Local meteorological conditions reroute a migration. Issue 1890 (7th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eisaguirre, Joseph M.; Booms, Travis L.; Barger, Christopher P.; McIntyre, Carol L.; Lewis, Stephen B.; Breed, Greg A.
• Is Part Of: Proceedings. Volume 285:Issue 1890(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-11-07
• Subjects: animal decision-making -- behavioural ecology -- long-distance migration -- movement ecology -- navigation -- soaring; Biology -- Periodicals; 570.5
• DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1779
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0962-8452

Abstract

Abstract : For migrating animals, realized migration routes and timing emerge from hundreds or thousands of movement decisions made along migration routes. Local weather conditions along migration routes continually influence these decisions, and even relatively small changes in en route weather may cumulatively result in major shifts in migration patterns. Here, we analysed satellite tracking data to score a discrete navigation decision by a large migratory bird as it navigated a high-latitude, 5000 m elevation mountain range to understand how those navigational decisions changed under different weather conditions. We showed that wind conditions in particular areas along the migration pathway drove a navigational decision to reroute a migration; conditions encountered predictably resulted in migrants routing either north or south of the mountain range. With abiotic conditions continuing to change globally, simple decisions, such as the one described here, might additively emerge into new, very different migration routes.