Central-place foraging poses variable constraints year-round in a neotropical migrant
Abstract Background “Central-place foragers” are constrained in their habitat selection and foraging range by the frequency with which they need to return to a central place. For example, chick-rearing songbirds that must feed their offspring hourly might be expected to have smaller foraging ranges...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Movement Ecology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-022-00337-2 |
| _version_ | 1818016674353250304 |
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| author | Kristen M. Lalla Kevin C. Fraser Barbara Frei Jason D. Fischer Joe Siegrist James D. Ray Mario Cohn-Haft Kyle H. Elliott |
| author_facet | Kristen M. Lalla Kevin C. Fraser Barbara Frei Jason D. Fischer Joe Siegrist James D. Ray Mario Cohn-Haft Kyle H. Elliott |
| author_sort | Kristen M. Lalla |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background “Central-place foragers” are constrained in their habitat selection and foraging range by the frequency with which they need to return to a central place. For example, chick-rearing songbirds that must feed their offspring hourly might be expected to have smaller foraging ranges compared to non-breeding songbirds that return nightly to a roost. Methods We used GPS units to compare the foraging behaviour of an aerial insectivorous bird, the purple martin (Progne subis), during the breeding season in three regions across North America, as well as the non-breeding season in South America. Specifically, we tested foraging range size and habitat selection. Results Foraging range did not vary among regions during breeding (14.0 ± 39.2 km2) and was larger during the nonbreeding period (8840 ± 8150 km2). Purple martins strongly preferred aquatic habitats to other available habitats year-round and in the Amazon commuted from night roosts in low productivity sediment-poor water, where risk of predation was probably low, to daytime foraging sites in productive sediment-rich water sites. Conclusions We provide the first estimates for foraging range size in purple martins and demonstrate foraging preference for aquatic habitats throughout two stages of the annual cycle. Understanding foraging constraints and habitat of aerial insectivores may help plan conservation actions throughout their annual cycle. Future research should quantify foraging behaviour during the post-breeding period and during migration. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:16:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-764fd028b00a4c8cb3d41072c144a154 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2051-3933 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:16:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Movement Ecology |
| spelling | doaj.art-764fd028b00a4c8cb3d41072c144a1542022-12-22T02:06:17ZengBMCMovement Ecology2051-39332022-09-0110111210.1186/s40462-022-00337-2Central-place foraging poses variable constraints year-round in a neotropical migrantKristen M. Lalla0Kevin C. Fraser1Barbara Frei2Jason D. Fischer3Joe Siegrist4James D. Ray5Mario Cohn-Haft6Kyle H. Elliott7Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill UniversityDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of ManitobaWildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change CanadaDisney’s Animals, Science and EnvironmentPurple Martin Conservation AssociationConsolidated Nuclear Security, LLC, U.S. Department of Energy-National Nuclear Security Administration Pantex PlantInstituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA)Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill UniversityAbstract Background “Central-place foragers” are constrained in their habitat selection and foraging range by the frequency with which they need to return to a central place. For example, chick-rearing songbirds that must feed their offspring hourly might be expected to have smaller foraging ranges compared to non-breeding songbirds that return nightly to a roost. Methods We used GPS units to compare the foraging behaviour of an aerial insectivorous bird, the purple martin (Progne subis), during the breeding season in three regions across North America, as well as the non-breeding season in South America. Specifically, we tested foraging range size and habitat selection. Results Foraging range did not vary among regions during breeding (14.0 ± 39.2 km2) and was larger during the nonbreeding period (8840 ± 8150 km2). Purple martins strongly preferred aquatic habitats to other available habitats year-round and in the Amazon commuted from night roosts in low productivity sediment-poor water, where risk of predation was probably low, to daytime foraging sites in productive sediment-rich water sites. Conclusions We provide the first estimates for foraging range size in purple martins and demonstrate foraging preference for aquatic habitats throughout two stages of the annual cycle. Understanding foraging constraints and habitat of aerial insectivores may help plan conservation actions throughout their annual cycle. Future research should quantify foraging behaviour during the post-breeding period and during migration.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-022-00337-2Aerial insectivoreBiologgingForagingHabitat selectionHome rangeSongbird |
| spellingShingle | Kristen M. Lalla Kevin C. Fraser Barbara Frei Jason D. Fischer Joe Siegrist James D. Ray Mario Cohn-Haft Kyle H. Elliott Central-place foraging poses variable constraints year-round in a neotropical migrant Movement Ecology Aerial insectivore Biologging Foraging Habitat selection Home range Songbird |
| title | Central-place foraging poses variable constraints year-round in a neotropical migrant |
| title_full | Central-place foraging poses variable constraints year-round in a neotropical migrant |
| title_fullStr | Central-place foraging poses variable constraints year-round in a neotropical migrant |
| title_full_unstemmed | Central-place foraging poses variable constraints year-round in a neotropical migrant |
| title_short | Central-place foraging poses variable constraints year-round in a neotropical migrant |
| title_sort | central place foraging poses variable constraints year round in a neotropical migrant |
| topic | Aerial insectivore Biologging Foraging Habitat selection Home range Songbird |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-022-00337-2 |
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