The green-up of vegetation in spring brings a pulse food resources that many animals track during migration. However, phenology is changing with climate change, posing an immense challenge for species time their migrations to coincide these resource pulses. We evaluated changes from 2002 2021 relation the 150 Western-Hemisphere bird using eBird citizen science data. found has changed within migration routes, and yet most align more closely long-term averages than current conditions. Changing...

Starting from a genetically variable stock homo- or hemi-zygous for Bar two selection lines were set up, one selected decreased sensitivity to the effect of larval temperature on eye size (‘canalization line’), other increased (‘anti-canalization line’). In each generation sample larvae was grown at 25°C. throughout life and another first 48 hours, followed by 18°C. until emergence. canalization made individuals (five males five females out 100) least affected treatment anti-canalization...

Understanding dispersal and habitat selection behaviours is central to many problems in ecology, evolution conservation. One factor often hypothesized influence by dispersers the natal environment experienced juveniles. Nonetheless, evidence for effect of on dispersing, wild vertebrates remains limited. Using 18 years nesting mark-resight data across an entire North American geographical range endangered bird, snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis), we tested effects breeding-site its...

Movement is important for ecological and evolutionary theory as well connectivity conservation, which increasingly critical species responding to environmental change. Key outcomes of movement, such population growth gene flow, require effective dispersal: movement that followed by successful reproduction. However, the relative roles postmovement reproduction dispersal remain unclear. Here we isolate contributions immigrant across entire breeding range an endangered raptor, snail kite...

Landscape connectivity is central to many problems in ecology and conservation. Recently, the role of path redundancies on movement organisms has been emphasized for understanding connectivity, because increasing number potential paths (i.e., redundancy) predicted increase rates, which can alter predictions foraging theory population dynamics. Nonetheless, experiments that test effects remain scarce. We tested movements a habitat specialist, Chelinidea vittiger, using experimental arenas...

Wetland ecosystems are vital for maintaining global biodiversity, as they provide important stopover sites many species of migrating wetland-associated birds. However, because weather determines their hydrologic cycles, wetlands highly vulnerable to effects climate change. Although changes in temperature and precipitation resulting from change expected reduce inundation wetlands, few efforts have been made quantify how these will influence the availability migratory wetland Additionally,...

Abstract Understanding movement is critical in several disciplines but analysis methods often neglect key information by adopting each location as sampling unit, rather than individual. We introduce a novel statistical method that, focusing on individuals, enables better identification of temporal dynamics connectivity, traits individuals that explain emergent patterns, and sites play role connecting subpopulations. apply this to two examples span networks vary considerably size questions:...

Abstract Genetic connectivity lies at the heart of evolutionary theory, and landscape genetics has rapidly advanced to understand how gene flow can be impacted by environment. Isolation resistance, often inferred through use circuit is increasingly identified as being critical for predicting genetic across complex landscapes. Yet impediments migration arise from fundamentally different processes, such gradients causing directional mortality during migration, which challenging address....

The decision to disperse or remain philopatric between breeding seasons has important implications for both ecology and evolution, including the potential carry-over effects, where an individual's previous history affects its current performance. Carry-over effects are increasingly documented although underlying mechanisms unclear. Here we test their by uniting hypotheses causes consequences of habitat selection dispersal across space time. We linked regarding different types factors...

The natal environment can have long-term fitness consequences for individuals, particularly via ‘silver spoon’ or ‘environmental matching’ effects. Invasive species could alter effects on native by changing interactions, but this potential remains unknown. Using 17 years of data 2588 individuals across the entire US breeding range endangered snail kite ( Rostrhamus sociabilis ), a wetland raptor that feeds entirely Pomacea snails, we tested silver spoon and environmental matching survival...

Many bird species nest in precarious, unpredictable locations to decrease the risk of predation. Although it is likely that many have adapted behaviors deal with stochastic habitats, there currently limited evidence plastic behavior increasing avian fecundity wild. Virginia Rails (Rallus limicola) and Soras (Porzana carolina) live littoral zones wetlands experience high hydrologic variability. During summers 2010 2011, we tested for effects hydrology behavioral plasticity on survival Rail (n...

Connectivity is central to ecology and evolution as it focuses on the movement of individuals or genes across landscapes. Genetic connectivity approaches aim understand gene flow but often estimate indirectly based metrics genetic differentiation, which can also be affected by other evolutionary forces such drift. Gene drift are driven separate ecological mechanisms with potentially differing effects differentiation interpretations connectivity. The contributing primarily effective...

The National Marsh Bird Monitoring Program is being initiated to document population trends with call-broadcast surveys. We examined effects of site-estimated vocalization density (birds calling per ha), breeding stage, call type, and sex differences on marsh bird response probability improve conducted 335 broadcast surveys 10 m from 113 known Virginia rail (Rallus limicola) sora (Porzana carolina) nests in wetlands over 2 seasons (2010–2011) determine important variables for predicting...

As effects of climate change intensify, there is a growing need to understand the thermal properties landscapes and their influence on wildlife. A key property vegetation structure composition. Management approaches can alter consequently landscape, potentially resulting in underappreciated consequences for wildlife thermoregulation. Consideration spatial scale clarify how management overlaid onto existing patterns affects relevant We examined temperature, fire management, multi-scale...

For species with geographically restricted distributions, the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation on long-term persistence may be particularly pronounced. We examined genetic structure Panama City crayfish (PCC), Procambarus econfinae, whose historical distribution is limited to an area approximately 145 km2, largely within limits eastern Bay County, FL. Currently, PCC occupy 28% its range, suitable composed fragmented patches in highly urbanized western portion range managed...

Changes in phenology are occurring from global climate change, yet the impacts of other types change on animals remain less appreciated. Understanding potential for synergistic effects different is needed, because changing regimes can have cascading effects, particularly invasive species that vary their thermal tolerances. Using 25 years data 5963 nests and 4675 marked individuals across entire US breeding range an endangered predator, snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus), we isolated...

The Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus) is a wetland-dependent raptor that feeds primarily on aquatic apple snails (Pomacea sp.). In the United States, Kites are endangered and breed exclusively in south central Florida. Here we report 2018 2019, bred approximately 175 km north-northwest of current northernmost breeding range. We combine historical present information to interpret this new event. Breeding occurred at Payne's Prairie Preserve State Park, an isolated wetland Alachua...