Linking the wintering and breeding grounds of warblers along the Pacific Flyway

Long-distance migration is a behavior that is exhibited by many animal groups. The evolution of novel migration routes can play an important role in range expansions, ecological interactions, and speciation. New migration routes may evolve in response to selection in favor of reducing distance between breeding and wintering areas, or avoiding navigational barriers. Many migratory changes are likely to evolve gradually and are therefore difficult to study. Here, we attempt to connect breeding and wintering populations of myrtle warblers (Setophaga coronata coronata) to better understand the possible evolution of distinct migration routes within this species. Myrtle warblers, unlike most other warblers with breeding ranges primarily in eastern North America, have two disjunct overwintering concentrations—one in the southeastern USA and one along the Pacific Coast—and presumably distinct routes to-and-from these locations. We studied both myrtle and Audubon's warblers (S. c. auduboni) capt...

长距离迁徙是诸多动物类群共有的行为模式。新型迁徙路线的演化，对于物种分布范围扩张、生态交互作用以及物种形成过程均具有重要意义。新迁徙路线的演化往往是为了响应自然选择压力，例如缩短繁殖地与越冬地之间的距离，或是规避导航障碍。多数迁徙行为的改变多为逐步演化而来，因此相关研究难度较高。本研究旨在将黄腰林莺（Setophaga coronata coronata）的繁殖种群与越冬种群进行关联分析，以更深入理解该物种内部不同迁徙路线的演化潜力。与多数繁殖范围主要位于北美东部的林莺类群不同，黄腰林莺存在两处互不相连的越冬聚集区：一处位于美国东南部，另一处沿太平洋沿岸分布，且推测往返这两处越冬地的迁徙路线亦存在差异。本研究对黄腰林莺与奥杜邦林莺（S. c. auduboni）的捕获个体展开了相关研究……