Summit metabolic rate exhibits phenotypic flexibility with migration, but not latitude in a neotropical migrant, Parkesia noveboracensis

Abstract

Physiology-life history interactions suggest that birds living with a fast 'pace-of-life' should have higher metabolic capacity to provision higher reproductive activity. Previous work supports this, but does not consider migration. We measured summit metabolism ( _ VO 2 summit ) in Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) while wintering in the Republic of Panama, migrating northwards through eastern North America, and while breeding in northeastern North America. _ VO 2 summit is similar between breeding and overwintering (non-migratory) and is significantly elevated in migration. These data suggest that migration is a driver of phenotypic flexibility in these birds and that migration, like winter survival, may be an important determinant of connections between life history and physiology.

Cross-training in birds: cold and exercise training produce similar changes in maximal metabolic output, muscle masses and myostatin expression in house sparrows,Passer domesticus

“…The occurrence of cross-training effects agrees with previous data documenting effects of feather clipping (and increasing flight costs) and migration on M sum (Swanson and Dean, 1999;Vézina et al, 2007;Petit and Vézina, 2014;Corder and Schaeffer, 2015). Phenotypic flexibility induced by cold and exercise training in the current study is consistent with that documented for migration and winter acclimatization (Swanson, 2010;Swanson et al, 2014a), suggesting clear ecological connections and potential fitness consequences for flexible phenotypes.…”

“…Conversely, elevated physiological adjustments producing a higher exercise capacity may also promote increased cold tolerance, which may be beneficial during migration, especially spring migration when birds moving to higher latitudes are likely to encounter cold temperatures. Consistent with this idea, birds typically show elevated M sum during the spring migratory period compared with non-migratory periods (Vézina et al, 2007;Swanson, 2010;Corder and Schaeffer, 2015) and phenotypic manipulations increasing flight costs also increased M sum in blackcapped chickadees (Petit and Vézina, 2014). Two hypotheses have been proposed to account for the phenomemon of elevated M sum during periods of increased flight costs such as migration (Swanson, 1995;Swanson and Dean, 1999): the cold acclimatization and flight hypotheses.…”

“…Because of the shared structures (skeletal muscles) and fuel and oxygen supply pathways for exercise and shivering in birds, similar adjustments could produce cross-training effects on organismal performance, and such effects could have fitness consequences. For example, spring migrant birds with elevated capacities for flight metabolism could improve thermogenic performance as a by-product, which could be beneficial for thermoregulation as they encounter cold temperatures during migration or upon arrival at the breeding grounds (Swanson and Dean, 1999;Vézina et al, 2007;Corder and Schaeffer, 2015).…”

Migration-induced variation of fatty acid transporters and cellular metabolic intensity in passerine birds

“…To sustain energy demand, major physiological, cellular, and biochemical adjustments associated with prolonged flight occur during migratory periods (Dawson et al 1983;Guglielmo 2010;McWilliams et al 2004;Swanson 2010). At the organismal level, basal (BMR) (Lindström 1997;Piersma et al 1995;Swanson and Dean 1999;Vézina et al 2006) and maximal (Corder and Schaeffer 2015;Piersma et al 1995;Swanson 1995;Swanson and Dean 1999) metabolic outputs are matched with migratory flights and typically increase during migration. In addition, maximal metabolic output during spring is typically higher than during fall migration (Swanson 1995;Swanson and Dean 1999;Vézina et al 2006), suggesting that birds show different physiological responses to the two migratory seasons (Seewagen et al 2013).…”

PPAR expression, muscle size, and metabolic rates across the Gray catbird's annual cycle are greatest in preparation for fall migration

“…The migratory stages appear to present the most significant energetic challenges of the avian annual cycle, as the demands of extended non-stop flights drive metabolic capacity to its highest levels (Corder and Schaeffer, 2015;Swanson, 1995Swanson, , 2010Swanson and Dean, 1999). Migration is an energetically demanding life history stage due to the high cost of the intense flights required to reach wintering or breeding grounds (Wikelski et al, 2003), and is associated with characteristic phenotypic remodeling (Bauchinger and Biebach, 2001;Dietz et al, 1999;Marsh, 1981).…”