Stable isotope ratios indicate that body condition in migrating passerines is influenced by winter habitat.
Proc Biol Sci
; 271 Suppl 4: S215-8, 2004 May 07.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-15252988
Although predicted some time ago, there has been little success in demonstrating that the overall fitness of migratory birds depends on the combined influences of their experiences over all seasons. We used stable carbon isotope signatures (delta13C) in the claws of migrating black-throated blue warblers Dendroica caerulescens to infer their wintering habitats and investigated whether winter habitat selection can be linked to condition during migration. Resident bird species with low delta13C corresponded to selection of more mesic habitats, and migrating birds with low delta13C were in better condition than conspecifics with higher delta13C signatures. These findings concur with empirical observations on the wintering grounds, where dominants (mostly males) tend to exclude subordinates from mesic areas (considered to be high-quality habitats). We believe that variation in condition during migration may be one of the key factors determining differences in arrival times and condition at the breeding areas, which in turn have a major influence on reproductive success.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Constituição Corporal
/
Aves Canoras
/
Migração Animal
/
Meio Ambiente
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
País/Região como assunto:
Bahamas
/
Caribe ingles
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Proc Biol Sci
Assunto da revista:
BIOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2004
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de publicação:
Reino Unido