Abstract
Patterns of space use are often subject to large temporal and individual-level variation, due to seasonality in behaviour and environmental conditions as well as age- or sex-specific needs. Especially in temperate regions, seasonality likely influences space use even in non-migratory birds. In waterfowl of the family Anatidae, however, few studies have analyzed space use of the same individuals across the full annual cycle. We used a resident population of Mandarin Ducks (Aix galericulata) in northeast Germany to study their year-round space use in relation to season, sex, and age. We marked 172 birds with colour rings and surveyed relevant water bodies for re-encounters for several years. As space-use patterns we derived home ranges from minimum convex polygons and the number of water bodies used by individual birds. Our analysis revealed that individuals shifted their space use between seasons, in particular extending their home ranges during the non-breeding season. Between years, in contrast, birds tended to show season-specific site fidelity. Sex differences were apparent during both breeding and non-breeding season, males consistently having larger home ranges and using slightly more water bodies. No difference was found between first-year and adult birds. Our study demonstrates that mark-resighting can provide valuable information about space use in species with suitable behaviour and readily accessible habitat. In such cases, it may be a valid alternative to more expensive GPS-tracking or short-term manual radio telemetry, particularly within citizen-science projects.
Highlights
Birds’ space use and movement patterns are tightly linked to various aspects of their ecology and life history
Birds were marked with a standard metal ring on one leg and a white plastic ring with a two-digit code on the other leg. The latter could be read with binoculars from a distance, as Mandarin Ducks often leave water to roost on the shore or on branches
To further investigate seasonal space-use differences, we considered the overlap of home ranges between seasons for all individuals with sufficient data in both seasons
Summary
Birds’ space use and movement patterns are tightly linked to various aspects of their ecology and life history. Largescale movement strategies, such as migration and residency, strongly affect survival, reproduction and recruitment (Grist et al 2017; Buchan et al 2020) and species interactions (Ahola et al 2007). Species-specific patterns of space use may be subject to considerable individual-level and temporal variation, due to fluctuating environmental conditions (e.g. seasonally), species’ annual cycles of behaviour (e.g. reproduction and moulting), and age- or sex-specific needs. Most studies investigate space use either during the breeding season (Gilmer et al 1975; Kirby et al 1985; Mack et al 2003) or during winter (Legagneux et al 2009; Sauter et al 2012). Our understanding of how waterfowl space use compares across seasons, possibly in interaction with sex or age, is limited
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