Seasonal and daily movement patterns of an alpine passerine suggest high flexibility in relation to environmental conditions

Mountains naturally offer variable habitat conditions, but their biodiversity is currently facing the extra challenge of adapting to rapid environmental shifts that are much more pronounced than in the lowlands. Among adaptive responses, intra- and inter-seasonal movements represent potentially important coping strategies for wildlife that remain largely unexplored. We investigated the seasonal and daily movements of the ring ouzel Turdus torquatus, a European mountain bird species that is declining in many parts of its distribution. We tracked individuals breeding in the Swiss Alps using light-level geolocators and multi-sensor loggers. Of the birds traced to their non-breeding grounds, two thirds reached the Atlas Mountains while one third stayed in Spain, a region potentially more significant for overwintering than previously thought. The birds remained mostly above 1000 m throughout the annual cycle, highlighting a strict association of ring ouzels with mountain habitats. We also ev...

山地天然具备多样的生境条件，但当前其生物多样性正面临额外挑战：需适应相较于低地更为显著的快速环境变化。在各类适应性响应中，季内与季间移动是野生动物潜在的重要应对策略，但该研究方向迄今仍未得到充分探索。本研究针对环颈鸫（ring ouzel, Turdus torquatus）的季候与每日移动模式展开调查——该物种为欧洲山地鸟类，在其分布范围的诸多区域均出现种群衰退现象。研究团队利用光感地理定位器（light-level geolocators）与多传感器记录器（multi-sensor loggers），对在瑞士阿尔卑斯山繁殖的环颈鸫个体进行了追踪。在被追踪到越冬地的个体中，三分之二抵达了阿特拉斯山脉，剩余三分之一则停留在西班牙境内——该区域对于环颈鸫越冬的重要性可能远超此前认知。该物种全年多数时段活动于海拔1000米以上区域，凸显出环颈鸫与山地生境的极强依存性。本研究还对