cfforts co opcimize foraging eicher by minimizing encrgy loss chrough passive move menc or by maximizing energecic gain chrough foraging. Here, we assess whecher signals of eicher of chese scracegies are dececcable in the timing of... more
cfforts co opcimize foraging eicher by minimizing encrgy loss chrough passive move menc or by maximizing energecic gain chrough foraging. Here, we assess whecher signals of eicher of chese scracegies are dececcable in the timing of activiry of daily, local movements by birds. We compare the similarities of timing of movement activiry among species using six temporal variables: starr of activiry relative co sunrise, end of activiry relative eo sunsec, relacive speed at midday, number of movemenc boucs, bouc duracion and proporcion of accive daytime hours. We cesc for ehe influence of flighc mode and foraging habirat on the timing of movement activity across avian guilds. We used 64 570 days of GPS movement data collected becween 2002 and 2019 for local (non-migracory) movements of99 I birds from 49 species, represencing 14 orders. Oissimilariry among daily activiry paccerns was besc explained by flighc mode. Terrescrial soaring birds began acciviry later and scopped activiry earlier ...
Research Interests:
Monitoring and early detection of emerging infectious diseases in wild animals is of crucial global importance, yet reliable ways to measure immune status and responses are lacking for animals in the wild. Here we assess the usefulness of... more
Monitoring and early detection of emerging infectious diseases in wild animals is of crucial global importance, yet reliable ways to measure immune status and responses are lacking for animals in the wild. Here we assess the usefulness of bio-loggers for detecting disease outbreaks in free-living birds and confirm detailed responses using leukocyte composition and large-scale transcriptomics. We simulated natural infections by viral and bacterial pathogens in captive mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), an important natural vector for avian influenza virus. We show that body temperature, heart rate and leukocyte composition change reliably during an acute phase immune response. Using genome-wide gene expression profiling of whole blood across time points we confirm that immunostimulants activate pathogen-specific gene regulatory networks. By reporting immune response related changes in physiological and behavioural traits that can be studied in free-ranging populations, we provide baselin...
Research Interests:
Conservation of migratory species faces the challenge of understanding the ecological requirements of individuals living in two geographically separated regions. In some cases, the entire population of widely distributed species... more
Conservation of migratory species faces the challenge of understanding the ecological requirements of individuals living in two geographically separated regions. In some cases, the entire population of widely distributed species congregates at relatively small wintering areas and hence, these areas become a priority for the species' conservation. Satellite telemetry allows fine tracking of animal movements and distribution in those less known, often remote areas. Through integrating satellite and GPS data from five separated populations comprising most of the breeding range, we created a wide habitat suitability model for the Eleonora's falcon on its wintering grounds in Madagascar. On this basis, we further investigated, for the first time, the impact of climate change on the future suitability of the species' wintering areas. Eleonora's falcons are mainly distributed in the north and along the east of Madagascar, exhibiting strong site fidelity over years. The curr...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
1.Migration conveys an immense challenge especially for juvenile birds coping with enduring and risky journeys shortly after fledging. Accordingly, juveniles exhibit considerably lower survival rates compared to adults, particularly... more
1.Migration conveys an immense challenge especially for juvenile birds coping with enduring and risky journeys shortly after fledging. Accordingly, juveniles exhibit considerably lower survival rates compared to adults, particularly during migration. Also, juvenile white storks (Ciconia ciconia), which are known to rely on adults during their first fall migration, presumably for navigational purposes, display much lower annual survival than adults. 2.Using detailed GPS and body acceleration data, we examined the patterns and potential causes of age-related differences in fall migration properties of white storks by comparing first-year juveniles and adults. We compared juvenile and adult parameters of movement, behavior and energy expenditure (estimated from overall dynamic body acceleration, ODBA) and placed this in the context of the juveniles' lower survival rate. 3.Juveniles used flapping flight versus soaring flight 23% more than adults and were estimated to expend 14% more...
Research Interests:
The last decade has seen a surge in research on avian influenza A viruses (IAVs), in part fuelled by the emergence, spread and potential zoonotic importance of highly pathogenic virus subtypes. The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most... more
The last decade has seen a surge in research on avian influenza A viruses (IAVs), in part fuelled by the emergence, spread and potential zoonotic importance of highly pathogenic virus subtypes. The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most numerous and widespread dabbling duck in the world, and one of the most important natural hosts for studying IAV transmission dynamics. In order to predict the likelihood of IAV transmission between individual ducks and to other hosts, as well as between geographical regions, it is important to understand how IAV infection affects the host. In this study, we analysed the movements of 40 mallards equipped with GPS transmitters and three-dimensional accelerometers, of which 20 were naturally infected with low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV), at a major stopover site in the Northwest European flyway. Movements differed substantially between day and night, as well as between mallards returning to the capture site and those feeding in natural h...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Researchers uncover a large variation in the lifetime migratory decisions of young white storks.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Long-distance migration is a rare phenomenon in European bats. Genetic analyses and banding studies show that females can cover distances of up to 1,600 km, whereas males are sedentary or migrate only short distances. The onset of this... more
Long-distance migration is a rare phenomenon in European bats. Genetic analyses and banding studies show that females can cover distances of up to 1,600 km, whereas males are sedentary or migrate only short distances. The onset of this sex-biased migration is supposed to occur shortly after rousing from hibernation and when the females are already pregnant. We therefore predicted that the sexes are exposed to different energetic pressures in early spring, and this should be reflected in their behavior and physiology. We investigated this in one of the three Central European long-distance migrants, the common noctule (Nyctalus noctula) in Southern Germany recording the first individual partial migration tracks of this species. In contrast to our predictions, we found no difference between male and female home range size, activity, habitat use or diet. Males and females emerged from hibernation in similar body condition and mass increase rate was the same in males and females. We foll...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
There have been numerous recent observations of changes in the behavior and dynamics of migratory bird populations, but the plasticity of the migratory trait and our inability to track small animals over large distances have hindered... more
There have been numerous recent observations of changes in the behavior and dynamics of migratory bird populations, but the plasticity of the migratory trait and our inability to track small animals over large distances have hindered investigation of the mechanisms behind migratory change. We used habitat-specific stable isotope signatures to show that recently evolved allopatric wintering populations of European blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla pair assortatively on their sympatric breeding grounds. Birds wintering further north also produce larger clutches and fledge more young. These findings describe an important process in the evolution of migratory divides, new migration routes, and wintering quarters. Temporal segregation of breeding is a way in which subpopulations of vertebrates may become isolated in sympatry.
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Geography, Climate Change, Population Dynamics, Climate, Medicine, and 15 moreNorth Atlantic Oscillation, Biological Sciences, Population, Europe, Animals, Density dependence, Songbirds, Latitudinal Gradient, Regional Variation, Large Scale, Environment, Population dynamic, Latitude, Environmental Stochasticity, and Medical and Health Sciences
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
... Vogelwarte Helgoland'', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany E-mail:daniela.guicking@gmx.de ... than the females are also reported for the flesh-footed shearwater (Marchant and Higgins ... samples of... more
... Vogelwarte Helgoland'', An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany E-mail:daniela.guicking@gmx.de ... than the females are also reported for the flesh-footed shearwater (Marchant and Higgins ... samples of birds was given generously by R. Verdugo, J. Meza, I. Leiva ...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne Flavivirus with birds as its natural reservoir. Mosquitoes are able to transmit WNV to humans. In Europe, WNV is most probably imported by migrating birds from WNV-endemic regions. In this study,... more
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne Flavivirus with birds as its natural reservoir. Mosquitoes are able to transmit WNV to humans. In Europe, WNV is most probably imported by migrating birds from WNV-endemic regions. In this study, the risk of WNV infection during bird-ringing activities in Germany and Austria was investigated. Several serological test systems were used to study WNV antibody prevalence among 137 bird ringers. Neutralising antibodies were detected in three of the bird ringers. This seropositivity could be explained by alternative factors such as traveling to endemic areas. The application of different serological methods showed that WNV IgG ELISAs were less specific than WNV IgG immunofluorescence tests (IFT). The neutralisation test (NT) appears to be the gold standard for Flavivirus differentiation. At present, we assume that bird-ringing activity in Germany and Austria harbours a very low risk of WNV infection.