Body Mass in Common Loons (<i>Gavia immer</i>) Strongly Associated with Migration Distance

Gray, Carrie E.; Paruk, James D.; DeSorbo, Christopher R.; Savoy, Lucas; Yates, David E.; Chickering, Michael D.; Gray, Rick B.; Taylor, Kate M.; Long, Darwin; Schoch, Nina; Hanson, William E.; Cooley, John H.; Evers, David C.

doi:10.1675/063.037.sp109

Cited by 11 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Although inconsistent with prediction, these results confirm other empirical data (Watanabe 2016). Also contrary to prediction and earlier findings that migration distance 4) decreases with size (within species: Hein et al 2012, Gray et al 2014, Jones and Witt 2014, across species: Martell et al 2014, Watanabe 2016), we did not find a decline in migration distance, despite the largest species, Far Eastern curlew, covering a much shorter distance than most of the smaller species. Bar-tailed godwit appeared the noticeable outlier (Fig.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 79%

Body size shapes inter‐specific migratory behaviour: evidence from individual tracks of long‐distance migratory shorebirds

Zhao

Christie²,

Coleman

et al. 2018

Journal of Avian Biology

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Migration is a common phenomenon across many animal taxa. Understanding how migration scales with body size across species is fundamental in the development of migration theory and in making size-related predictions. Although aerodynamic theory and ecophysiological scaling laws have assisted greatly in generating such predictions, their verifications have been limited by a lack of empirical data across a range of body sizes. The recent development of ultra-light tracking devices and its rapid application to migration now allows us to put theory to the test. We used tracking data of seven closely related migratory sandpiper species (family Scolopacidae) along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway to compare their migratory behaviour when migrating towards the breeding grounds as a function of size (50-750 g). We found a marked decline in migration speed (migration distance divided by total migration duration, including time at stopover sites and in flight) with size. Departure date from the non-breeding (i.e. wintering) ground and arrival date at the breeding ground also scaled negatively with size. Total migration duration, migration distance, total staging duration (the number of days staying at stopover sites plus days preparing, i.e. fuelling, prior to initial migration) and step length (distance covered within one migratory leg) were not significantly related with size. Correction for phylogeny showed consistent results for all variables. Besides improving our fundamental understanding of inter-specific variation in migration behaviours, the finding of a clear scaling with size in migration speed and migration timing highlight differential size related capabilities and constraints of migrants. Migratory birds, including sandpipers, are declining on a global scale and particularly along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. This notion of size-dependency in migratory traits may have a bearing on their vulnerability to specific environmental disturbances along their flyways.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 79%

Body size shapes inter‐specific migratory behaviour: evidence from individual tracks of long‐distance migratory shorebirds

Zhao

Christie²,

Coleman

et al. 2018

Journal of Avian Biology

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“…Males were significantly larger than females (4350 ± 95.7 g vs. 3292 ± 80.0 g; p < 0.01) ( Table 1), which is consistent with findings by Gray et al (2014). Moreover, these loons, along with those captured in Manitoba, are the smallest loons in North America (Evers et al 2010;Gray et al 2014). Previous research has shown that common loons from this province are long-distance migrants (>1800 km) that winter in either the Pacific Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico (Paruk et al 2014a(Paruk et al , 2014b.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

“…A male on Mistohay Lake was captured during both years; therefore, a total of 10 uniquely color-banded loons (4 males and 6 females) were included in this study. Males were significantly larger than females (4350 ± 95.7 g vs. 3292 ± 80.0 g; p < 0.01) ( Table 1), which is consistent with findings by Gray et al (2014). Moreover, these loons, along with those captured in Manitoba, are the smallest loons in North America (Evers et al 2010;Gray et al 2014).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 79%

Initial indications of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in Saskatchewan common loons

Paruk¹,

Chickering

Mager

et al. 2018

FACETS

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Mercury (Hg) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are global pollutants known for their toxicity to wildlife. Because of their trophic position, common loons ( Gavia immer (Brünnich 1764)) are excellent indicators of environmental quality. In 2014 and 2015, tissue samples of ten adult common loons (plus one recapture) were obtained in Meadow Lake Provincial Park, Saskatchewan, and assessed for Hg and PAH exposure. Blood and feather levels of these contaminants are indicative of exposure during breeding and in wintering areas, respectively. Compared with an international Hg database, blood Hg levels were low (<1 μg/g). In most loons (90.5%, 10 out of 11), blood PAH concentrations were also low (<10 ng/g), but high (120 ng/g) for one individual (9.5% 1 out of 11). Feather PAH concentrations were high (95.9 ng/g and 250.6 ng/g) in two of the four loons (50%) caught in 2015. These data indicate that loons breeding in Meadow Lake Provincial Park were exposed to low levels of Hg; however, some individuals are being exposed to PAHs in both their breeding and wintering locations. The effect of these environmental pollutants on individual loon fitness is unclear, but because of their extreme toxicity in biological systems we suggest that future monitoring in the surrounding region is warranted.

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“…Prior to release, each individual was uniquely color banded, and a U.S. Geological Survey aluminum band was attached. Standard body measurements and weights were taken for each individual (Gray et al 2014). Common Loons were aged by plumage as either adult (any individual !20 mo of age) or immature (,20 mo of age) as described in Evers et al (2010).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Females may have migrated farther south than males because the latter may be selected to remain closer to their breeding lakes, ensuring that they return to their breeding lake before rival conspecifics. Males are also 25% heavier than females, and migration distance in Common Loons has been shown to be strongly correlated with body mass (Gray et al 2014), so the shorter flight distance may reduce energetic costs. More data on differences in winter site selection between pair members, and between intrasexual members on the same water bodies, are needed to better understand the ecological and evolutionary forces shaping these patterns.…”

Section: Movementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Winter site fidelity and winter movements in Common Loons (Gavia immer) across North America

et al. 2015

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Body Mass in Common Loons (Gavia immer) Strongly Associated with Migration Distance

Cited by 11 publications

References 60 publications

Body size shapes inter‐specific migratory behaviour: evidence from individual tracks of long‐distance migratory shorebirds

Body size shapes inter‐specific migratory behaviour: evidence from individual tracks of long‐distance migratory shorebirds

Initial indications of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in Saskatchewan common loons

Winter site fidelity and winter movements in Common Loons (Gavia immer) across North America

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