Flyway‐scale GPS tracking reveals migratory routes and key stopover and non‐breeding locations of lesser yellowlegs
Abstract Many populations of long‐distance migrant shorebirds are declining rapidly. Since the 1970s, the lesser yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) has experienced a pronounced reduction in abundance of ~63%. The potential causes of the species' decline are complex and interrelated. Understanding the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2022-11-01
|
| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9495 |
| _version_ | 1811211844731273216 |
|---|---|
| author | Laura A. McDuffie Katherine S. Christie Audrey R. Taylor Erica Nol Christian Friis Christopher M. Harwood Jennie Rausch Benoit Laliberte Callie Gesmundo James R. Wright James A. Johnson |
| author_facet | Laura A. McDuffie Katherine S. Christie Audrey R. Taylor Erica Nol Christian Friis Christopher M. Harwood Jennie Rausch Benoit Laliberte Callie Gesmundo James R. Wright James A. Johnson |
| author_sort | Laura A. McDuffie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Many populations of long‐distance migrant shorebirds are declining rapidly. Since the 1970s, the lesser yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) has experienced a pronounced reduction in abundance of ~63%. The potential causes of the species' decline are complex and interrelated. Understanding the timing of migration, seasonal routes, and important stopover and non‐breeding locations used by this species will aid in directing conservation planning to address potential threats. During 2018–2022, we tracked 118 adult lesser yellowlegs using GPS satellite tags deployed on birds from five breeding and two migratory stopover locations spanning the boreal forest of North America from Alaska to Eastern Canada. Our objectives were to identify migratory routes, quantify migratory connectivity, and describe key stopover and non‐breeding locations. We also evaluated predictors of southbound migratory departure date and migration distance. Individuals tagged in Alaska and Central Canada followed similar southbound migratory routes, stopping to refuel in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America, whereas birds tagged in Eastern Canada completed multi‐day transoceanic flights covering distances of >4000 km across the Atlantic between North and South America. Upon reaching their non‐breeding locations, lesser yellowlegs populations overlapped, resulting in weak migratory connectivity. Sex and population origin were significantly associated with the timing of migratory departure from breeding locations, and body mass at the time of GPS‐tag deployment was the best predictor of southbound migratory distance. Our findings suggest that lesser yellowlegs travel long distances and traverse numerous political boundaries each year, and breeding location likely has the greatest influence on migratory routes and therefore the threats birds experience during migration. Further, the species' dependence on wetlands in agricultural landscapes during migration and the non‐breeding period may make them vulnerable to threats related to agricultural practices, such as pesticide exposure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T05:20:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-477a22d3f5ad44b3993baaa06dd23838 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T05:20:06Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-477a22d3f5ad44b3993baaa06dd238382022-12-22T03:46:30ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582022-11-011211n/an/a10.1002/ece3.9495Flyway‐scale GPS tracking reveals migratory routes and key stopover and non‐breeding locations of lesser yellowlegsLaura A. McDuffie0Katherine S. Christie1Audrey R. Taylor2Erica Nol3Christian Friis4Christopher M. Harwood5Jennie Rausch6Benoit Laliberte7Callie Gesmundo8James R. Wright9James A. Johnson10U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center Anchorage Alaska USAAlaska Department of Fish and Game, Threatened, Endangered and Diversity Program Anchorage Alaska USADepartment of Biological Sciences University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage Alaska USABiology Trent University Peterborough Ontario CanadaEnvironment and Climate Change Canada Canadian Wildlife Service Toronto Ontario CanadaU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge Fairbanks Alaska USAEnvironment and Climate Change Canada Canadian Wildlife Service Yellowknife Northwest Territories CanadaEnvironment and Climate Change Canada Wildlife Management and Regulatory Affairs Gatineau Quebec CanadaU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Program Anchorage Alaska USASchool of Environment and Natural Resources The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio USAU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Program Anchorage Alaska USAAbstract Many populations of long‐distance migrant shorebirds are declining rapidly. Since the 1970s, the lesser yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) has experienced a pronounced reduction in abundance of ~63%. The potential causes of the species' decline are complex and interrelated. Understanding the timing of migration, seasonal routes, and important stopover and non‐breeding locations used by this species will aid in directing conservation planning to address potential threats. During 2018–2022, we tracked 118 adult lesser yellowlegs using GPS satellite tags deployed on birds from five breeding and two migratory stopover locations spanning the boreal forest of North America from Alaska to Eastern Canada. Our objectives were to identify migratory routes, quantify migratory connectivity, and describe key stopover and non‐breeding locations. We also evaluated predictors of southbound migratory departure date and migration distance. Individuals tagged in Alaska and Central Canada followed similar southbound migratory routes, stopping to refuel in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America, whereas birds tagged in Eastern Canada completed multi‐day transoceanic flights covering distances of >4000 km across the Atlantic between North and South America. Upon reaching their non‐breeding locations, lesser yellowlegs populations overlapped, resulting in weak migratory connectivity. Sex and population origin were significantly associated with the timing of migratory departure from breeding locations, and body mass at the time of GPS‐tag deployment was the best predictor of southbound migratory distance. Our findings suggest that lesser yellowlegs travel long distances and traverse numerous political boundaries each year, and breeding location likely has the greatest influence on migratory routes and therefore the threats birds experience during migration. Further, the species' dependence on wetlands in agricultural landscapes during migration and the non‐breeding period may make them vulnerable to threats related to agricultural practices, such as pesticide exposure.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9495bird migrationlesser yellowlegsmigratory connectivitymigratory routestopoverTringa flavipes |
| spellingShingle | Laura A. McDuffie Katherine S. Christie Audrey R. Taylor Erica Nol Christian Friis Christopher M. Harwood Jennie Rausch Benoit Laliberte Callie Gesmundo James R. Wright James A. Johnson Flyway‐scale GPS tracking reveals migratory routes and key stopover and non‐breeding locations of lesser yellowlegs Ecology and Evolution bird migration lesser yellowlegs migratory connectivity migratory route stopover Tringa flavipes |
| title | Flyway‐scale GPS tracking reveals migratory routes and key stopover and non‐breeding locations of lesser yellowlegs |
| title_full | Flyway‐scale GPS tracking reveals migratory routes and key stopover and non‐breeding locations of lesser yellowlegs |
| title_fullStr | Flyway‐scale GPS tracking reveals migratory routes and key stopover and non‐breeding locations of lesser yellowlegs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Flyway‐scale GPS tracking reveals migratory routes and key stopover and non‐breeding locations of lesser yellowlegs |
| title_short | Flyway‐scale GPS tracking reveals migratory routes and key stopover and non‐breeding locations of lesser yellowlegs |
| title_sort | flyway scale gps tracking reveals migratory routes and key stopover and non breeding locations of lesser yellowlegs |
| topic | bird migration lesser yellowlegs migratory connectivity migratory route stopover Tringa flavipes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9495 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lauraamcduffie flywayscalegpstrackingrevealsmigratoryroutesandkeystopoverandnonbreedinglocationsoflesseryellowlegs AT katherineschristie flywayscalegpstrackingrevealsmigratoryroutesandkeystopoverandnonbreedinglocationsoflesseryellowlegs AT audreyrtaylor flywayscalegpstrackingrevealsmigratoryroutesandkeystopoverandnonbreedinglocationsoflesseryellowlegs AT ericanol flywayscalegpstrackingrevealsmigratoryroutesandkeystopoverandnonbreedinglocationsoflesseryellowlegs AT christianfriis flywayscalegpstrackingrevealsmigratoryroutesandkeystopoverandnonbreedinglocationsoflesseryellowlegs AT christophermharwood flywayscalegpstrackingrevealsmigratoryroutesandkeystopoverandnonbreedinglocationsoflesseryellowlegs AT jennierausch flywayscalegpstrackingrevealsmigratoryroutesandkeystopoverandnonbreedinglocationsoflesseryellowlegs AT benoitlaliberte flywayscalegpstrackingrevealsmigratoryroutesandkeystopoverandnonbreedinglocationsoflesseryellowlegs AT calliegesmundo flywayscalegpstrackingrevealsmigratoryroutesandkeystopoverandnonbreedinglocationsoflesseryellowlegs AT jamesrwright flywayscalegpstrackingrevealsmigratoryroutesandkeystopoverandnonbreedinglocationsoflesseryellowlegs AT jamesajohnson flywayscalegpstrackingrevealsmigratoryroutesandkeystopoverandnonbreedinglocationsoflesseryellowlegs |