Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The primary goal of the research was to use changes in body composition and blood metabolites of representative songbird species to evaluate the quality of available habitats and foods for migrating songbirds while they are using stopover sites in coastal southern New England. The field research was conducted on Block Island, Rhode Island, an important stopover site for migrating songbirds. One Ph.D. graduate student, Susan Smith, that was primarily associated with this grant successfully completed her dissertation in May 2007. She successfully completed field experiments designed to determine (a) whether variation in refueling rates (measured by concentrations of blood lipids) of migratory birds is related to fruit resource abundance, (b) whether daytime lipid deposition (measured by plasma metabolites) in free-living migratory songbirds at stopover sites depends on foraging mode, and (c) how blood lipids vary within species foraging at the same stopover site in relation to
air temperature, body mass, and date. She also conducted an experiment with captive white-throated sparrows to further explore how diet quality and composition affect certain blood metabolites that are used as indicators of fat and protein deposition or catabolism. Dr. Smith published three journal articles from this work (two more are in preparation), and she presented her results at four scientific conferences. One M.Sc. graduate student, Lillie Langlois, was also associated with this project and she will defend her thesis in August 2008. Ms. Langlois conducted experiments to determine the protein and specific amino acid requirements of songbirds. Results from this research provide information that enhances our ability to effectively manage coastal ecosystems for migratory birds. Dissemination activities: 2007: presentations to University of Western Ontario, Society for American Field Ornithologist's, Ben Gurion University (Israel) 2006: presentations to Max Planck Institute for
Ornithology (Germany), American Physiological Society, North American Ornithological Congress (Mexico), Fordham University, International Ornithological Congress (Germany), Rhode Island Natural History Survey, Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology 2005: presentations to Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Institute for Wildlife Ecology (Austria), Netherland Institute for Ecology, European Science Foundation (Germany), RI Coastal Resources Management Council 2004: presentations to European Science Foundation, Cooper Ornithological Society, Audubon Society of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Natural History Survey
PARTICIPANTS: Graduate students trained: David Podlesak, PhD completed in December 2005; Susan Smith, PhD completed in May 2007; Lillie Langlois. MSc to be completed in August 2008 In addition, seven undergraduate students participated in this research during 2007, eight undergraduate students participated in this research during 2006, six undergraduate students participated in this research during 2005 and 2004, and they were trained in various aspects of field biology and husbandry of captive birds. Partner organizations: The Nature Conservancy, University of Rhode Island, RI Audubon Society
TARGET AUDIENCES: New insights obtained from this research affected the following constituencies: (a) regional, state, and local non-profit conservation organizations, government agencies, and advisory groups interested in coastal zone management (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, RI Dept. Environmental Management, Coastal Resources Management Council, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. National Wildlife Refuges), and (b) scientific colleagues in the U.S. and abroad who are interested in blood indices of animal health that can be used to assess the quality of wildlife habitat.
Impacts
This research involved the training of one Ph.D. student (Susan Smith) and one MSc student (Lillie Langlois) in field biology skills, laboratory analysis skills, and computer-intensive analysis of data. Susan Smith successfully defended and completed her PhD dissertation in May 2007. In addition, seven undergraduate students participated in this research during 2007, eight undergraduate students participated in this research during 2006, six undergraduate students participated in this research during 2005 and 2004, and they were trained in various aspects of field biology and husbandry of captive birds. New insights obtained from this research include determining how body composition and blood metabolites of representative songbird species can be used to evaluate the quality of habitats and foods for migrating birds while they use stopover sites in southern New England. New insights obtained from this research allowed us to test current ecological hypotheses relevant
to songbirds during migration. This knowledge of stopover sites for migratory birds enhances our ability to effectively manage coastal ecosystems for migratory species.
Publications
- McWilliams, S.R., B.J. Pierce, C. Guglielmo, M. Klaassen. 2004. Flying, fasting, and feeding in birds during migration: a physiological ecology perspective. JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY 35:377-393.
- Pierce, B.J., S.R. McWilliams, T. O Connor, A.R. Place, C. Guglielmo. 2005. Effect of dietary fatty acid composition on depot fat and exercise performance in a migrating songbird, the red-eyed vireo. Journal of Experimental Biology 208:1277-1285.
- Podlesak, D., S.R. McWilliams, K. Hatch. 2005. Stable isotopes in breath, blood, feces and feathers can indicate intra-individual changes in diet of migratory songbirds. Oecologia 142:501-510.
- Pierce, B.J. and S.R. McWilliams. 2005. Seasonal changes in composition of lipid stores in migratory birds: causes and consequences. Condor 107:271-281.
- Podlesak, D. and S.R. McWilliams. 2006. Birds metabolically route exogenous nutrients to rebuild digestive organs after fasting. Integrative and Comparative Biology 45:1057.
- Smith, S.B., S.R. McWilliams, and C. Guglielmo. 2006. Effect of diet on plasma metabolites in a migratory songbird. Integrative and Comparative Biology 45:1196.
- Podlesak, D. and S.R. McWilliams. 2007. Metabolic routing of dietary nutrients in birds: effects of dietary lipid composition on d13C of depot fat and its ecological implications. AUK 124:916-925.
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
This research project was initiated on 1 Oct. 2003 and so this report covers the third full year of the project. The primary goal of the proposed research is to use changes in body composition and blood metabolites of representative songbird species to evaluate the quality of available habitats and foods for migrating songbirds while they are using stopover sites in coastal southern New England. The field research is conducted on Block Island, Rhode Island, an important stopover site for migrating songbirds as indicated by past research including some of our own, and by its designation by The Nature Conservancy as one of ten last great places on earth because of its unique conservation importance. Results from previous related CRIS-supported research were reported in publications during 2006 (see list below). These results demonstrate that birds during migration through southern New England metabolically route macronutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrate) in fruits and
insects into their body reserves that are important for the bird's successful migration. One Ph.D. graduate student, Susan Smith, successfully completed her last field season during fall 2006. She conducted field experiments designed to determine (a) whether variation in refueling rates (measured by concentrations of blood lipids) of omnivorous migratory birds during stopover at different coastal New England sites is related to fruit resource abundance, (b) whether daytime lipid deposition (measured by plasma triglyceride and B-hydroxybutyrate) in free-living migratory songbirds at stopover sites depends on foraging mode (primarily insectivory versus frugivory), and (c) how blood lipids vary within species foraging at the same stopover site in relation to air temperature, body mass, and date. She also conducted an experiment with captive white-crowned sparrows to further explore how diet quality and composition affect certain blood metabolites (e.g., FFA, glycerol, BOHB, uric acid,
triglycerides) that are used as indicators of fat and protein deposition or catabolism. Ms. Smith produced two publications based on this work during 2006, and she has completed all required laboratory analysis and fieldwork. She will defend her dissertation during 2007.
Impacts
Results from this research will provide information that will enhance our ability to effectively manage coastal ecosystems for migratory birds. In addition, the information can be used to test current ecological hypotheses relevant to songbirds during migration.
Publications
- Podlesak, D. and S.R. McWilliams. 2006. Metabolic routing of dietary nutrients in birds: effects of diet quality and macronutrient composition revealed using stable isotopes. PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ZOOLOGY 79:534-549.
- Muller, M., S.R. McWilliams, D. Podlesak, J. Donaldson, and R. Lindroth. 2006. Tri-trophic direct and indirect effects of plant defenses: Black-capped chickadees choose to eat gypsy moth caterpillars based on host leaf chemistry. OIKOS 114:507-517.
- Podlesak, D. and S.R. McWilliams. 2007. Metabolic routing of dietary nutrients in birds: effects of dietary lipid composition on d13C of depot fat. AUK, in press. (Completed during 2006.)
- Smith, S.B., S.R. McWilliams, and C. Guglielmo. 2007. Effect of diet composition on plasma metabolite profiles in a migratory songbird. CONDOR, in press. (Completed during 2006.)
- Smith, S.B., K.H. McPherson, J. Backer, B.J. Pierce, D. Podlesak, S.R. McWilliams. 2007. Fruit quality and consumption by songbirds during autumn migration. WILSON JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY, in press. (Completed during 2006.)
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
This research project was initiated on 1 Oct. 2003 and so this report covers the second full year of the project. The primary goal of the proposed research is to use changes in body composition and blood metabolites of representative songbird species to evaluate the quality of available habitats and foods for migrating songbirds while they are using stopover sites in coastal southern New England. The field research is conducted on Block Island, Rhode Island, an important stopover site for migrating songbirds as indicated by past research including some of our own, and by its designation by The Nature Conservancy as one of ten last great places on earth because of its unique conservation importance. Results from previous related CRIS-supported research were reported in publications during 2005 (see list below). These results suggest that migratory birds switch from eating mostly insects to eating mostly fruits during their migration through southern New England, and
that these fruits contain types of fatty acids that may be quite important for successful migration of birds. One Ph.D. graduate student, Susan Smith, was hired in Sept. 2003 to work on this project. Ms. Smith successfully completed her third field season during fall 2005 on Block Island, RI. She conducted field experiments designed to determine (a) whether variation in refueling rates (measured by concentrations of blood lipids) of omnivorous migratory birds during stopover at different coastal New England sites is related to fruit resource abundance, (b) whether daytime lipid deposition (measured by plasma triglyceride and Bhydroxybutyrate) in freeliving migratory songbirds at stopover sites depends on foraging mode (primarily insectivory versus frugivory), and (c) how blood lipids vary within species foraging at the same stopover site in relation to air temperature, body mass, and date. She also conducted an experiment with captive white-crowned sparrows to further explore how diet
quality and composition affect certain blood metabolites (e.g., FFA, glycerol, BOHB, uric acid, triglycerides) that are used as indicators of fat and protein deposition or catabolism. Ms. Smith is completing the laboratory analysis of blood samples taken as part of this experiment and her fieldwork.
Impacts
Results from this research will provide information that will enhance our ability to effectively manage coastal ecosystems for migratory birds. In addition, the information can be used to test current ecological hypotheses relevant to songbirds during migration.
Publications
- Pierce, B.J., S.R. McWilliams, T. OConnor, A.R. Place, C. Guglielmo. 2005. Effect of dietary fatty acid composition on depot fat and exercise performance in a migrating songbird, the red-eyed vireos. Journal of Experimental Biology 208:1277-1285.
- Podlesak, D., S.R. McWilliams, K. Hatch. 2005. Stable isotopes in breath, blood, feces and feathers can indicate intra-individual changes in diet of migratory songbirds. Oecologia 142:501-510.
- Pierce, B.J. and S.R. McWilliams. 2005. Seasonal changes in composition of lipid stores in migratory birds: causes and consequences. Condor 107:271-281.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
This research project was initiated on 1 Oct. 2003 and so this report covers the first full year of the project. The primary goal of the proposed research is to use changes in body composition and blood metabolites of representative songbird species to evaluate the quality of available habitats and foods for migrating songbirds while they are using stopover sites in coastal southern New England. Although these migratory birds are not permanent residents of these particular coastal ecosystems, their seasonal presence or absence at these focal points tells us much about both the quality of these ecosystems as well as of other ecosystems elsewhere on the planet. The field research is conducted on Block Island, Rhode Island, an important stopover site for migrating songbirds as indicated by past research including some of our own, and by its designation by The Nature Conservancy as one of ten last great places on earth because of its unique conservation importance.
Results from this research will provide information that will enhance our ability to effectively manage coastal ecosystems for migratory birds. In addition, the information can be used to test current ecological hypotheses relevant to songbirds during migration. One Ph.D. graduate student, Susan Smith, was hired in Sept. 2003 to work on this project. Ms. Smith successfully completed her second field season during fall 2004 on Block Island, RI. She conducted field experiments designed to determine the nutritional adequacy of certain wild fruits for migrating songbirds. She also conducted an experiment with captive white-crowned sparrows to determine how diet quality and composition affect certain blood metabolites (e.g., FFA, glycerol, uric acid, triglycerides) that are used as indicators of fat and protein deposition or catabolism. Ms. Smith is completing the laboratory analysis of blood samples taken as part of this experiment and her fieldwork.
Impacts
Results from this research will provide information that will enhance our ability to effectively manage coastal ecosystems for migratory birds. In addition, the information can be used to test current ecological hypotheses relevant to songbirds during migration.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
This research project was initiated on 1 Oct. 2003 and so this report covers the first two months of the project. The primary goal of the proposed research is to use changes in body composition and blood metabolites of representative songbird species to evaluate the quality of available habitats and foods for migrating songbirds while they are using stopover sites in coastal southern New England. Although these migratory birds are not permanent residents of these particular coastal ecosystems, their seasonal presence or absence at these focal points tells us much about both the quality of these ecosystems as well as of other ecosystems elsewhere on the planet. The proposed research will be conducted on Block Island, Rhode Island, an important stopover site for migrating songbirds as indicated by past research including some of our own, and by its designation by The Nature Conservancy as one of ten "last great places" on earth because of its unique conservation
importance. Results from this research will provide information that will enhance our ability to effectively manage coastal ecosystems for migratory birds. In addition, the information can be used to test current ecological hypotheses relevant to songbirds during migration. One Ph.D. graduate student, Susan Smith, was hired in Sept. 2003 to work on this project. Ms. Smith successfully completed her first field season during fall 2003 on Block Island, RI. She also conducted an experiment with captive white-crowned sparrows to test the hypothesis that in songbirds certain blood metabolites (e.g., FFA, glycerol, betahydroxybutyrate, uric acid) reliably indicate lipid or protein catabolism whereas other metabolites (e.g., triglycerides) indicate lipid deposition. Ms. Smith is completing the laboratory analysis of blood samples taken as part of this experiment and her fieldwork. Results are not yet available.
Impacts
Results from this research will provide information that will enhance our ability to effectively manage coastal ecosystems for migratory birds. In addition, the information can be used to test current ecological hypotheses relevant to songbirds during migration.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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