A general theory of avian migratory connectivity

Somveille, Marius; Bay, Rachael A.; Smith, Thomas B.; Marra, Peter P.; Ruegg, Kristen C.

doi:10.1111/ele.13817

A general theory of avian migratory connectivity

Journal Article · Fri Jun 25 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Ecology Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13817· OSTI ID:2333685

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Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO (United States); University College London (United Kingdom); University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Davis, CA (United States)
University of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
Georgetown University, Washington, DC (United States)
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO (United States)

Birds exhibit a remarkable array of seasonal migrations. Despite much research describing migratory behaviour, the underlying forces driving how a species’ breeding and wintering populations redistribute each year, that is, migratory connectivity, remain largely unknown. Here, we test the hypothesis that birds migrate in a way that minimises energy expenditure while considering intraspecific competition for energy acquisition, by developing a modelling framework that simulates an optimal redistribution of individuals between breeding and wintering areas. Using 25 species across the Americas, we find that the model accurately predicts empirical migration patterns, and thus offers a general explanation for migratory connectivity based on first ecological and energetic principles. Our model provides a strong basis for exploring additional processes underlying the ecology and evolution of migration, but also a framework for predicting how migration impacts local adaptation across seasons and how environmental change may affect population dynamics in migratory species.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: University of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0009005

OSTI ID:: 2333685

Journal Information:: Ecology Letters, Journal Name: Ecology Letters Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 24; ISSN 1461-023X

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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