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A physiological perspective on the ecology and evolution of partial migration

Hegemann, Arne LU ; Fudickar, Adam M. and Nilsson, Jan Åke LU (2019) In Journal of Ornithology 160(3). p.893-905
Abstract

Billions of animals migrate between breeding and non-breeding areas worldwide. Partial migration, where both migrants and residents coexist within a population, occurs in most animal taxa, including fish, insects, birds and mammals. Partial migration has been hypothesised to be the most common form of migration and to be an evolutionary precursor to full migration. Despite extensive theoretical models about partial migration and its potential to provide insight into the ecology and evolution of migration, the physiological mechanisms that shape partial migration remain poorly understood. Here, we review current knowledge on how physiological processes mediate the causes and consequences of avian partial migration, and how they may help... (More)

Billions of animals migrate between breeding and non-breeding areas worldwide. Partial migration, where both migrants and residents coexist within a population, occurs in most animal taxa, including fish, insects, birds and mammals. Partial migration has been hypothesised to be the most common form of migration and to be an evolutionary precursor to full migration. Despite extensive theoretical models about partial migration and its potential to provide insight into the ecology and evolution of migration, the physiological mechanisms that shape partial migration remain poorly understood. Here, we review current knowledge on how physiological processes mediate the causes and consequences of avian partial migration, and how they may help us understand why some individuals migrate and others remain resident. When information from birds is missing, we highlight examples from other taxa. In particular, we focus on temperature regulation, metabolic rate, immune function, oxidative stress, telomeres, and neuroendocrine and endocrine systems. We argue that these traits provide physiological pathways that regulate the ecological and behavioural causes and/or consequences of partial migration, and may provide insight into the mechanistic basis of wintering decisions. They may, thus, also help us to explain why individuals switch strategies among winters. We also highlight current gaps in our knowledge and suggest promising future research opportunities. A deeper understanding of the physiological mechanisms mediating the causes and consequences of partial migration will not only provide novel insights into the ecology and evolution of migration in general, but will also be vital to precisely modelling population trends and predicting range shifts under global change.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Avian life history, Ecoimmunology, Ecophysiology, Hormones, Metabolism, Movement ecology
in
Journal of Ornithology
volume
160
issue
3
pages
893 - 905
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85063205599
ISSN
2193-7192
DOI
10.1007/s10336-019-01648-9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ec0cd646-bcc1-40a7-b223-64a6ba8a0dd9
date added to LUP
2019-04-02 14:48:23
date last changed
2022-04-25 22:08:55
@article{ec0cd646-bcc1-40a7-b223-64a6ba8a0dd9,
  abstract     = {{<p>Billions of animals migrate between breeding and non-breeding areas worldwide. Partial migration, where both migrants and residents coexist within a population, occurs in most animal taxa, including fish, insects, birds and mammals. Partial migration has been hypothesised to be the most common form of migration and to be an evolutionary precursor to full migration. Despite extensive theoretical models about partial migration and its potential to provide insight into the ecology and evolution of migration, the physiological mechanisms that shape partial migration remain poorly understood. Here, we review current knowledge on how physiological processes mediate the causes and consequences of avian partial migration, and how they may help us understand why some individuals migrate and others remain resident. When information from birds is missing, we highlight examples from other taxa. In particular, we focus on temperature regulation, metabolic rate, immune function, oxidative stress, telomeres, and neuroendocrine and endocrine systems. We argue that these traits provide physiological pathways that regulate the ecological and behavioural causes and/or consequences of partial migration, and may provide insight into the mechanistic basis of wintering decisions. They may, thus, also help us to explain why individuals switch strategies among winters. We also highlight current gaps in our knowledge and suggest promising future research opportunities. A deeper understanding of the physiological mechanisms mediating the causes and consequences of partial migration will not only provide novel insights into the ecology and evolution of migration in general, but will also be vital to precisely modelling population trends and predicting range shifts under global change.</p>}},
  author       = {{Hegemann, Arne and Fudickar, Adam M. and Nilsson, Jan Åke}},
  issn         = {{2193-7192}},
  keywords     = {{Avian life history; Ecoimmunology; Ecophysiology; Hormones; Metabolism; Movement ecology}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{893--905}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Journal of Ornithology}},
  title        = {{A physiological perspective on the ecology and evolution of partial migration}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10336-019-01648-9}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10336-019-01648-9}},
  volume       = {{160}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}