. Conclusions This study provides a first insight into the connections between long-term migratory staging sites and final wintering sites, and suggests that local environmental factors can modify the strength of carry-over effects for long-distance migratory birds. DA - 2016 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 1 J1 - BMC Ecology LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2016 SM - 1472-6785 T1 - Seasonal rainfall at long-term migratory staging sites is associated with altered carry-over effects in a Palearctic-African migratory bird TI - Seasonal rainfall at long-term migratory staging sites is associated with altered carry-over effects in a Palearctic-African migratory bird UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34251 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34251
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationSorensen MC, Fairhurst GD, Jenni-Eiermann S, Newton J, Yohannes E, Spottiswoode CN. Seasonal rainfall at long-term migratory staging sites is associated with altered carry-over effects in a Palearctic-African migratory bird. BMC Ecology. 2016;16(1):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34251.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciences
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.sourceBMC Ecology
dc.source.journalissue1
dc.source.journalvolume16
dc.source.pagination174 - 177
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12898-016-0096-6
dc.subject.otherEcology
dc.subject.otherLife Sciences
dc.subject.othergeneral
dc.subject.otherrain
dc.subject.otherhabitat preferences
dc.subject.otherhabitats
dc.subject.otherdry environmental conditions
dc.subject.othernitrogen
dc.subject.other3-hydroxybutyric acid
dc.subject.otherwintering grounds
dc.subject.otherAcrocephalus arundinaceus
dc.subject.othermigratory birds
dc.subject.otherpopulation dynamics
dc.subject.otherbody condition
dc.subject.othercarbon
dc.subject.otherisotopes
dc.subject.othercorticosterone
dc.subject.othermigratory behavior
dc.titleSeasonal rainfall at long-term migratory staging sites is associated with altered carry-over effects in a Palearctic-African migratory bird
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
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