Resource allocation effects on the timing of reproduction in an avian habitat specialist
Abstract Variation in nutrient allocation can influence the timing of breeding and ultimately reproductive output. Time and space constraints might exist, however, if fewer food resources are available to meet the costs of reproduction early during the reproductive season. Here, for the first time,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Ecosphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3700 |
| _version_ | 1828929643507351552 |
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| author | Kyle A. Cutting Jay J. Rotella James A. Waxe Aaron O'Harra Sean R. Schroff Lorelle Berkeley Mark Szczypinski Andrea R. Litt Bok F. Sowell |
| author_facet | Kyle A. Cutting Jay J. Rotella James A. Waxe Aaron O'Harra Sean R. Schroff Lorelle Berkeley Mark Szczypinski Andrea R. Litt Bok F. Sowell |
| author_sort | Kyle A. Cutting |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Variation in nutrient allocation can influence the timing of breeding and ultimately reproductive output. Time and space constraints might exist, however, if fewer food resources are available to meet the costs of reproduction early during the reproductive season. Here, for the first time, we test whether nutrient‐allocation strategies for reproduction in a shrub‐dependent avian species differ with timing of breeding in different ecoregions: a high‐elevation landscape, containing spatially complex vegetation (Rocky Mountains) vs. a low‐elevation, more homogenous landscape (Great Plains). We analyzed data collected from radio‐telemetry and stable isotopes to assess the degree to which endogenous (body) reserves are used for reproduction and whether variation in allocation strategies was associated with time of year, ecoregion, habitat quality (including sagebrush type and plant greenness), or maternal characteristics. Using a Bayesian statistical framework, we found that females relied on a similar amount of endogenous reserves for reproduction in first nesting and renesting attempts. Additionally, endogenous contributions declined more rapidly throughout the nesting season in the Rocky Mountains than in the Great Plains. Individuals in high‐ and intermediate‐elevation sagebrush types in the Rocky Mountains used similar amounts of endogenous reserves, whereas females nesting in low‐elevation sagebrush used less. Females nesting at intermediate elevations, which experience the greatest flush of new green vegetation during the nesting season, switched their reliance from endogenous‐to‐exogenous sources for reproduction as green vegetation became available during spring. Our study highlights adaptations of a nutrient‐allocation strategy across areas with varying levels of resources in time and space in a habitat specialist bird. Nutrient allocation by individuals residing in high‐elevation areas favors a strategy that mainly uses nutrients gained from wintering habitats, whereas individuals residing in low‐elevation areas mainly use exogenous sources for reproduction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:21:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4e88fd43b1484a62b8f760e8aa673231 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2150-8925 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:21:56Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-4e88fd43b1484a62b8f760e8aa6732312022-12-21T23:25:11ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252021-08-01128n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.3700Resource allocation effects on the timing of reproduction in an avian habitat specialistKyle A. Cutting0Jay J. Rotella1James A. Waxe2Aaron O'Harra3Sean R. Schroff4Lorelle Berkeley5Mark Szczypinski6Andrea R. Litt7Bok F. Sowell8Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 27650B South Valley Road Lakeview Montana 59739 USADepartment of Ecology Montana State University 310 Lewis Hall Bozeman Montana 59717 USAThe Nature Conservancy Helena Montana 59601 USARed Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 27650B South Valley Road Lakeview Montana 59739 USAIdaho Department of Fish and Game Salmon Idaho 83467 USAMontana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Helena Montana 59620 USAMontana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Helena Montana 59620 USADepartment of Ecology Montana State University 310 Lewis Hall Bozeman Montana 59717 USADepartment of Animal and Range Sciences Montana State University Animal Bioscience Building 205 Bozeman Montana 59717 USAAbstract Variation in nutrient allocation can influence the timing of breeding and ultimately reproductive output. Time and space constraints might exist, however, if fewer food resources are available to meet the costs of reproduction early during the reproductive season. Here, for the first time, we test whether nutrient‐allocation strategies for reproduction in a shrub‐dependent avian species differ with timing of breeding in different ecoregions: a high‐elevation landscape, containing spatially complex vegetation (Rocky Mountains) vs. a low‐elevation, more homogenous landscape (Great Plains). We analyzed data collected from radio‐telemetry and stable isotopes to assess the degree to which endogenous (body) reserves are used for reproduction and whether variation in allocation strategies was associated with time of year, ecoregion, habitat quality (including sagebrush type and plant greenness), or maternal characteristics. Using a Bayesian statistical framework, we found that females relied on a similar amount of endogenous reserves for reproduction in first nesting and renesting attempts. Additionally, endogenous contributions declined more rapidly throughout the nesting season in the Rocky Mountains than in the Great Plains. Individuals in high‐ and intermediate‐elevation sagebrush types in the Rocky Mountains used similar amounts of endogenous reserves, whereas females nesting in low‐elevation sagebrush used less. Females nesting at intermediate elevations, which experience the greatest flush of new green vegetation during the nesting season, switched their reliance from endogenous‐to‐exogenous sources for reproduction as green vegetation became available during spring. Our study highlights adaptations of a nutrient‐allocation strategy across areas with varying levels of resources in time and space in a habitat specialist bird. Nutrient allocation by individuals residing in high‐elevation areas favors a strategy that mainly uses nutrients gained from wintering habitats, whereas individuals residing in low‐elevation areas mainly use exogenous sources for reproduction.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3700endogenousnutrient allocationreproductionsagebrushsage‐grousestable isotopes |
| spellingShingle | Kyle A. Cutting Jay J. Rotella James A. Waxe Aaron O'Harra Sean R. Schroff Lorelle Berkeley Mark Szczypinski Andrea R. Litt Bok F. Sowell Resource allocation effects on the timing of reproduction in an avian habitat specialist Ecosphere endogenous nutrient allocation reproduction sagebrush sage‐grouse stable isotopes |
| title | Resource allocation effects on the timing of reproduction in an avian habitat specialist |
| title_full | Resource allocation effects on the timing of reproduction in an avian habitat specialist |
| title_fullStr | Resource allocation effects on the timing of reproduction in an avian habitat specialist |
| title_full_unstemmed | Resource allocation effects on the timing of reproduction in an avian habitat specialist |
| title_short | Resource allocation effects on the timing of reproduction in an avian habitat specialist |
| title_sort | resource allocation effects on the timing of reproduction in an avian habitat specialist |
| topic | endogenous nutrient allocation reproduction sagebrush sage‐grouse stable isotopes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3700 |
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