Short- and long-distance avian migrants differ in exercise endurance but not aerobic capacity
Abstract 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 musc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-06-01
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| Series: | BMC Zoology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40850-022-00134-9 |
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| author | Steffen Hahn Tamara Emmenegger Sara Riello Lorenzo Serra Fernando Spina William A. Buttemer Silke Bauer |
| author_facet | Steffen Hahn Tamara Emmenegger Sara Riello Lorenzo Serra Fernando Spina William A. Buttemer Silke Bauer |
| author_sort | Steffen Hahn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T16:21:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-43af2b2561ba463da9e9b69766e2ec66 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-3132 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T16:21:23Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Zoology |
| spelling | doaj.art-43af2b2561ba463da9e9b69766e2ec662022-12-22T00:58:50ZengBMCBMC Zoology2056-31322022-06-017111110.1186/s40850-022-00134-9Short- and long-distance avian migrants differ in exercise endurance but not aerobic capacitySteffen Hahn0Tamara Emmenegger1Sara Riello2Lorenzo Serra3Fernando Spina4William A. Buttemer5Silke Bauer6Department Bird Migration, Swiss Ornithological InstituteDepartment Bird Migration, Swiss Ornithological InstituteRiserva Naturale Statale “I sole di Ventotene e S.Stefano”Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA)Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA)School of Earth, Atmospheric, and Life Sciences, University of WollongongDepartment Bird Migration, Swiss Ornithological InstituteAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40850-022-00134-9Metabolic rateAerobic scopeMigration strategyPasserineHaemoglobin |
| spellingShingle | Steffen Hahn Tamara Emmenegger Sara Riello Lorenzo Serra Fernando Spina William A. Buttemer Silke Bauer Short- and long-distance avian migrants differ in exercise endurance but not aerobic capacity BMC Zoology Metabolic rate Aerobic scope Migration strategy Passerine Haemoglobin |
| title | Short- and long-distance avian migrants differ in exercise endurance but not aerobic capacity |
| title_full | Short- and long-distance avian migrants differ in exercise endurance but not aerobic capacity |
| title_fullStr | Short- and long-distance avian migrants differ in exercise endurance but not aerobic capacity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Short- and long-distance avian migrants differ in exercise endurance but not aerobic capacity |
| title_short | Short- and long-distance avian migrants differ in exercise endurance but not aerobic capacity |
| title_sort | short and long distance avian migrants differ in exercise endurance but not aerobic capacity |
| topic | Metabolic rate Aerobic scope Migration strategy Passerine Haemoglobin |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40850-022-00134-9 |
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