Abstract
The large databases on ring reencounters, e.g. Euring database, contain extant information on the spatial distribution and potentially, on migratory connectivity of birds. However, reencounter data are normally sparse due to low reencounter probability. Further, to extract unbiased information about the spatial distribution of birds, spatial variation in reencounter probability has to be corrected for. To do so, knowledge of the total numbers of ringed birds is crucial but often not available. We present a general, combined statistical model to estimate population specific migration patterns based on the European reencounter data for which the number of ringed birds is unknown. Our approach combines a Cormack–Jolly–Seber model with a multinomial model. We present, for the first time, estimates and credible intervals of the spatial distribution of different populations of a migrant bird during the non-breeding period based on imperfect ringing data. Here, we used the Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) as a representative long-distance migrant. The model allowed estimation of which proportions of the different breeding populations use a western, central or eastern flyway. Sensitivity analysis based on simulated data showed that most of these estimates were robust against violation of the most important model assumptions, i.e. homogeneity in recapture probability, homogeneity in breeding area return probability, and in reencounter probability within the flyways. We provide a general technique to account for spatial variation in reencounter probability when analysing migratory connectivity based on ring reencounter data with unknown numbers of ringed individuals. It is applicable for almost all migrating species with reencounter data.
Zusammenfassung
Ableitung der Zug-Konnektivität zwischen Brut- und Nichtbrutgebiet aus spärlichen Ringwiederfunddaten und unbekannter Gesamtzahl beringter Individuen
Umfassende Ringfunddatenbanken, wie die Euring-Datenbank, enthalten wertvolle Information über die räumliche Verteilung von Zugvögeln und potentiell zur Verbindungsstärke zwischen Brut- und Nichtbrutgebiet (Zug-Konnektivität). Wegen geringer Ringfundwahrscheinlichkeiten ist die Stichprobengrösse von Ringfunddaten jedoch oft klein. Wenn die räumliche Verteilung der Vögel basierend auf Ringwiederfunddaten beschrieben werden soll, muss eine räumliche Heterogenität der Ringfundwahrscheinlichkeit berücksichtigt werden. Um die Ringfundwahrscheinlichkeit schätzen zu können, sollte die Gesamtzahl beringter Vögel bekannt sein. Diese Anzahl ist jedoch in den meisten Ringfunddatenbanken nicht oder nicht detailliert enthalten. Wir stellen hier ein statistisches Modell vor, das populationsspezifische Zugmuster basierend auf den europäischen Ringfunddaten mit unbekannter Anzahl beringter Vögel zu schätzen erlaubt. Unser Ansatz beinhaltet eine Kombination eines Cormack-Jolly-Seber Modells zur Schätzung der Zahl zur Brutzeit beringter Vögel, mit einem multinominalen Modell zur Beschreibung der räumlichen Verteilung der Vögel ausserhalb der Brutzeit. Am Beispiel der Nachtigall (Luscinia megarhynchos) als typischer Langstreckenzieher präsentieren wir erstmalig Schätzwerte und Vertrauensintervalle für die räumliche Verteilung der Individuen verschiedener Populationen ausserhalb der Brutzeit, die auf nicht standardisierten Ringfunddaten basieren. Eine nachfolgende Sensitivitätsanalyse zeigte, dass die meisten Modellschätzwerte robust gegenüber Verletzungen der Modellannahmen zu homogenen Wiederfangwahrscheinlichkeiten im Brutgebiet, homogener Rückkehrrate ins Brutgebiet und homogener Wiederfundwahrscheinlichkeiten innerhalb eines Zugweges waren.
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Acknowledgments
We thank the Euring team, especially Chris du Feu, for maintaining the Euring database. Thanks to all the people who helped with collecting information in the numbers of ringed Common Nightingales: Valentin Amrhein kindly provided the total number of ringed birds in the Petite Camargue Alsacienne, France. We thank Jaroslav Cepak, Wolfgang Fiedler, Olaf Geiter, Henk van der Jeugd, Wojciech Kania, Michèle Loneux, Jacques Laesser and Karcza Zsolt for providing information on the number of ringed birds. Valentin Amrhein, Lukas Jenni, Aleksi Lehikoinen, Kasper Thorup and at least two anonymous reviewers gave valuable comments on an earlier version of the manuscript.
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Communicated by F. Bairlein.
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Korner-Nievergelt, F., Liechti, F. & Hahn, S. Migratory connectivity derived from sparse ring reencounter data with unknown numbers of ringed birds. J Ornithol 153, 771–782 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-011-0793-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-011-0793-z