Endogenous programs and flexibility in bird migration

Åkesson, S. and Helm, B. (2020) Endogenous programs and flexibility in bird migration. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 8, 78. (doi: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00078)

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Abstract

Endogenous programs that regulate annual cycles have been shown for many taxa, including protists, arthropods, fish, mammals and birds. In migration biology, these programs are best known in songbirds. The majority of songbirds rely on a genetic program inherited from their parents that will guide them during their first solo-migration. The phenotypic components of the program are crucial for their individual fitness and survival, and include time components, direction, and distance. This program is constructed to both guide behavior and to regulate flexible responses to the environment at different stages of the annual cycle. The migration program is driven by a circannual rhythm, allowing for, and resetting, carry-over effects. With experience, the migration decisions of individual migrants may be based on information learnt on breeding sites, wintering sites, and en route. At the population level, substantial variation in route choice and timing of migration may be explained by inherited variation of program components, by interactions with environmental and social factors, and by individual learning. In this review we will explore the components of endogenous migration programs and discuss in what ways they can lead to flexibility and variation in migration behavior.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Helm, Dr Barbara
Authors: Åkesson, S., and Helm, B.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
Publisher:Frontiers Research Foundation
ISSN:2296-701X
ISSN (Online):2296-701X
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2020 Åkesson and Helm
First Published:First published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 8:78
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence

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