Migration

Question 1

Extended flight analysis in the pigeon

Answer 1

60 mins: O2 consumption reduces quickly initially and then plateaus - gradual reduction in CO2 - RQ from 0.9 -> 0.7

Question 2

Challenging flight condition examples

Answer 2

Whooper swan, Scotland to Iceland, encounters storm can migrate far off course requiring additional energy — bar-headed geese, Mongolia to India, over himilayas up to 11 days non stop

Question 3

Phenotypic plasticity and examples

Answer 3

Different environments can directly induce changes in behaviour, morphology and physiology eg. Organ changes during migration.

Ruff: during stopover… body mass, liver and pectoral mass increase

Bar-tailed godwit: body mass increase, ratio liver/pectoral muscle increase that then decreases for next stage of flight

Garden warbler body mass changes during migration

Question 4

Fuel store season variations

Answer 4

Golden plover: fat mass increases for Autumn migration and protein mass increases for spring migration

Question 5

Energy saving mechanisms

Answer 5

V formation flight in migratory ibises, birds behind get extra lift from birds in front, mean heart rate much lower than when flying alone

Barnacle geese = overal body temp declines during migration, save energy by not using as much for thermoreulation

Question 6

Barnacle goose flight in the lab

Answer 6

Rate of respiration increased and bpm increased from 100 -> 500