Consistent variation in individual migration strategies of brown skuas

Krietsch, Johannes; Hahn, Steffen; Kopp, Mathias; Phillips, Richard A.; Peter, Hans-Ulrich; Lisovski, Simeon. 2017 Consistent variation in individual migration strategies of brown skuas. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 578. 213-225. 10.3354/meps11932

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps11932

Abstract/Summary

Seabirds show remarkable variability in migration strategies among individuals and populations. In this study, we analysed 47 migrations of 28 brown skuas Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi breeding on King George Island in the Maritime Antarctic. Brown skuas from this population used a large area during the non-breeding period north of 55°S, including parts of the Patagonian Shelf, Argentine Basin and South Brazil Shelf, areas which are characterised by high levels of marine productivity. However, individual birds utilised only a subset of these areas, adopting 1 of 4 distinct migration strategies to which they were highly faithful between years, and showed high repeatability in departure and arrival dates at the breeding ground. Although they spent the majority of the non-breeding season within a particular region, almost all individuals used the same area in the late winter, exploiting its seasonal peak in productivity. Overall, these results indicate consistent individual variation in migration strategies that may reflect a combination of genetic control and individual experience, but with considerable flexibility to shift distribution in response to prevailing environmental conditions.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.3354/meps11932
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > BAS Programmes 2015 > Ecosystems
ISSN:	0171-8630
Additional Keywords:	Catharacta Antarctica lonnbergi, seabird ecology, light-level geolocation, non-breeding distribution, individual consistency, ocean primary productivity, migratory connectivity
Date made live:	13 Mar 2017 14:01 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/516499

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.3354/meps11932

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > BAS Programmes 2015 > Ecosystems

ISSN:

0171-8630

Additional Keywords:

Catharacta Antarctica lonnbergi, seabird ecology, light-level geolocation, non-breeding distribution, individual consistency, ocean primary productivity, migratory connectivity

Date made live:

13 Mar 2017 14:01 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/516499