Automated VHF Radiotelemetry Revealed Site-Specific Differences in Fall Migration Strategies of Semipalmated Sandpipers on Stopover in the Gulf of Maine

Holberton, Rebecca L.; Taylor, Philip D.; Tudor, Lindsay; O’Brien, Kathleen; Mittelhauser, Glen H.; Breit, Ana M.

doi:10.3389/fevo.2019.00327

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 35 publications

(62 reference statements)

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“…Almost all birds detected leaving the region crossed mainland Nova Scotia and departed over the ocean, not appearing on receivers on the coast of the United States. This confirms the migration path proposed by previous radar, observational studies and computer simulation (Williams et al, 1977;Richardson, 1979;Lank, 1983) and is consistent with the observations of Holberton et al (2019) for Semipalmated Sandpipers departing the northern Gulf of Maine. Thus it appears they have a consistent departure strategy.…”

Section: Conditions Affecting Departure Timingsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Further, birds radiotagged on Coats Island, NU, Canada and in James Bay, ON, Canada between 2014 and 2018 were detected for 7-27 days in the Bay of Fundy (n = 10, Friis, Smith, Neima, Paquet and Hamilton, unpublished data). Finally, our minimum length of stay estimates are closer to estimates from the Gulf of Maine, a nearby staging area for SESA where the estimated staging period was found to be 9-15 days (Holberton et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

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Length of stay and departure strategies of Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) during post-breeding migration in the upper Bay of Fundy, Canada

et al. 2022

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The Bay of Fundy, Canada is a critical staging area for Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) during post-breeding migration. Recent range-wide population declines and changes in diet and migratory timing in the Bay of Fundy prompted a re-examination of staging ecology, including length of stay (last estimated in 1981), which is used in calculating migratory population estimates. We used radio-telemetry and the Motus Wildlife Tracking System to estimate individual length of stay and departure conditions for 159 Semipalmated Sandpipers in 2013 and 2014. Using tracking data we compared two estimation methods, minimum length of stay and mark-recapture modelling. Using minimum length of stay, the mean length of stay was approximately 21 days, an increase from the previous estimate of 15 days. Mark-recapture models suggested a much longer staging period that is inconsistent with other data. Sandpipers captured early in the staging period stayed longer on average than those captured later. Departures from the staging area were correlated with north-westerly winds, moderate to high wind speeds and low but rising atmospheric pressures. We suggest that Semipalmated Sandpipers in the Bay of Fundy are not operating on a time-selected migration schedule and instead wait for favourable weather conditions to depart, which occur more often later in the migratory period. Population trends in the Bay of Fundy should be re-evaluated in light of the increased length of stay.

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Section: Conditions Affecting Departure Timingsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Length of stay and departure strategies of Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) during post-breeding migration in the upper Bay of Fundy, Canada

et al. 2022

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“…In addition to fuelling, it is widely believed that stopovers serve as periods during which migrants rest and/or recover from the preceding migratory endurance flight (e.g. Biebach, Friedrich & Heine, 1986; Latta & Brown, 1999; Dunn, 2000; Salewski & Schaub, 2007; Taylor et al ., 2011; Schofield et al ., 2018b; Holberton et al ., 2019; DeSimone et al ., 2020). That an organism needs to rest and recover physiologically after a period of endurance exercise seems a plausible explanation for stopping over.…”

Section: The Multiple Functions Of Stopovermentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the ecological and evolutionary function of stopover in migrating birds

2022

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Global movement patterns of migratory birds illustrate their fascinating physical and physiological abilities to cross continents and oceans. During their voyages, most birds land multiple times to make so-called 'stopovers'. Our current knowledge on the functions of stopover is mainly based on the proximate study of departure decisions. However, such studies are insufficient to gauge fully the ecological and evolutionary functions of stopover. If we study how a focal trait, e.g. changes in energy stores, affects the decision to depart from a stopover without considering the trait(s) that actually caused the bird to land, e.g. unfavourable environmental conditions for flight, we misinterpret the function of the stopover. It is thus important to realise and acknowledge that stopovers have many different functions, and that not every migrant has the same (set of) reasons to stop-over. Additionally, we may obtain contradictory results because the significance of different traits to a migrant is context dependent. For instance, late spring migrants may be more prone to risktaking and depart from a stopover with lower energy stores than early spring migrants. Thus, we neglect that departure decisions are subject to selection to minimise immediate (mortality risk) and/or delayed (low future reproductive output) fitness costs. To alleviate these issues, we first define stopover as an interruption of migratory endurance flight to minimise immediate and/or delayed fitness costs. Second, we review all probable functions of stopover, which include accumulating energy, various forms of physiological recovery and avoiding adverse environmental conditions for flight, and list potential other functions that are less well studied, such as minimising predation, recovery from physical exhaustion and spatiotemporal adjustments to migration. Third, derived from these aspects, we argue for a paradigm shift in stopover ecology research. This includes focusing on why an individual interrupts its migratory flight, which is more likely to identify the individualspecific function(s) of the stopover correctly than departure-decision studies. Moreover, we highlight that the selective forces acting on stopover decisions are context dependent and are expected to differ between, e.g. K−/r-selected species, the sexes and migration strategies. For example, all else being equal, r-selected species (low survival rate, high reproductive rate) should have a stronger urge to continue the migratory endurance flight or resume migration from a stopover because the potential increase in immediate fitness costs suffered from a flight is offset by the expected higher reproductive success in the subsequent breeding season. Finally, we propose to focus less on proximate mechanisms controlling landing and departure decisions, and more on ultimate mechanisms to identify the selective forces shaping stopover decisions. Our ideas are not limited to birds but can be applied to any migratory species. Our revised definition of stopover and the proposed paradigm shi...

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“…Our results are consistent with Sprague et al (2008), who found no movement of individuals between Chignecto Bay and the Minas Basin (although Cobequid Bay was not included in that study and the tracking conducted was much more limited). Further, Holberton et al (2019) found the Semipalmated Sandpipers tagged and tracked in eastern Maine, contiguous with the outer Bay of Fundy, also used a restricted set of local sites and did not transfer to more southern areas, which were used by a different population of birds. Studies of intra-annual regional fidelity in shorebirds during migration are limited, though a similar result was also noted in Red Knots (Calidris canutus roselaari) during spring migration on the Pacific coast (Buchanan et al 2012).…”

Section: Intra-and Interannual Regional Fidelitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Intra- and interannual regional fidelity of Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) during migratory stopover in the upper Bay of Fundy, Canada

Neima¹,

Hamilton²,

Gratto‐Trevor³

et al. 2020

ACE

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The Bay of Fundy, Canada is a critical migratory stopover for Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) during fall migration. Recent ecological changes combined with range-wide population declines indicate that a re-evaluation of habitat use and regional fidelity is required. The Bay of Fundy is divided into three regions, each of which contains multiple foraging and roost sites. In this study, we examined local movement and regional fidelity within and between years using radio-telemetry and field-readable markers. We deployed 194 radio-transmitters and 2295 field-readable flags on Semipalmated Sandpipers during migration in 2013-2014, and resighted these birds, along with additional birds flagged in 2012, between 2013 and 2016. Radio-tracked birds used on average 1.3 to 4.1 foraging and roost sites per day, with most making multiple daily movements, but only 2% made permanent moves between geographically distant regions within the bay during stopover. Additionally, 97% of birds returned to their original region in subsequent years. The use of multiple sites suggests Semipalmated Sandpipers are capable of adapting to dynamic conditions in the Bay of Fundy on a local scale, but the high regional fidelity suggests that their ability to adapt to changes occurring at a regional scale may be limited. Uncertainty about the capability of Semipalmated Sandpipers to flexibly move among different regions of the Bay of Fundy supports the need for conservation at both the site and regional level. Fidélité régionale intra-et interannuelle des Bécasseaux semipalmés (Calidris pusilla) aux haltes migratoires dans le fond de la baie de Fundy, Canada RÉSUMÉ. La baie de Fundy, au Canada, représente une halte essentielle pour les Bécasseaux semipalmés (Calidris pusilla) durant la migration automnale. Une réévaluation de l'utilisation de l'habitat et de la fidélité régionale est nécessaire en raison de changements écologiques récents couplés aux diminutions de population à grande échelle. La baie de Fundy se divise en trois régions, chacune comptant de nombreux sites d'alimentation et de repos. Nous avons examiné les déplacements locaux et la fidélité régionale des bécasseaux au cours d'une même année et entre les années, au moyen de la radiotélémétrie et de marqueurs lisibles à distance sur le terrain. Nous avons posé 194 émetteurs radio et 2 295 marqueurs sur des Bécasseaux semipalmés durant les migrations de 2013 et 2014, et avons réobservé ces oiseaux de 2013 à 2016, en plus d'autres oiseaux munis de marqueurs en 2012. Les oiseaux suivis par radio ont utilisé de 1,3 à 4,1 sites d'alimentation et de repos en moyenne par jour, la plupart se déplaçant plusieurs fois quotidiennement, tandis que 2 % seulement se sont déplacés de façon permanente entre des régions distantes dans la baie en cours de halte. De plus, 97 % des oiseaux sont retournés dans leur région d'origine dans les années subséquentes. Le fait que les Bécasseaux semipalmés utilisent de multiples sites donne à penser qu'ils sont capables de s'adapter aux conditions dy...

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Automated VHF Radiotelemetry Revealed Site-Specific Differences in Fall Migration Strategies of Semipalmated Sandpipers on Stopover in the Gulf of Maine

Abstract: to a greater understanding of stopover behavior and the degree of connectivity among stopover sites, which should be taken into account for conserving migratory bird habitat across broad spatial scales.

Cited by 7 publications

References 35 publications

Length of stay and departure strategies of Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) during post-breeding migration in the upper Bay of Fundy, Canada

Length of stay and departure strategies of Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) during post-breeding migration in the upper Bay of Fundy, Canada

Understanding the ecological and evolutionary function of stopover in migrating birds

Intra- and interannual regional fidelity of Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) during migratory stopover in the upper Bay of Fundy, Canada

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