Movement ecology in a polyandrous bird - the Eurasian dotterel
PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to get novel insights into hitherto little-known breeding-season movements of female Eurasian dotterels (hereafter dotterels). This is a polyandrous wader where females mate with several males which typically are left to take the sole responsibility for eggs and chicks. We hypothesize that the polygamous female dotterels are nomadic when searching for males. Studies of how mate-searching females roam have hitherto been hampered by a lack of suitable tracking methods. Very little is therefore still known about this kind of avian behaviour in general.
DISTRESS: The methods in this study are well tested in dotterels and/or other bird species and the planned experimentation is expected to have low impact on the birds’ welfare. We will trap wild female dotterels in Norway early in the breeding season. By using cutting-edge satellite technology (2 g, solar-powered satellite telemetry tags) these birds will be tracked throughout the breeding season to estimate how far they travel in search of mates. The tags only make up <2% of the birds’ body mass and are glued to the back feathers of the bird. Consequently, since birds are moulting their body feathers after breeding, the tag will fall off after a max. duration of about 90 days (most likely earlier). All birds in our study will be trapped and ringed with colour rings for subsequent identification and a small blood sample will be taken to allow certain (molecular) sex identification.
EXPECTED BENEFIT: We expect the study to provide data which will yield novel insights into little-known aspects of basic avian biology. In addition, the study will provide data relevant for conservation of dotterels, by showing how populations of this species are inter-connected.
NUMBER AND KIND OF STUDY ANIMALS: 25 female Eurasian Dotterels (Charadrius morinellus)
ADHERENCE TO 3R: Replacement of live animals for this experiment is not possible since studies of if/how wild female dotterels migrate during the breeding season can only be carried out in free-living birds. We expect that 25 birds is a sufficient sample for the purpose of the study as it is comparable with a range of other published biotracking studies in birds. Several means are taken to lower the impact on animal welfare as much as possible: 1) we will use the smallest and lightest satellite transmitters on the market, 2) we will attach the tags by gluing to the back feathers of birds, which means that devices fall off within an estimated period of 30-90 days, 3) blood sampling will be done under strict levels of hygiene, and 4) the project personnel are highly experienced in similar work and thus fully able to do the work without compromising animal welfare.
DISTRESS: The methods in this study are well tested in dotterels and/or other bird species and the planned experimentation is expected to have low impact on the birds’ welfare. We will trap wild female dotterels in Norway early in the breeding season. By using cutting-edge satellite technology (2 g, solar-powered satellite telemetry tags) these birds will be tracked throughout the breeding season to estimate how far they travel in search of mates. The tags only make up <2% of the birds’ body mass and are glued to the back feathers of the bird. Consequently, since birds are moulting their body feathers after breeding, the tag will fall off after a max. duration of about 90 days (most likely earlier). All birds in our study will be trapped and ringed with colour rings for subsequent identification and a small blood sample will be taken to allow certain (molecular) sex identification.
EXPECTED BENEFIT: We expect the study to provide data which will yield novel insights into little-known aspects of basic avian biology. In addition, the study will provide data relevant for conservation of dotterels, by showing how populations of this species are inter-connected.
NUMBER AND KIND OF STUDY ANIMALS: 25 female Eurasian Dotterels (Charadrius morinellus)
ADHERENCE TO 3R: Replacement of live animals for this experiment is not possible since studies of if/how wild female dotterels migrate during the breeding season can only be carried out in free-living birds. We expect that 25 birds is a sufficient sample for the purpose of the study as it is comparable with a range of other published biotracking studies in birds. Several means are taken to lower the impact on animal welfare as much as possible: 1) we will use the smallest and lightest satellite transmitters on the market, 2) we will attach the tags by gluing to the back feathers of birds, which means that devices fall off within an estimated period of 30-90 days, 3) blood sampling will be done under strict levels of hygiene, and 4) the project personnel are highly experienced in similar work and thus fully able to do the work without compromising animal welfare.