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Morphometrics and stable isotopes differentiate populations of Northern Wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe)

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Abstract

Linking events of breeding, wintering and stopover areas has important ecological and conservation implications for migratory species. To find a tool to connect these different events in a long-distance migrating songbird, the Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe, we applied a discriminant analysis based on morphometrics and analysed stable isotope values (δ13C, δ15N, δD) in feathers. Morphometric differences were additionally analysed with respect to wing shape as an adaptation to migration routes. Discriminant analysis 100% separated a group of long-winged migrants passing the German offshore island of Helgoland from Icelandic and Norwegian breeding birds, as well as from Northern Wheatears passing the Baltic Sea coast on migration. This clear assignment suggests a Greenlandic origin of these long-winged Northern Wheatears. The most likely Greenlandic origin was further supported by depleted δD values in feathers of these birds grown on the breeding grounds. We found a relatively high proportion of presumed Greenlandic birds on Helgoland and especially on Fair Isle (Scotland) during spring migration. Morphometric differences were based mainly on wing morphology and could be successfully connected with migration routes. Presumed Greenlandic Northern Wheatears showed more pointed wings than birds from other European breeding areas. Such wings might be natural selection’s solution for the long obligatory non-stop flights during the Atlantic crossings.

Zusammenfassung

Für ziehende Tierarten hat der Zusammenhang von Ereignissen in Brut-, Winter- und Rastgebieten wichtige Konsequenzen für ökologische Aspekte und den Artenschutzes. Um im Falle eines typischen Langstreckenziehers, des Steinschmätzers (Oenanthe oenanthe), ein Werkzeug zu finden, um Ereignisse in den verschiedenen Aufenthaltsgebieten verbinden und verschiedene Populationen ansprechen zu können, haben wir eine Diskriminanzanalyse aufgrund von morphometrischen Daten durchgeführt und Stabile Isotope (δ13C, δ15N, δD) aus Federn analysiert. Morphometrische Unterschiede wurden zusätzlich in Hinsicht auf Adaption der Flügelform aufgrund verschiedener Zugrouten untersucht. Anhand der Diskriminanzanalyse ließ sich eine Gruppe von besonders langflügeligen Durchziehern auf Helgoland vollständig sowohl von Isländischen und Norwegischen Steinschmätzern unterscheiden, als auch von Steinschmätzer die auf dem Zug an der baltischen Ostseeküste erscheinen. Diese klare Abgrenzung lässt einen Grönländischen Ursprung dieser langflügeligen Steinschmätzer vermuten. Eine Vermutung, die weiterhin durch deutlich abgereicherte δD Werte in Federn, die im Brutgebiet gewachsen waren, unterstützt wird. Wir fanden während des Frühjahrszuges einen relativ hohen Anteil an vermutlich Grönländischen Vögeln auf Helgoland und besonders auf Fair Isle (Schottland). Morphometrische Unterschiede basierten hauptsächlich auf Unterschieden in der Flügelform und konnten mit den unterschiedlich Anforderungen während des Zuges in Verbindung gesetzt werden. Steinschmätzer mit vermutlich Grönländischen Ursprung zeigten spitzere Flügel als Vögel von anderen Europäischen Brutgebieten. Diese Flügel scheinen das Ergebnis natürlicher Selektion innerhalb dieser Population zu sein, die besonders lange nonstop Flüge zur Überquerung des Nordost-Atlantiks bewältigen muss.

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Acknowledgments

This research was financially supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (BA 816/15-1) and the European Science foundation, ESF-BIRD Scientific Program. We are grateful to S. Jaquier, M. Rebke, A. Walter, R. Morgenstern and B. Mendel for field assistance at Helgoland. Many thanks to C. Bolshakov and the Biological Station Rybachy, to A. Petersen and the Icelandic Institute of Natural History, to D. Shaw and the Fair Isle Bird Observatory, J. Cortez, C. Peréz and P. Rocca from the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society and F. Spina for supporting fieldwork. Bird trapping and measurements comply with the current laws of the country in which they were performed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany

    Julia Delingat, Volker Dierschke, Heiko Schmaljohann & Franz Bairlein

  2. Environment Canada, 11 Innovation Blvd, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 0H3, Canada

    Keith A. Hobson

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  1. Julia Delingat
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  2. Keith A. Hobson
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  4. Heiko Schmaljohann
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Correspondence to Julia Delingat.

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Communicated by H. Mouritsen.

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Delingat, J., Hobson, K.A., Dierschke, V. et al. Morphometrics and stable isotopes differentiate populations of Northern Wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe). J Ornithol 152, 383–395 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-010-0599-4

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