Molt of Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

Taylor, Eric J.

doi:10.2307/4089022

Cited by 24 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…In waterfowl, molt of the primaries and secondaries coincides with molt of body feathers and must be completed before fall migration (Taylor 1995; but see Hohman and Richard 1994), which can begin as early as mid-August (Barry 1962, Boyd andMaltby 1980). In Arctic-nesting geese, clutches hatch during late June or early July (Owen 1980, Sedinger andRaveling 1986), leaving 6-8 weeks for completion of wing molt before fall migration commences (Barry 1962).…”

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confidence: 97%

“…In Arctic-nesting geese, clutches hatch during late June or early July (Owen 1980, Sedinger andRaveling 1986), leaving 6-8 weeks for completion of wing molt before fall migration commences (Barry 1962). The need to complete molt earlier in summer is potentially counterbalanced by the need for breeding females to restore some of the nutrients they depleted during nesting before initiating molt (Owen and Ogilvie 1979, Taylor 1993, Czapulak 2002. Arctic-nesting geese are at annual low levels of stored nutrients when their clutches hatch (Ankney and MacInnes 1978, Raveling 1979, Ankney 1984, Owen and Black 1989.…”

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confidence: 98%

“…Arctic-nesting geese are at annual low levels of stored nutrients when their clutches hatch (Ankney and MacInnes 1978, Raveling 1979, Ankney 1984, Owen and Black 1989. Female Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans; hereafter "brant") may lose up to 295 g during molt (Taylor 1993, Lewis et al 2011, which suggests that female brant may need to partially restore depleted nutrient reserves before initiating molt. Mass loss associated with negative nutrient balance during molt is, however, also consistent with the hypothesis that there may be an optimal level of mass loss to reduce wing loading (e.g., Lind 2001), thereby reducing predation risk and the length of the flightless period.…”

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confidence: 98%

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Timing of adult remigial wing molt in female Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans)

Singer

Sedinger

Nicolai

et al. 2012

The Auk

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Timing of molt is a critical life-history trait because molt is a nutritionally demanding process that must be completed before fall migration. We used data from 1992-2008 to assess hypotheses that initiation of the prebasic molt by Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) was ultimately controlled by (1) the need to complete the molt before fall migration and (2) advantages of restoring depleted nutrient reserves before growing feathers. Specifically, we expected molt to occur sooner after hatching in years when nesting was delayed (prediction 1), but we expected individuals to delay molt in relation to hatch date when nesting was earlier (prediction 2). Our rationale for prediction 1 was that the need to complete molt before fall migration is exacerbated when nesting is delayed. Prediction 2 is suggested by the advantage of restoring nutrients depleted during nesting before initiating molt. We tested predictions by assessing patterns of ninth-primary length in relation to number of days posthatch, modal hatch date, and relative hatch date within years. We calculated molt initiation dates using parameter estimates from the best-supported model, using lengths and growth rates of ninth primaries. We estimated that Black Brant initiated molt an average of 14.5-19.5 days posthatch, depending on year. For modal hatch dates before 22 June (summer solstice), date of mean initiation of molt was negatively correlated with modal hatch date (b = -0.56), whereas for modal hatch dates after 22 June, mean initiation of molt began an average of 16.1 days after hatch. In years when modal hatch date was before 22 June, Black Brant waited longer after their clutches hatched before beginning molt, which suggests an advantage of greater stored nutrient levels before initiating molt. By contrast, in late-nesting years, Black Brant began molt 16 days after they hatched their clutches, which suggests that (1) a minimum average period posthatch was required before molt commenced and (2) there was a cost of further delay in molt in late-nesting years. Declining photoperiod following the summer solstice is a reasonable candidate for the signal that Black Brant use to initiate molt in late-nesting years. Ritmo de Muda de las Remeras en Hembras Adultas de Branta bernicla nigricansResumen.-El ritmo de la muda es un rasgo crítico de la historia de vida porque la muda es un proceso nutricionalmente demandante que debe ser completado antes de la migración de otoño. Usamos datos desde 1992 a 2008 para evaluar las hipótesis de que la iniciación de la muda pre-básica de Branta bernicla nigricans está controlada de manera última por (1) la necesidad de completar la muda antes de la migración de otoño y (2) las ventajas de recuperar las reservas de nutrientes antes del crecimiento de las plumas. Específicamente, esperábamos que la muda ocurriera poco después de la eclosión en años en que la anidación fue retardada (predicción 1), pero esperábamos que los individuos retrasaran la muda en relación con la fecha de eclosión cuando la anidación sucedió t...

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Timing of adult remigial wing molt in female Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans)

Singer

Sedinger

Nicolai

et al. 2012

The Auk

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“…Molting Black Brant in the Teshekpuk Lake SA only remained flightless for about 3 weeks, and were able to fly before primaries were fully grown (Taylor 1996). Because birds in our study were marked after they had already lost their flight feathers, we were surprised that most of our marked sample remained apparently flightless for < 4 weeks.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

Fine Scale Movements and Habitat Use of Black Brant During the Flightless Wing Molt in Arctic Alaska

et al. 2011

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“…Considering that previous studies in the black brant found little variation in the speed of feather growth (Taylor 1995, Singer et al 2012, we expected that possible adjustments in moult phenology in response to environmental conditions should be primarily governed by change in the timing of moult initiation. We hypothesized that the timing of moult should be less fl exible than the timing of breeding due to the constraint of regaining fl ight capabilities before the onset of the fall migration.…”

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Plasticity in moult speed and timing in an arctic‐nesting goose species

Marmillot

Gauthier

Cadieux

et al. 2016

Journal of Avian Biology

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Environmental constraints are strong in migratory species that breed in the Arctic. In addition to breeding, Anatidae have to renew all their fl ight feathers during the short arctic summer. We examine how temporal constraints and climate aff ect the phenology of fl ight feather moult in the greater snow goose Chen caerulescens atlantica , a High Arctic nesting species. We used a database of 1412 moulting adult females measured over 15 yr on Bylot Island, Nunavut. Ninth (9th) primary length was used to determine the moult stage and speed of feather growth. We found a positive relationship between median annual hatching and moult initiation dates and the slope did not diff er from 1. Th e interval between hatching and moult initiation was thus rather fi xed and geese did not initiate moult earlier when reproductive phenology was delayed. Nonetheless, there was no relationship between median hatching date and the date at which birds regained fl ight capacity, suggesting that date of end of moult is independent of the reproductive phenology. Th ere was a trend for an increase in the speed of fl ight feather growth in years with delayed hatching date. Th is is the most likely mechanism that could explain moult phenology adjustment in this species. Finally, we found a positive relationship between 9th primary length (corrected for inter-annual variations) and body condition, suggesting a delay in moulting for individuals in poor condition. Th ese results suggest that moult plasticity is primarily governed by variations in feather growth speed. Th is phenotypic plasticity could be necessary to complete fl ight feather renewal before the end of the arctic summer, independently of reproductive phenology and spring environmental conditions. Our novel results suggest possible phenological adjustments through moult speed, which was considered constant in geese until now.

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Molt of Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

Cited by 24 publications

References 19 publications

Timing of adult remigial wing molt in female Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans)

Timing of adult remigial wing molt in female Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans)

Fine Scale Movements and Habitat Use of Black Brant During the Flightless Wing Molt in Arctic Alaska

Plasticity in moult speed and timing in an arctic‐nesting goose species

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