Seasonal expression of migratory behavior in a facultative migrant, the pine siskin

Watts, Heather E.; Robart, Ashley R.; Chopra, Jasmine K.; Asinas, Carmela E.; Hahn, Thomas P.; Ramenofsky, Marilyn

doi:10.1007/s00265-016-2248-2

Cited by 24 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…During the period when nocturnal activity significantly increased, we observed a significant decline in diurnal activity in the natural-day birds. Previous work on pine siskins has shown that a decline in diurnal activity, associated with an increase in migratory restlessness, is primarily driven by a reduction in afternoon activity [32]. Reduced afternoon activity may facilitate acquiring orientation information or allow for digestion before nocturnal departure [44] and has been observed in other birds with nocturnal migration [44,59].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We therefore calculated nocturnal activity by averaging the 10 min intervals between 23.00 and 03.00. We conservatively did not include activity after 03.00 as pine siskins display pre-dawn activity similar to other wintering birds, which is believed to be distinct from migratory restlessness [12,32,44]. …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Intervals during which the lights transitioned from on to off and vice versa were excluded, as well as intervals in which researchers were present in the room. Pine siskins exhibit a 3 to 4 h period of quiescence after lights off, with peak nocturnal activity occurring after 23.00 [ 32 ]. We therefore calculated nocturnal activity by averaging the 10 min intervals between 23.00 and 03.00.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Autumn movements are thought to be tightly linked to the availability of an important food source, conifer seeds [ 27 , 38 ], whereas spring migratory movements may be necessary to return individuals to suitable breeding areas, particularly in irruptive years [ 25 , 30 ]. Additionally, pine siskins are one of the species of nomadic migrants that show a spring migratory transition in captivity [ 32 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Increasing photoperiod stimulates the initiation of spring migratory behaviour and physiology in a facultative migrant, the pine siskin

2018

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The transition to a migratory state involves coordinated changes in physiology and behaviour. In species with regular, predictable (obligate) migrations, increasing day length triggers the expression of a spring migratory state and androgens play an important role in stimulating its development. By contrast, we know little about the environmental cues and endocrine mechanisms that regulate migration in species with less predictable (facultative) migrations. Here, we tested whether photoperiod stimulates a migratory state in a facultative nomadic migrant, the pine siskin (Spinus pinus). We exposed wintering birds to either a naturally increasing or short-day photoperiod and measured physiological and behavioural changes indicative of a migratory state. We also examined changes in circulating hormones that may play a role in the migratory transition. Natural-day, but not short-day, birds displayed physiological preparations for migration, including increases in fat deposition, and showed increased levels of migratory restlessness. We found no evidence for a role of corticosterone in the migratory transition, but testosterone may be important. This study is the first experimental test of the role of photoperiod in regulating facultative migration and demonstrates that the predictive cue used by many obligate migrants to time spring migration is also important in a facultative migrant.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Increasing photoperiod stimulates the initiation of spring migratory behaviour and physiology in a facultative migrant, the pine siskin

2018

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“…Migratory restlessness has been reported for many northern hemisphere-breeding migrants that breed in Europe, America and Asia. Species included mainly passerines and some other taxa, for example quail (e.g., Helms, 1963;King and Farner, 1963;Gwinner, 1996a,b;Budki et al, 2009;Bertin et al, 2007;Eikenaar et al, 2014;Watts et al, 2016). For tropical and southern hemisphere breeders, only a few Zugunruhe records exist, including intra-tropically migrating yellow-green vireos, Vireo flavoviridis; Styrsky et al, 2004) in the Americas, for stonechats in Africa (Saxicola torquata axillaris, Helm and Gwinner, 2006, which however are locally resident), and for Australian silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis; Chan, 1995).…”

Section: Migration Programs For Time and Spacementioning

confidence: 99%

Endogenous Programs and Flexibility in Bird Migration

Åkesson

Helm

2020

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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Endogenous programs that regulate annual cycles have been shown for many taxa, including protists, arthropods, fish, mammals and birds. In migration biology, these programs are best known in songbirds. The majority of songbirds rely on a genetic program inherited from their parents that will guide them during their first solo-migration. The phenotypic components of the program are crucial for their individual fitness and survival, and include time components, direction, and distance. This program is constructed to both guide behavior and to regulate flexible responses to the environment at different stages of the annual cycle. The migration program is driven by a circannual rhythm, allowing for, and resetting, carry-over effects. With experience, the migration decisions of individual migrants may be based on information learnt on breeding sites, wintering sites, and en route. At the population level, substantial variation in route choice and timing of migration may be explained by inherited variation of program components, by interactions with environmental and social factors, and by individual learning. In this review we will explore the components of endogenous migration programs and discuss in what ways they can lead to flexibility and variation in migration behavior.

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Migration

Ritchison

2023

In a Class of Their Own

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Seasonal expression of migratory behavior in a facultative migrant, the pine siskin

Cited by 24 publications

References 54 publications

Increasing photoperiod stimulates the initiation of spring migratory behaviour and physiology in a facultative migrant, the pine siskin

Increasing photoperiod stimulates the initiation of spring migratory behaviour and physiology in a facultative migrant, the pine siskin

Endogenous Programs and Flexibility in Bird Migration

Migration

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