Lanctot, R. B. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2024

Source amplitude increases with body mass across avian genera

Amplitude, or intensity, of sound is a fundamental characteristic of inter acoustic communication, with relevance in many scientific fields. The amplitude of an animals acoustic signal at its source ("source amplitude") may be particularly relevant in the field of acoustic allometry, where relationships between species physical and acoustic features (e.g., dominant frequency) have been well-established across taxa. However, despite their potential scientific value, records and studies of source amplitudes remain remarkably scarce for avian species. Here we present novel estimates of source amplitude (range, mean, and median) for 17 species of Arctic-breeding birds, derived from measurements made in Utqia[g]vik, Alaska during June 2024. We found a strong positive correlation between body mass and source amplitude in this data via a Markov Chain Monte Carlo multivariate generalized linear mixed model (MCMCglmm). Both phylogeny and individual identity were important random effects in this model. In contrast, random effects from environmental factors and measurement characteristics were minimal. Our work represents the first model describing the relationship between source amplitude and allometry across avian genera. We hope that this study will spur other investigations into avian source amplitude and its relationship to morphological and life history features for species in the Arctic and elsewhere.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2024

The collective application of shorebird tracking data to conservation

Addressing urgent conservation issues, like the drastic declines of North American migratory birds, requires creative, evidence-based, efficient, and collaborative approaches. Over 50% of monitored North American shorebird populations have lost over 50% of their abundance since 1980. To address these declines, we developed a partnership of scientists and practitioners called the Shorebird Science and Conservation Collective (hereinafter "the Collective"). Here, we present this successful case study as an example for others engaged in translational science. The Collective acts as an intermediary whereby dedicated staff collate and analyze data contributions from scientists to support knowledge requests from conservation practitioners. Data contributions from 74 organizations include over 6.7 million shorebird locations forming movement paths of 3,345 individuals representing 36 species tracked across the Americas. We describe the founding and structure of the Collective and conservation activities we supported in our first two years. As the volume of scientific data on animal movements continues to grow, groups like the Collective can be vital liaisons to rapidly integrate and interpret research to support conservation action.

ecology↗