Environmental factors influencing red knot (Calidris canutus islandica) departure times of relocation flights within the non‐breeding period

Abstract Deciding when to depart on long‐distance, sometimes global, movements can be especially important for flying species. Adverse weather conditions can affect energetic flight costs and navigational ability. While departure timings and conditions have been well‐studied for migratory flights to...

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Main Authors: Evy Gobbens, Christine E. Beardsworth, Anne Dekinga, Job tenHorn, Sivan Toledo, Ran Nathan, Allert I. Bijleveld
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-03-01
Series:Ecology and Evolution
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10954
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author Evy Gobbens
Christine E. Beardsworth
Anne Dekinga
Job tenHorn
Sivan Toledo
Ran Nathan
Allert I. Bijleveld
author_facet Evy Gobbens
Christine E. Beardsworth
Anne Dekinga
Job tenHorn
Sivan Toledo
Ran Nathan
Allert I. Bijleveld
author_sort Evy Gobbens
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Deciding when to depart on long‐distance, sometimes global, movements can be especially important for flying species. Adverse weather conditions can affect energetic flight costs and navigational ability. While departure timings and conditions have been well‐studied for migratory flights to and from the breeding range, few studies have focussed on flights within the non‐breeding season. Yet in some cases, overwintering ranges can be large enough that ecological barriers, and a lack of resting sites en route, may resist movement, especially in unfavorable environmental conditions. Understanding the conditions that will enable or prohibit flights within an overwintering range is particularly relevant in light of climate change, whereby increases in extreme weather events may reduce the connectivity of sites. We tracked 495 (n = 251 in 2019; n = 244 in 2020) overwintering red knots (Calidris canutus islandica) in the Dutch Wadden Sea and investigated how many departed towards the UK (on westward relocation flights), which requires flying over the North Sea. For those that departed, we used a resource selection model to determine the effect of environmental conditions on the timing of relocation flights. Specifically, we investigated the effects of wind, rain, atmospheric pressure, cloud cover, and migratory timing relative to sunset and tidal cycle, which have all been shown to be crucial to migratory departure conditions. Approximately 37% (2019) and 36% (2020) of tagged red knots departed on westward relocation flights, indicating differences between individuals' space use within the overwintering range. Red knots selected for departures between 1 and 2.5 h after sunset, approximately 4 h before high tide, with tailwinds and little cloud cover. However, rainfall and changes in atmospheric pressure appear unimportant. Our study reveals environmental conditions that are important for relocation flights across an ecological barrier, indicating potential consequences of climate change on connectivity.
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spelling doaj.art-4830c9ff00f14ab5a8b53bc0a20ff3732024-03-26T04:26:57ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582024-03-01143n/an/a10.1002/ece3.10954Environmental factors influencing red knot (Calidris canutus islandica) departure times of relocation flights within the non‐breeding periodEvy Gobbens0Christine E. Beardsworth1Anne Dekinga2Job tenHorn3Sivan Toledo4Ran Nathan5Allert I. Bijleveld6Department of Coastal Systems NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research Den Burg Texel The NetherlandsDepartment of Coastal Systems NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research Den Burg Texel The NetherlandsDepartment of Coastal Systems NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research Den Burg Texel The NetherlandsDepartment of Coastal Systems NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research Den Burg Texel The NetherlandsBlavatnik School of Computer Science Tel‐Aviv University Tel Aviv IsraelMovement Ecology Laboratory, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem IsraelDepartment of Coastal Systems NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research Den Burg Texel The NetherlandsAbstract Deciding when to depart on long‐distance, sometimes global, movements can be especially important for flying species. Adverse weather conditions can affect energetic flight costs and navigational ability. While departure timings and conditions have been well‐studied for migratory flights to and from the breeding range, few studies have focussed on flights within the non‐breeding season. Yet in some cases, overwintering ranges can be large enough that ecological barriers, and a lack of resting sites en route, may resist movement, especially in unfavorable environmental conditions. Understanding the conditions that will enable or prohibit flights within an overwintering range is particularly relevant in light of climate change, whereby increases in extreme weather events may reduce the connectivity of sites. We tracked 495 (n = 251 in 2019; n = 244 in 2020) overwintering red knots (Calidris canutus islandica) in the Dutch Wadden Sea and investigated how many departed towards the UK (on westward relocation flights), which requires flying over the North Sea. For those that departed, we used a resource selection model to determine the effect of environmental conditions on the timing of relocation flights. Specifically, we investigated the effects of wind, rain, atmospheric pressure, cloud cover, and migratory timing relative to sunset and tidal cycle, which have all been shown to be crucial to migratory departure conditions. Approximately 37% (2019) and 36% (2020) of tagged red knots departed on westward relocation flights, indicating differences between individuals' space use within the overwintering range. Red knots selected for departures between 1 and 2.5 h after sunset, approximately 4 h before high tide, with tailwinds and little cloud cover. However, rainfall and changes in atmospheric pressure appear unimportant. Our study reveals environmental conditions that are important for relocation flights across an ecological barrier, indicating potential consequences of climate change on connectivity.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10954ATLASbiotelemetrydeparture decisionsmovement ecologynon‐migratory flightshorebirds
spellingShingle Evy Gobbens
Christine E. Beardsworth
Anne Dekinga
Job tenHorn
Sivan Toledo
Ran Nathan
Allert I. Bijleveld
Environmental factors influencing red knot (Calidris canutus islandica) departure times of relocation flights within the non‐breeding period
Ecology and Evolution
ATLAS
biotelemetry
departure decisions
movement ecology
non‐migratory flight
shorebirds
title Environmental factors influencing red knot (Calidris canutus islandica) departure times of relocation flights within the non‐breeding period
title_full Environmental factors influencing red knot (Calidris canutus islandica) departure times of relocation flights within the non‐breeding period
title_fullStr Environmental factors influencing red knot (Calidris canutus islandica) departure times of relocation flights within the non‐breeding period
title_full_unstemmed Environmental factors influencing red knot (Calidris canutus islandica) departure times of relocation flights within the non‐breeding period
title_short Environmental factors influencing red knot (Calidris canutus islandica) departure times of relocation flights within the non‐breeding period
title_sort environmental factors influencing red knot calidris canutus islandica departure times of relocation flights within the non breeding period
topic ATLAS
biotelemetry
departure decisions
movement ecology
non‐migratory flight
shorebirds
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10954
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