Female Songbirds Can Initiate the Transition from a Migratory to a Reproductive Physiology during Spring Migration

Pavlı́k, Milan; Williams, Tony; Green, D. J.

doi:10.1086/714218

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 52 publications

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“…Unfortunately, the metabolic costs of sexual maturation are not well known, with available evidence showing a 12% increase in RMR min in females during pre-laying compared with non-breeding periods [ 42 ]. Whether the increased RMR min in females of our long-distance and short-distance migrants relates to a protogynic gonadal development requires further study (see also [ 43 ]).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short- and long-distance avian migrants differ in exercise endurance but not aerobic capacity

Hahn¹,

Emmenegger²,

Riello³

et al. 2022

BMC Zool

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Background Migratory birds differ markedly in their migration strategies, particularly those performing short- versus long-distance migrations. In preparation for migration, all birds undergo physiological and morphological modifications including enlargement of fat stores and pectoral muscles to fuel and power their flights, as well as cardiovascular and biochemical adjustments that improve lipid and oxygen delivery and uptake by flight muscles. While the magnitude of these changes varies in relation to migration strategy, the consequence of these variations on aerobic performance is unknown. We tested whether the aerobic performance of four Old-world flycatcher species (Muscicapidae) varied according to migration strategy by comparing minimum resting metabolic rates (RMRmin), exercise-induced maximum metabolic rates (MMR), and exercise endurance times of short-distance and long-distance migratory birds. Results As expected, RMRmin did not vary between short-distance and long-distance migrants but differed between the species within a migration strategy and between sexes. Unexpectedly, MMR did not vary with migration strategy, but MMR and blood haemoglobin content were positively related among the birds tested. Exercise endurance times differed substantially between migration strategies with long-distance migrants sustaining exercise for > 60% longer than short-distance migrants. Blood haemoglobin content had a significant positive effect on endurance among all birds examined. Conclusions The lack of difference in RMRmin and MMR between long- and short-distance migrants during this stage of migration suggests that the attributes favouring the greater aerobic endurance of long-distance migrants did not come at the expense of increased maintenance costs or require greater aerobic capacity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%