Age-Dependent Modulation of Songbird Summer Feather Molt by Temporal and Functional Constraints

Kiat, Yosef; Sapir, Nir

doi:10.1086/690031

Cited by 25 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 74 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Hence, there is a trade‐off between the time allocated to moult and to migration, as these processes do not usually overlap since each necessitates a significant time and energy expenditure in the annual cycle (Newton, ). To overcome the time constraints imposed by migration, long‐distance migrants may shorten the duration of their feather moult using one or more of four adaptations: ( i ) increased moult speed; ( ii ) overlap between moult and breeding or migration; ( iii ) decreased extent of plumage moult; and ( iv ) moult of part or all of the plumage during the over‐wintering period in the tropics rather than in the breeding areas (Ginn & Melville, ; Jenni & Winkler, ; Newton, ; Kiat & Sapir, ). We note that sometimes points iii and iv are related because if moult extent after breeding is reduced it must usually be completed later, in this case in the over‐wintering areas.…”

Section: The Effects Of Time Constraints On Feather Moult In the Breementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The moult strategy comprises the timing, extent and duration of plumage renewal within the annual cycle, as well as its degree of overlap with other major life‐history stages and the environment in which the moult process takes place. As such, it varies greatly among populations, species, functional groups and size classes (Hall & Tullberg, ; Kennerley & Pearson, ; Kiat & Sapir, ). The moult strategy is shaped by the time available for moult during the annual cycle, which is affected by the scheduling of reproduction and long‐distance migration during the year (Barta et al, ; Newton, ; Kiat & Sapir, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As such, it varies greatly among populations, species, functional groups and size classes (Hall & Tullberg, ; Kennerley & Pearson, ; Kiat & Sapir, ). The moult strategy is shaped by the time available for moult during the annual cycle, which is affected by the scheduling of reproduction and long‐distance migration during the year (Barta et al, ; Newton, ; Kiat & Sapir, ). For example, the timing of gonadal regression after breeding affects moult onset and may also affect its duration (Dawson, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, the evolution of moult strategies in general as well as specific attributes of the moult process have likely been shaped by the properties of these major processes (e.g. Kiat & Sapir, ). Herein we discuss the adaptations of migrant passerines of the Western‐Palearctic region to moulting under the high time constraints imposed by long‐distance migration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

The effects of long‐distance migration on the evolution of moult strategies in Western‐Palearctic passerines

2018

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although feathers are the unifying characteristic of all birds, our understanding of the causes, mechanisms, patterns and consequences of the feather moult process lags behind that of other major avian life‐history phenomena such as reproduction and long‐distance migration. Migration, which evolved in many species of the temperate and arctic zones, requires high energy expenditure to endure long‐distance journeys. About a third of Western‐Palearctic passerines perform long‐distance migrations of thousands of kilometres each year using various morphological, physiological, biomechanical, behavioural and life‐history adaptations. The need to include the largely non‐overlapping breeding, long‐distance migration and feather moult processes within the annual cycle imposes a substantial constraint on the time over which the moult process can take place. Here, we review four feather‐moult‐related adaptations which, likely due to time constraints, evolved among long‐distance Western‐Palearctic migrants: (i) increased moult speed; (ii) increased overlap between moult and breeding or migration; (iii) decreased extent of plumage moult; and (iv) moult of part or all of the plumage during the over‐wintering period in the tropics rather than in the breeding areas. We suggest that long‐distance migration shaped the evolution of moult strategies and increased the diversity of these strategies among migratory passerines. In contrast to this variation, all resident passerines in the Western Palearctic moult immediately after breeding by renewing the entire plumage of adults and in some species also juveniles, while in other species juvenile moult is partial. We identify important gaps in our current understanding of the moult process that should be addressed in the future. Notably, previous studies suggested that the ancestral moult strategy is a post‐breeding summer moult in the Western Palearctic breeding areas and that moult during the winter evolved due to the scheduling of long‐distance migration immediately after breeding. We offer an alternative hypothesis based on the notion of southern ancestry, proposing that the ancestral moult strategy was a complete moult during the ‘northern winter’ in the Afro‐tropical region in these species, for both adults and juveniles. An important aspect of the observed variation in moult strategies relates to their control mechanisms and we suggest that there is insufficient knowledge regarding the physiological mechanisms that are involved, and whether they are genetically fixed or shaped by environmental factors. Finally, research effort is needed on how global climate changes may influence avian annual routines by altering the scheduling of major processes such as long‐distance migration and feather moult.

show abstract

Section: The Effects Of Time Constraints On Feather Moult In the Breementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The effects of long‐distance migration on the evolution of moult strategies in Western‐Palearctic passerines

2018

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…). Time‐constraints may also force some individuals to retain lower quality flight feathers (Hall and Fransson , Kiat and Sapir ) in favor of re‐directing limited resources to other functions. Because molt can impact fitness measures, such as breeding success or survival (Holmgren and Hedenström ), birds time molt to coincide with favorable conditions to promote the growth of high‐quality feathers.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal and spatial patterns of flight and body feather molt of Bank, Barn, and Cliff swallows in North and South America

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Molt is energetically demanding and various molt strategies (i.e., molt series, duration, intensity, timing, and location) have evolved to reduce the negative fitness consequences of this process. As such, molt varies considerably among species. Identifying where and when specific feathers are molted is also crucial to inform species‐specific studies using stable isotope markers to assign individuals to geographical regions where they molt. Using museum specimens, we examined the molt of three species of migratory swallows in the Americas: Bank Swallows (Riparia riparia), Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica), and Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota). All three species have one primary and two secondary molt series. Bank and Cliff swallows had one rectrix molt series, and Barn Swallows molted the outer rectrix (R6) separately from the inner five rectrices (R1‐5). All three species have a relatively long flight feather molt duration (i.e., 140–183 days) and low molt intensity. Barn Swallows initiated flight feather molt in the fall, about 2 months later than Bank and Cliff swallows. Barn Swallows likely delay molt because of constraints associated with double brooding. For all three species, molt started with the primaries and inner secondaries and was closely followed by the rectrices and, finally, the outer secondaries. For those that began and then interrupted molt either in breeding areas or during fall migration, the first feathers molted were predominantly S8 and P1. All three species underwent body molt throughout the year, but most individuals molted their body plumage in wintering areas. We recommend that the most appropriate feathers for stable isotope research examining migratory connectivity and habitat use are either R2‐R4 or S2‐S4.

show abstract

Sexual selection, feather wear, and time constraints on the pre‐basic molt explain the acquisition of the pre‐alternate molt in European passerines

Cuervo

Morales

Soler

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Avian feathers need to be replaced periodically to fulfill their functions, with natural, social, and sexual selection presumably driving the evolution of molting strategies. In temperate birds, a common pattern is to molt feathers immediately after the breeding season, the pre‐basic molt. However, some species undergo another molt in winter‐spring, the pre‐alternate molt. Using a sample of 188 European passerine species, Bayesian phylogenetic mixed models, and correlated evolution analyses, we tested whether the occurrence of the pre‐alternate molt was positively associated with proxies for sexual selection (sexual selection hypothesis) and nonsexual social selection (social selection hypothesis), and with factors related to feather wear (feather wear hypothesis) and time constraints on the pre‐basic molt (time constraints hypothesis). We found that the pre‐alternate molt was more frequent in migratory and less gregarious species inhabiting open/xeric habitats and feeding on the wing, and marginally more frequent in species with strong sexual selection and those showing a winter territorial behavior. Moreover, an increase in migratory behavior and sexual selection intensity preceded the acquisition of the pre‐alternate molt. These results provide support for the feather wear hypothesis, partial support for the sexual selection and time constraints hypotheses, and no support for the social selection hypothesis.

show abstract

Age-Dependent Modulation of Songbird Summer Feather Molt by Temporal and Functional Constraints

Cited by 25 publications

References 74 publications

The effects of long‐distance migration on the evolution of moult strategies in Western‐Palearctic passerines

The effects of long‐distance migration on the evolution of moult strategies in Western‐Palearctic passerines

Temporal and spatial patterns of flight and body feather molt of Bank, Barn, and Cliff swallows in North and South America

Sexual selection, feather wear, and time constraints on the pre‐basic molt explain the acquisition of the pre‐alternate molt in European passerines

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About