Choosing the right fuel: effects of dietary fatty acid composition on migratory performance in birds

Migration is an important life-history strategy in birds. Due to the hight associated energetic cost, sufficient fat stores are cricual to fuel migration.

However, it has been found that certain dietary fatty acids (FA), have a positive effect on exercise performance and thus, suggestively also on migratory performance.

The aims of this project are to (1) assess the significanse of dietary FA composition onmigratory performance, and (2) diet preference in birds. This will be achived by diet manipulation duering fueling and use of state-of-the-art tracking technology.

To this end, I will use the western sandpiper (Calidris mauri), bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica), and red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceus) as study systems. Integrating physiological experiments with long-distance tracking is at the frontier of migratory research.

This will not only allow me to answer is the hypothesis if birds use natural doping agents, but understanding the the importance of FA composition of diet during migration will enhance our understanding about physiological and environmental limitations in long-distance bird migration and processes determining species distributions.

This is particularely important in the light of global change. The intended research wil be hosted by Dr. Christopher Guglielmo and Dr. Yolanda Morbey at the University of Western Ontario (Canada) and in collaboration with Prof. Theunis Piersma and Dr. Roeland Bom at NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research.