Stable isotope ratios indicate that body condition in migrating passerines is influenced by winter habitat

From Pubwiki

[edit] Author(s)

• Bearhop, S.
• Hilton, G. M.
• Votier, S. C.
• Waldron, S.

[edit] Journal

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences 271 (2004): S215-S18.

[edit] Keywords

migration condition seasonal interaction stable isotope assimilation songbird birds

[edit] Abstract

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 (delta(13)C) 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 delta(13)C corresponded to selection of more mesic habitats, and migrating birds with low were delta(13)C in better condition than conspecifics with higher delta(13)C 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.

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