Philopatry of winter moult area in migratory great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus demonstrated by stable isotope profiles

Elizabeth Yohannes, Staffan Bensch, Raymond Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Abstract in Undetermined
Stable carbon- (delta(13)C), nitrogen- (delta(15)N) and hydrogen (delta D) isotope profiles in feathers of migratory Great Reed Warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus recaptured for 2 or more years in 6 successive years were examined to test whether the isotope profiles of individual warblers appeared to be consistent between years. Similar isotopic signatures in successive years suggested that individual birds tended to return and grow their feathers in Afro-tropical wintering habitats that generate similar delta(13)C, delta(15)N and delta D signatures. Previous studies have shown that Great Reed Warblers exhibit strong natal and breeding philopatry, with most of the surviving birds returning to the breeding site. The present study of feather delta(13)C, delta(15)N and delta D isotopic values demonstrate the year-to-year fidelity might also include the African moulting sites in this migratory species.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)261-265
JournalJournal of Ornithology
Volume149
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Biological Sciences

Free keywords

  • stable-isotopes
  • nitrogen-15
  • carbon-13
  • deuterium
  • philopatry

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