Reconstructing the geographic and climatic origins of long‐distance bird migrations

• DOI: 10.1111/jbi.13700
• Publication Date: 2019-09-09T01:46:10Z
• Authors: Paul Dufour; Sébastien Descamps; Stéphane Chantepie; Julien Renaud; Maya Guéguen; Katja Schiffers; Wilfried Thuiller; Sébastien Lavergne
• Keywords: Bird migration; Disjunct; Charadriiformes; Geographical distance

Abstract Aim Seasonal bird migration is one of the most fascinating global ecological phenomena. Yet, biogeographic scenarios and climatic drivers that led single species or entire lineages to evolve seasonal between disjunct breeding wintering ranges remain unclear. Based on distribution phylogenetic data for all birds worldwide, we explored context evolutionary emergence geographic in birds. Location Global. Taxon The Aves class (9,819 species). Methods We used worldwide phylogeny birds, with a new backbone tree, test link birds’ distance (short, variable, long) strategy (resident, mixed, strict migrant) four different metrics depicting species’ thermal niches their ranges. also performed ancestral state reconstructions main migratory orders reconstruct past events appearance loss behaviour, migration. Results Migratory generally experience warmer climates range compared one, although notable exceptions exist. This niche change due was found be much larger travelling large distances. emerged at time periods through varied paths (i.e. both from temperate tropical ancestors) behaviour likely Passeriformes, several subsequent episodes behaviour. Main conclusions report an correlation long‐distance tendency seek during non‐breeding period, short‐distance migrants. Migration general seem have often adapted novel opportunities by returning resident state. Our results provide first large‐scale study origins worldwide.