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Endogenous control of migratory behavior in Alaskan Northern Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe

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Abstract

We tested endogenous migratory fuelling and nocturnal migratory restlessness in juvenile Northern Wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe) from Alaska kept in captivity indoors. The birds showed a spontaneous seasonal, and biologically relevant, pattern of body mass development and nocturnal migratory restlessness. These data were compared to similar data of Northern Wheatears from Iceland. The Alaskan birds showed much higher restlessness but lower fuelling, which is consistent with their much longer journey but different ecological encounters.

Zusammenfassung

Endogene Kontrolle des Zugverhaltens bei Steinschmätzern Oenanthe oenanthe aus Alaska

Wir untersuchten zugzeitliche Fettdeposition und Zugunruhe bei jungen Steinschmätzern (Oenanthe oenanthe) aus Alaska in kontrollierter Haltung. Die Vögel zeigten spontane und biologisch relevante saisonale Muster an Körpermassezunahme und nächtlicher Zugaktivität. Wir verglichen diese Muster mit denen von Vögeln aus Island. Die Vögel aus Alaska zeigten weit mehr Zugunruhe aber ein geringeres Ausmaß an Fettdeposition. Dies korrespondiert mit ihrem zwar viel längeren Zugweg, der aber keine größeren ökologischen Barrieren aufweist.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Simon Fabian Becker, Robert Gill, Jason Jack, Andreas Lischke, Rolf Nagel, Beth Pattinson, Heiko Schmaljohann, Susan Sharbaugh, Ulrike Strauss, Adolf Völk, and Kevin Winker for their various contributions to the study. The experiments comply with the current laws in Germany. This work was supported by a Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft grant to F.B. (BA 816/15-4).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany

    Marc Bulte & Franz Bairlein

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  1. Marc Bulte
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  2. Franz Bairlein
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Correspondence to Marc Bulte.

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Communicated by H. Mouritsen.

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Bulte, M., Bairlein, F. Endogenous control of migratory behavior in Alaskan Northern Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe . J Ornithol 154, 567–570 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-012-0920-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-012-0920-5

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