Do molt-migrant songbirds optimize migration routes based on primary productivity?

Eli S. Bridge, Jeremy D. Ross, Andrea J. Contina and Jeffrey F. Kelly

Behavioral Ecology, 2016, vol. 27, issue 3, 784-792

Abstract: Lay Summary During continental-scale migrations, do songbirds follow the most advantageous routes in terms of refueling along the way? We compared the migration routes of real birds with millions of computer simulations wherein virtual birds moved randomly but realistically over a map of refueling potential based on plant productivity. The simulations with the highest productivity scores corresponded closely with the migration routes of real birds, suggesting that migrants do make the most of the available landscape.

Keywords: Enhanced Vegetation Index; geolocator; migration; North American monsoon; painted bunting; optimization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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