| Abstract: | Mountain ranges, deserts, ice fields and oceans generally act as barriers to the movement of land-dependent animals, often profoundly shaping migration routes. We used satellite telemetry to track the southward flights of bar-tailed godwits (Limosa lapponica baueri), shorebirds whose breeding and non-breeding areas are separated by the vast central Pacific Ocean. Seven females with surgically implanted transmitters flew non-stop 8117-11680km (10153??1043 s.d.) directly across the Pacific Ocean; two males with external transmitters flew non-stop along the same corridor for 7008-7390km. Flight duration ranged from 6.0 to 9.4 days (7.8??1.3 s.d.) for birds with implants and 5.0 to 6.6 days for birds with externally attached transmitters. These extraordinary non-stop flights establish new extremes for avian flight performance, have profound implications for understanding the physiological capabilities of vertebrates and how birds navigate, and challenge current physiological paradigms on topics such as sleep, dehydration and phenotypic flexibility. Predicted changes in climatic systems may affect survival rates if weather conditions at their departure hub or along the migration corridor should change. We propose that this transoceanic route may function as an ecological corridor rather than a barrier, providing a wind-assisted passage relatively free of pathogens and predators. ?? 2008 The Royal Society. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70032752 |
| Citation Author: | Gill, Jr. , R. E.; Tibbitts, T. L.; Douglas, D. C.; Handel, C. M.; Mulcahy, D. M.; Gottschalck, J. C.; Warnock, N.; McCaffery, B. J.; Battley, P. F.; Piersma, T. |
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| Citation End Page: | 457 |
| Citation Issue: | 1656 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 11 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Extreme endurance flights by landbirds crossing the Pacific Ocean: Ecological corridor rather than barrier?; 2009; Article; Journal; Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences; Gill, Jr. , R. E.; Tibbitts, T. L.; Douglas, D. C.; Handel, C. M.; Mulcahy, D. M.; Gottschalck, J. C.; Warnock, N.; McCaffery, B. J.; Battley, P. F.; Piersma, T. |
| Citation Start Page: | 447 |
| Citation Volume: | 276 |
| Citation Year: | 2009 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Extreme endurance flights by landbirds crossing the Pacific Ocean: Ecological corridor rather than barrier?; 2009; Article; Journal; Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences; Gill, Jr. , R. E.; Tibbitts, T. L.; Douglas, D. C.; Handel, C. M.; Mulcahy, D. M.; Gottschalck, J. C.; Warnock, N.; McCaffery, B. J.; Battley, P. F.; Piersma, T. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2008.1142 |
| Date Other: | Thu, 1 Jan 2009 00:00 -0600 |
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