From fledging to independence: Post-fledging movements and space use of the Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon)
The post-fledging period, extending from fledging to independence, is a crucial life stage characterized by high mortality due to fledglings' limited mobility and inexperience. During this stage, fledglings gradually increase their mobility, leave their parents, disperse from their natal site,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Avian Research |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2053716625000453 |
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| author | Yu Lei Xianglong Xu Yuanxing Ye Chao Wang Baoping Qing Wenbin Duan Jiaqi Yan Yongjie Huang Changqing Ding |
| author_facet | Yu Lei Xianglong Xu Yuanxing Ye Chao Wang Baoping Qing Wenbin Duan Jiaqi Yan Yongjie Huang Changqing Ding |
| author_sort | Yu Lei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The post-fledging period, extending from fledging to independence, is a crucial life stage characterized by high mortality due to fledglings' limited mobility and inexperience. During this stage, fledglings gradually increase their mobility, leave their parents, disperse from their natal site, and respond to the challenges of new environments. Characterizing these post-fledging movements and space use is essential for understanding juvenile survival strategies and devising targeted conservation measures. The Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon), an endangered species and a highly protected animals at the national level in China, has seen limited research on its post-fledging movements and space use. From 2015 to 2023, we utilized biologgers, combined with field surveys, to study the movement and space use characteristics of 37 fledglings in Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province, China, over a two-month post-fledging period. We quantified changes in activity levels (based on overall dynamic body acceleration), independence timing, onset of post-fledging dispersal, habitat selection, and daily activity rhythms after independence. Our results revealed individuals began independent living 26.23 ± 2.34 days post-fledging and onset of dispersal at 25.58 ± 2.33 days, with a range area at the natal of 2.08 ± 0.56 km2. The initial 30 days post-fledging are characterized as an ontogenetic phase marked by a rapid increase in body activity level. Fledglings preferred paddy fields during the independent period rather than the forests they relied on before independence. Interestingly, the daily activity rhythm, particularly foraging behavior, peaked at noon—contrasting with the expected morning and evening activity peaks—likely as an adaptation to avoid periods of peak human activity. Additionally, drowning, collisions, and predation in paddy fields are noteworthy causes of fledgling mortality. Consequently, we recommend protecting a 2-km2 area around the nest site for at least two-month post-fledging, implementing safety measures around power lines and cesspools. Additionally, reducing human disturbances near foraging habitats and expanding space within paddy fields would help mitigate survival pressures on fledglings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-27a5674f76824dd2bcd6d1d5c40af595 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2053-7166 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Avian Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-27a5674f76824dd2bcd6d1d5c40af5952025-08-20T02:47:25ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Avian Research2053-71662025-09-0116310026610.1016/j.avrs.2025.100266From fledging to independence: Post-fledging movements and space use of the Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon)Yu Lei0Xianglong Xu1Yuanxing Ye2Chao Wang3Baoping Qing4Wenbin Duan5Jiaqi Yan6Yongjie Huang7Changqing Ding8School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, ChinaShaanxi Hanzhong Crested Ibis National Nature Reserve, Yangxian, Shaanxi, 723300, ChinaShaanxi Hanzhong Crested Ibis National Nature Reserve, Yangxian, Shaanxi, 723300, ChinaShaanxi Hanzhong Crested Ibis National Nature Reserve, Yangxian, Shaanxi, 723300, ChinaShaanxi Hanzhong Crested Ibis National Nature Reserve, Yangxian, Shaanxi, 723300, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China; Institute of Ecology and Environment, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, 530007, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China; Corresponding author.The post-fledging period, extending from fledging to independence, is a crucial life stage characterized by high mortality due to fledglings' limited mobility and inexperience. During this stage, fledglings gradually increase their mobility, leave their parents, disperse from their natal site, and respond to the challenges of new environments. Characterizing these post-fledging movements and space use is essential for understanding juvenile survival strategies and devising targeted conservation measures. The Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon), an endangered species and a highly protected animals at the national level in China, has seen limited research on its post-fledging movements and space use. From 2015 to 2023, we utilized biologgers, combined with field surveys, to study the movement and space use characteristics of 37 fledglings in Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province, China, over a two-month post-fledging period. We quantified changes in activity levels (based on overall dynamic body acceleration), independence timing, onset of post-fledging dispersal, habitat selection, and daily activity rhythms after independence. Our results revealed individuals began independent living 26.23 ± 2.34 days post-fledging and onset of dispersal at 25.58 ± 2.33 days, with a range area at the natal of 2.08 ± 0.56 km2. The initial 30 days post-fledging are characterized as an ontogenetic phase marked by a rapid increase in body activity level. Fledglings preferred paddy fields during the independent period rather than the forests they relied on before independence. Interestingly, the daily activity rhythm, particularly foraging behavior, peaked at noon—contrasting with the expected morning and evening activity peaks—likely as an adaptation to avoid periods of peak human activity. Additionally, drowning, collisions, and predation in paddy fields are noteworthy causes of fledgling mortality. Consequently, we recommend protecting a 2-km2 area around the nest site for at least two-month post-fledging, implementing safety measures around power lines and cesspools. Additionally, reducing human disturbances near foraging habitats and expanding space within paddy fields would help mitigate survival pressures on fledglings.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2053716625000453Behavioral development hypothesisDaily activity rhythmsDependent periodHabitat selectionPhysical mobility developmentPost-fledging dispersal |
| spellingShingle | Yu Lei Xianglong Xu Yuanxing Ye Chao Wang Baoping Qing Wenbin Duan Jiaqi Yan Yongjie Huang Changqing Ding From fledging to independence: Post-fledging movements and space use of the Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon) Avian Research Behavioral development hypothesis Daily activity rhythms Dependent period Habitat selection Physical mobility development Post-fledging dispersal |
| title | From fledging to independence: Post-fledging movements and space use of the Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon) |
| title_full | From fledging to independence: Post-fledging movements and space use of the Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon) |
| title_fullStr | From fledging to independence: Post-fledging movements and space use of the Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon) |
| title_full_unstemmed | From fledging to independence: Post-fledging movements and space use of the Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon) |
| title_short | From fledging to independence: Post-fledging movements and space use of the Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon) |
| title_sort | from fledging to independence post fledging movements and space use of the crested ibis nipponia nippon |
| topic | Behavioral development hypothesis Daily activity rhythms Dependent period Habitat selection Physical mobility development Post-fledging dispersal |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2053716625000453 |
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