Marra PP, Hobson KA, Holmes RT
P. P. Marra and R. T. Holmes, Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA. K. A. Hobson, Prairie and Northern Wildlife Research Center, Canadian Wildlife Service, Saskatoon, S7NOX4 SK, Canada.
Science. 1998 Dec 4;282(5395):1884-6. doi: 10.1126/science.282.5395.1884.
For migratory birds, early arrival and physical condition on the breeding grounds are important determinants of reproductive success and fitness. Differences in arrival times often exceed a month, and later arriving individuals are often in poorer condition. Habitat-specific isotopic signatures indicate that the quality of winter habitats occupied by American redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla) determines their physical condition and spring departure dates, which in turn result in variable arrival schedules and condition on temperate breeding grounds. These findings link events in tropical winter grounds with those in temperate breeding areas for a migratory songbird and provide evidence that winter habitats may be limiting.
对于候鸟来说，提前到达繁殖地以及在繁殖地的身体状况是繁殖成功和健康的重要决定因素。到达时间的差异通常超过一个月，较晚到达的个体身体状况往往较差。特定栖息地的同位素特征表明，美洲红尾鸲（Setophaga ruticilla）所占据的冬季栖息地质量决定了它们的身体状况和春季出发日期，这反过来又导致了到达温带繁殖地的时间安排和身体状况各不相同。这些发现将热带冬季栖息地的情况与一种候鸟在温带繁殖地的情况联系起来，并提供了冬季栖息地可能具有限制作用的证据。
