Effects of Spring Migration Distance on Tree Swallow Reproductive Success Within and Among Flyways

Elizabeth A. Gow; Samantha M. Knight; David W. Bradley; Robert G. Clark; David W. Winkler; Marc Bélisle; Lisha L. Berzins; Tricia Blake; Eli S. Bridge; Lauren Burke; Russell D. Dawson; Peter O. Dunn; Dany Garant; Geoff Holroyd; Andrew G. Horn; David J. T. Hussell; Olga Lansdorp; Andrew J. Laughlin; Marty L. Leonard; Fanie Pelletier; Dave Shutler; Lynn Siefferman; Caz M. Taylor; Helen Trefry; Carol M. Vleck; David Vleck; Linda A. Whittingham; D. Ryan Norris

doi:10.3389/fevo.2019.00380

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (Oct 2019)

Effects of Spring Migration Distance on Tree Swallow Reproductive Success Within and Among Flyways

Elizabeth A. Gow,
Samantha M. Knight,
David W. Bradley,
Robert G. Clark,
David W. Winkler,
Marc Bélisle,
Lisha L. Berzins,
Tricia Blake,
Eli S. Bridge,
Lauren Burke,
Russell D. Dawson,
Peter O. Dunn,
Dany Garant,
Geoff Holroyd,
Andrew G. Horn,
David J. T. Hussell,
Olga Lansdorp,
Andrew J. Laughlin,
Marty L. Leonard,
Fanie Pelletier,
Dave Shutler,
Lynn Siefferman,
Caz M. Taylor,
Helen Trefry,
Carol M. Vleck,
David Vleck,
Linda A. Whittingham,
D. Ryan Norris

Affiliations

Elizabeth A. Gow: Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
Samantha M. Knight: Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
David W. Bradley: Bird Studies Canada, Delta, BC, Canada
Robert G. Clark: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
David W. Winkler: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Vertebrates, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
Marc Bélisle: Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
Lisha L. Berzins: Ecosystem Science and Management Program, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC, Canada
Tricia Blake: Alaska Songbird Institute, Fairbanks, AK, United States
Eli S. Bridge: Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
Lauren Burke: Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
Russell D. Dawson: Ecosystem Science and Management Program, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC, Canada
Peter O. Dunn: 0Behavioral and Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, United States
Dany Garant: Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
Geoff Holroyd: 1Beaverhill Bird Observatory, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Andrew G. Horn: Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
David J. T. Hussell: 2Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, ON, Canada
Olga Lansdorp: 3Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
Andrew J. Laughlin: 4Department of Environmental Studies, University of North Carolina Asheville, Asheville, NC, United States
Marty L. Leonard: Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
Fanie Pelletier: Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
Dave Shutler: 5Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada
Lynn Siefferman: 6Biology Department, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, United States
Caz M. Taylor: 7Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
Helen Trefry: 1Beaverhill Bird Observatory, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Carol M. Vleck: 8Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
David Vleck: 8Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
Linda A. Whittingham: 0Behavioral and Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, United States
D. Ryan Norris: Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2019.00380
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 7

Abstract

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During migration, animals may experience high rates of mortality, but costs of migration could also be manifested through non-lethal carry-over effects that influence individual success in subsequent periods of the annual cycle. Using tracking data collected from light-level geolocators, we estimated total spring migration distance (from the last wintering sites to breeding sites) of tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) within three major North American flyways. Using path analysis, we then assessed direct and indirect effects of spring migration distance on reproductive performance of individuals of both sexes. When these data were standardized by flyway, females fledged 1.3 fewer young for every 1,017 km they traveled, whereas there was no effect of migration distance on reproductive success in males. In comparison, when these data were standardized across all individuals and not by flyway, longer migrations were associated with 0.74 more young fledged for every 1,017 km traveled by females and 0.26 more young fledged for every 1,186 km migrated by males. Our results suggest that migration distance carries over to negatively influence female reproductive success within flyways but the overall positive effect of migration distance across flyways likely reflects broader life-history differences that occur among breeding populations across the tree swallow range.

Published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

ISSN: 2296-701X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General): Evolution; Science: Biology (General): Ecology
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution

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