10.5061/DRYAD.7FT57
Toews, David P. L.
Cornell University
University of British Columbia
Heavyside, Julian
University of British Columbia
Irwin, Darren E.
University of British Columbia
Data from: Linking the wintering and breeding grounds of warblers along
the Pacific Flyway
Dryad
dataset
2018
Parulidae
Setophaga coronata
Isotopes
2018-06-30T00:00:00Z
2018-06-30T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3222
6590379 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
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)
captured during their spring migration along the Pacific Coast, south of
the narrow region where these two taxa hybridize. Using stable hydrogen
isotopes and biometric data, we show that those myrtle warblers wintering
along the southern Pacific Coast of North America are likely to breed at
high latitudes in Alaska and the Yukon rather than in Alberta or further
east. Our interpretation is that the evolution of this wintering range and
migration route along the Pacific Coast may have facilitated the breeding
expansion of myrtle warblers into northwestern North America. Moreover,
these data suggest that there may be a migratory divide within genetically
similar populations of myrtle warblers.
Isomap Assignment Output FilesIsoMAP output files in .asc format for each
feather. Directory substructure represents species (Audubon's versus
myrtle) and is further divided by molt, with "alt" (alternate
feather) versus basic (basic feather).isomap_output.zipRaw hydrogen
isotope values and bird measurementsyrwa_migration_isotope.csv
Western North America