Dissecting phenotypic variance in life-history traits into its genetic and environmental componen... more Dissecting phenotypic variance in life-history traits into its genetic and environmental components is at the focus of evolutionary studies and of pivotal importance to identify the mechanisms and predict the consequences of human-driven environmental change. The timing of recurrent life-history events (phenology) is under strong selection but the study of the genes that control potential environmental canalization in phenological traits is at its infancy. Candidate genes for circadian behavior entrained by photoperiod have been screened as potential controllers of phenological variation of breeding and molt in birds, with inconsistent results. Despite photoperiodic control of migration is well-established, no study has reported on migration phenology in relation to polymorphism at candidate genes in birds. We analyzed variation in spring migration dates within four trans-Saharan migratory species (Luscinia megarhynchos; Ficedula hypoleuca; Anthus trivialis; Saxicola rubetra) at a M...
Nectar exploitation by European birds mainly refers to passerines feeding on exotic plants, altho... more Nectar exploitation by European birds mainly refers to passerines feeding on exotic plants, although some recent studies described nectar-feeding by trans-Saharan passerines on local plants. We examined which birds and plants are involved in nectar consumption and investigated the consequences of nectar use on plasma blood glucose concentrations during spring migration at a stopover site in the central Mediterranean. We recorded 12 opportunistic nectar-feeding species, with Sylvia warblers in particular showing a marked nectarivory, and 6 plants used by birds, no one of which shows typical ''bird flowers'' features. Moreover, we demonstrated that nectar uptake led to an increase in plasma glucose concentrations and that nectar was drunk not only by birds in poor physical condition. The nectar consumption is fully in accordance with time-minimising migration models, allowing birds to obtain water and energy at stopover sites in a short time: nectar is easy to find and quick to digest.
Moonlight is known to affect the nocturnal behaviour and activity rhythms of many organisms. For ... more Moonlight is known to affect the nocturnal behaviour and activity rhythms of many organisms. For instance, predators active at night may take advantage from increased visibility afforded by the moon, while prey might regulate their activity patterns to become less detectable. Many species of pelagic seabirds attend their colony only at night, in complete darkness, avoiding approaching their nest sites under moonlight. This behaviour has been most often interpreted as an antipredator adaptation ('predation avoidance' hypothesis). However, it may also reflect a lower foraging efficiency during moonlit nights ('foraging efficiency' hypothesis). Indeed, moonlight may reduce prey availability because preferred seabird prey is known to occur at higher depths in moonlit nights. Using high-accuracy behavioural information from data loggers, we investigated the effect of moonlight on colony attendance and at-sea nocturnal foraging in breeding Scopoli's shearwaters Calonectris diomedea. We found that birds departing for self-feeding trips around the full moon performed longer trips than those departing around the new moon. On nights when the moon was present only partly, nest burrow entrances took place largely in the moonless portion of the night. Moreover, contrary to predictions from the 'foraging efficiency' hypothesis, nocturnal foraging activity increased according to moonlight intensity, suggesting that birds increased their foraging activity when prey became more detectable. This study strengthens the idea that colony attendance behaviour is strictly controlled by moonlight in shearwaters, which is possibly related to the perception of a predation risk.
Nectar exploitation by European birds mainly refers to passerines feeding on exotic plants, altho... more Nectar exploitation by European birds mainly refers to passerines feeding on exotic plants, although some recent studies described nectar-feeding by trans-Saharan passerines on local plants. We examined which birds and plants are involved in nectar consumption and investigated the consequences of nectar use on plasma blood glucose concentrations during spring migration at a stopover site in the central Mediterranean. We recorded 12 opportunistic nectar-feeding species, with Sylvia warblers in particular showing a marked nectarivory, and 6 plants used by birds, no one of which shows typical ''bird flowers'' features. Moreover, we demonstrated that nectar uptake led to an increase in plasma glucose concentrations and that nectar was drunk not only by birds in poor physical condition. The nectar consumption is fully in accordance with time-minimising migration models, allowing birds to obtain water and energy at stopover sites in a short time: nectar is easy to find and quick to digest.
... Ardea 99(1):33-42. 2011 doi: 10.5253/078.099.0105. Pollen Couriers Across the Mediterranean: ... more ... Ardea 99(1):33-42. 2011 doi: 10.5253/078.099.0105. Pollen Couriers Across the Mediterranean: The Case of Migrating Warblers. Jacopo G. Cecere 1, * , Laura Cornara 2 , Serena Mezzetta 2 , Andrea Ferri 3 , Fernando Spina 3 & Luigi Boitani 1. ... 2010; Tenan and Spina, unpubl. ...
Dissecting phenotypic variance in life-history traits into its genetic and environmental componen... more Dissecting phenotypic variance in life-history traits into its genetic and environmental components is at the focus of evolutionary studies and of pivotal importance to identify the mechanisms and predict the consequences of human-driven environmental change. The timing of recurrent life-history events (phenology) is under strong selection but the study of the genes that control potential environmental canalization in phenological traits is at its infancy. Candidate genes for circadian behavior entrained by photoperiod have been screened as potential controllers of phenological variation of breeding and molt in birds, with inconsistent results. Despite photoperiodic control of migration is well-established, no study has reported on migration phenology in relation to polymorphism at candidate genes in birds. We analyzed variation in spring migration dates within four trans-Saharan migratory species (Luscinia megarhynchos; Ficedula hypoleuca; Anthus trivialis; Saxicola rubetra) at a M...
Nectar exploitation by European birds mainly refers to passerines feeding on exotic plants, altho... more Nectar exploitation by European birds mainly refers to passerines feeding on exotic plants, although some recent studies described nectar-feeding by trans-Saharan passerines on local plants. We examined which birds and plants are involved in nectar consumption and investigated the consequences of nectar use on plasma blood glucose concentrations during spring migration at a stopover site in the central Mediterranean. We recorded 12 opportunistic nectar-feeding species, with Sylvia warblers in particular showing a marked nectarivory, and 6 plants used by birds, no one of which shows typical ''bird flowers'' features. Moreover, we demonstrated that nectar uptake led to an increase in plasma glucose concentrations and that nectar was drunk not only by birds in poor physical condition. The nectar consumption is fully in accordance with time-minimising migration models, allowing birds to obtain water and energy at stopover sites in a short time: nectar is easy to find and quick to digest.
Moonlight is known to affect the nocturnal behaviour and activity rhythms of many organisms. For ... more Moonlight is known to affect the nocturnal behaviour and activity rhythms of many organisms. For instance, predators active at night may take advantage from increased visibility afforded by the moon, while prey might regulate their activity patterns to become less detectable. Many species of pelagic seabirds attend their colony only at night, in complete darkness, avoiding approaching their nest sites under moonlight. This behaviour has been most often interpreted as an antipredator adaptation ('predation avoidance' hypothesis). However, it may also reflect a lower foraging efficiency during moonlit nights ('foraging efficiency' hypothesis). Indeed, moonlight may reduce prey availability because preferred seabird prey is known to occur at higher depths in moonlit nights. Using high-accuracy behavioural information from data loggers, we investigated the effect of moonlight on colony attendance and at-sea nocturnal foraging in breeding Scopoli's shearwaters Calonectris diomedea. We found that birds departing for self-feeding trips around the full moon performed longer trips than those departing around the new moon. On nights when the moon was present only partly, nest burrow entrances took place largely in the moonless portion of the night. Moreover, contrary to predictions from the 'foraging efficiency' hypothesis, nocturnal foraging activity increased according to moonlight intensity, suggesting that birds increased their foraging activity when prey became more detectable. This study strengthens the idea that colony attendance behaviour is strictly controlled by moonlight in shearwaters, which is possibly related to the perception of a predation risk.
Nectar exploitation by European birds mainly refers to passerines feeding on exotic plants, altho... more Nectar exploitation by European birds mainly refers to passerines feeding on exotic plants, although some recent studies described nectar-feeding by trans-Saharan passerines on local plants. We examined which birds and plants are involved in nectar consumption and investigated the consequences of nectar use on plasma blood glucose concentrations during spring migration at a stopover site in the central Mediterranean. We recorded 12 opportunistic nectar-feeding species, with Sylvia warblers in particular showing a marked nectarivory, and 6 plants used by birds, no one of which shows typical ''bird flowers'' features. Moreover, we demonstrated that nectar uptake led to an increase in plasma glucose concentrations and that nectar was drunk not only by birds in poor physical condition. The nectar consumption is fully in accordance with time-minimising migration models, allowing birds to obtain water and energy at stopover sites in a short time: nectar is easy to find and quick to digest.
... Ardea 99(1):33-42. 2011 doi: 10.5253/078.099.0105. Pollen Couriers Across the Mediterranean: ... more ... Ardea 99(1):33-42. 2011 doi: 10.5253/078.099.0105. Pollen Couriers Across the Mediterranean: The Case of Migrating Warblers. Jacopo G. Cecere 1, * , Laura Cornara 2 , Serena Mezzetta 2 , Andrea Ferri 3 , Fernando Spina 3 & Luigi Boitani 1. ... 2010; Tenan and Spina, unpubl. ...
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