Migration Along Orthodromic Sun Compass Routes by Arctic Birds

Thomas Alerstam, Gudmundur A. Gudmundsson, Martin Green, Anders Hedenström

Forskningsoutput: TidskriftsbidragArtikel i vetenskaplig tidskriftPeer review

318 Nedladdningar (Pure)

Sammanfattning

Flight directions of birds migrating at high geographic and magnetic latitudes can be used to test bird orientation by celestial or geomagnetic compass systems under polar conditions. Migration patterns of arctic shorebirds, revealed by tracking radar studies during an icebreaker expedition along the Northwest Passage in 1999, support predicted sun compass trajectories but cannot be reconciled with orientation along either geographic or magnetic loxodromes (rhumb lines). Sun compass routes are similar to orthodromes (great circle routes) at high latitudes, showing changing geographic courses as the birds traverse longitudes and their internal clock gets out of phase with local time. These routes bring the shorebirds from high arctic Canada to the east coast of North America, from which they make transoceanic flights to South America. The observations are also consistent with a migration link between Siberia and the Beaufort Sea region by way of sun compass routes across the Arctic Ocean.
Originalspråkengelska
Sidor (från-till)300-303
TidskriftScience
Volym291
Nummer5502
DOI
StatusPublished - 2001

Ämnesklassifikation (UKÄ)

  • Biologiska vetenskaper
  • Ekologi

Fingeravtryck

Utforska forskningsämnen för ”Migration Along Orthodromic Sun Compass Routes by Arctic Birds”. Tillsammans bildar de ett unikt fingeravtryck.

Citera det här