Biology subjects

Lopez-Ricaurte, L.

Publications and source records attributed to Lopez-Ricaurte, L..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Gradual ontogenetic shifts in the mobility and space use of long-lived migratory greater flamingos

O_LIHow early-life exploration shapes the adult annual cycle routines of migratory animals remains challenging to study, especially in long-lived species. Delayed recruitment often observed in long-lived migratory birds suggests that the first breeding attempt may be constrained by a protracted learning process in which individuals develop their annual itinerary, which may involve extensive exploration of the winter and breeding sites, potentially causing inexperienced young to wander beyond traditional population areas. C_LIO_LIUsing greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus GPS tracking data from 83 individuals tagged as nestlings in the Mediterranean, we analyzed ontogenetic changes in mobility and space use for up to 8 years of age. We segmented autumn-winter and spring-summer tracks (n = 223 device-bird-year combinations) into staging events (n = 1914). We then computed seasonal staging metrics and analysed how they changed with age. We map the traditional congregation sites of flamingos to investigate age-related changes in space use between males and females. C_LIO_LIFlamingos were more exploratory during their early years, gradually transitioning to a more sedentary lifestyle as they grew older. With each additional year of age, the number of staging events decreased by 16%, while the average duration of staging events increased by 8 days. C_LIO_LIBirds remained faithful to the non-breeding staging sites where they spent most of their time during the first year of life. Over time, they returned progressively closer to their natal sites, even after years of exploration at non-traditional locations. Breeding was rare (8%) and occurred at a relatively late age ([≥]5 years), highlighting an extended exploratory phase, a pattern observed in other long-lived species. C_LIO_LIOlder birds were more likely to use traditional sites and spent more time at these sites, particularly after age 5. Our study reveals the individual exploration process underlying natal and non-breeding dispersal patterns previously laid bare by ring-resighting studies and shows that flamingos retain long-term memory of sites learned in early life. C_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Kestrels of the same colony do not overwinter together

Coloniality is one of the most common strategies in birds. While the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) is a colonial raptor during the breeding period, it is not known whether individuals from the same breeding colony aggregate during the non-breeding period too. We GPS-tracked 40 adult lesser kestrels from different Spanish breeding colonies to study the degree of spatial aggregation between individuals from the same breeding colony in their West African non-breeding range. Lesser kestrels in our study used a large area from a wide longitudinal strip in the western Sahel: individuals used 143,697 {+/-} 98,048 km2 on average during the entire non-breeding period (95% KDE), and 1,359 {+/-} 1,424 km2 per week. On the other hand, the individuals traveled 6205 {+/-} 2407 km on average during the entire non-breeding period, and 41.1 {+/-} 11.8 km per day. There were no differences between the sexes in any of those variables. Individuals from the same breeding colony were not aggregated during the non-breeding period because the overlap between their areas (38.8 {+/-} 21.4 %) was not higher than that randomly expected. In conclusion, our study reveals some aspects of the non-breeding spatial ecology of the lesser kestrel, allowing a better understanding of the relationship of colonial birds out of the breeding season.

zoology↗

bioRxiv2022

Itinerant lifestyle and congregation of lesser kestrels in West Africa

Migratory birds often spend a large proportion of their annual cycle in their non-breeding areas. While some species are sedentary after arriving in their non-breeding areas, others engage in itinerary or nomadic movements. Using GPS-tracking we aimed to investigate the little known non-breeding movements of the lesser kestrel Falco namumanni in sub-Saharan Africa. We segment non-breeding tracks (n = 78 tracks by 54 individuals) into staging events (131{+/-} 25 days), itinerant movements between staging sites (11 {+/-} 10 days), and non-directed exploratory movements (6 {+/-} 5 days). We then describe timing and directionality of itinerary movements by male and female kestrels, and explore shifts in habitat use throughout the non-breeding season. Regardless of sex, lesser kestrels spent on average 89% of the non-breeding season at 2-3 staging sites in West Africa. Upon arrival at the end of September, kestrels used disparate sites throughout the Sahel. By December, however, they congregated into two clearly delineated areas in Senegal and along the Malian-Mauritanian border. The birds stayed longer and showed greater daily activity in the latter areas, which were situated closer to wetlands compared to their first and intermediate ones. While 20 of 24 individuals tracked across multiple annual cycles showed consistent staging sites, a few switched between the Senegal and Mauritanian/Malian staging clusters. These results show that rather than tracking suitable climatic conditions southward, lesser kestrels survive the West African dry season by moving into wetland areas within the Sahelian climatic belt. Our findings match reports of lesser kestrel super-roosts in West Africa and stress the conservation value of wetlands along the Senegal River and the Inner Niger Delta in West Africa for the Spanish lesser kestrel population. These areas host 81% of lesser kestrels during 20% of their annual cycle.

animal behavior and cognition↗