Influence of natural tail streamer asymmetry and tail length on annual apparent survival of adult Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)

Flight traits mediated by symmetry should be constrained by mechanical or aerodynamic effects. Natural asymmetry and external tail feather length could have unfavorable effects on aerodynamic performance and affect the survival of highly aerial birds. The Magnificent Frigatebird, Fregata magnificens...

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Main Authors: Mónica González-Jaramillo, José Luis Rangel-Salazar, Horacio de la Cueva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México 2019-03-01
Series:Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
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Online Access:https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/2626
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author Mónica González-Jaramillo
José Luis Rangel-Salazar
Horacio de la Cueva
author_facet Mónica González-Jaramillo
José Luis Rangel-Salazar
Horacio de la Cueva
author_sort Mónica González-Jaramillo
collection DOAJ
description Flight traits mediated by symmetry should be constrained by mechanical or aerodynamic effects. Natural asymmetry and external tail feather length could have unfavorable effects on aerodynamic performance and affect the survival of highly aerial birds. The Magnificent Frigatebird, Fregata magnificens, is a long-lived, highly aerial seabird with a deeply forked tail, and an extraordinary division of labor between sexes. Its flight pattern is soaring and dynamic, it also has fast active flight and acrobatic maneuvers. We explore the possible effect of tail streamer asymmetry and tail length on annual apparent survival of Magnificent Frigatebirds by using 6 years (2000-2005) of capture-mark-resighting of live-encounter data analysis. Male frigatebirds showed significant differences between left and right tail streamer length, and tail asymmetry differences between sexes. Models did not find a clear effect of tail streamer asymmetry and tail length, as individual covariates, on annual apparent survival by sex. Natural variation in a secondary sexual trait like those explored here likely does not affect apparent survival. Life-history strategies such as flight pattern, breeding behavior, and tail moult may constrain any negative effects. Longer mark-resighting studies and additional modelling could answer conclusively the association between survival and flight traits in Magnificent Frigatebirds.
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series Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
spelling doaj-art-8a34891c23f449e8941fe98cce0884492025-08-20T01:49:31ZengUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoRevista Mexicana de Biodiversidad1870-34532007-87062019-03-019010.22201/ib.20078706e.2019.90.2626Influence of natural tail streamer asymmetry and tail length on annual apparent survival of adult Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)Mónica González-Jaramillo0José Luis Rangel-Salazar1Horacio de la Cueva2Investigación y Soluciones Socioambientales, A.C. Pedro Moreno 147, Colonia San José, Campeche, Campeche, 24040, MéxicoDepartamento de Ecología y Sistemática Terrestres. El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Apartado Postal 63, San Cristóbal de las Casas, 29290, Chiapas, MéxicoCICEEFlight traits mediated by symmetry should be constrained by mechanical or aerodynamic effects. Natural asymmetry and external tail feather length could have unfavorable effects on aerodynamic performance and affect the survival of highly aerial birds. The Magnificent Frigatebird, Fregata magnificens, is a long-lived, highly aerial seabird with a deeply forked tail, and an extraordinary division of labor between sexes. Its flight pattern is soaring and dynamic, it also has fast active flight and acrobatic maneuvers. We explore the possible effect of tail streamer asymmetry and tail length on annual apparent survival of Magnificent Frigatebirds by using 6 years (2000-2005) of capture-mark-resighting of live-encounter data analysis. Male frigatebirds showed significant differences between left and right tail streamer length, and tail asymmetry differences between sexes. Models did not find a clear effect of tail streamer asymmetry and tail length, as individual covariates, on annual apparent survival by sex. Natural variation in a secondary sexual trait like those explored here likely does not affect apparent survival. Life-history strategies such as flight pattern, breeding behavior, and tail moult may constrain any negative effects. Longer mark-resighting studies and additional modelling could answer conclusively the association between survival and flight traits in Magnificent Frigatebirds. https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/2626Aerodynamic costExternal rectricesSeabirdSurvival modelling
spellingShingle Mónica González-Jaramillo
José Luis Rangel-Salazar
Horacio de la Cueva
Influence of natural tail streamer asymmetry and tail length on annual apparent survival of adult Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)
Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
Aerodynamic cost
External rectrices
Seabird
Survival modelling
title Influence of natural tail streamer asymmetry and tail length on annual apparent survival of adult Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)
title_full Influence of natural tail streamer asymmetry and tail length on annual apparent survival of adult Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)
title_fullStr Influence of natural tail streamer asymmetry and tail length on annual apparent survival of adult Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)
title_full_unstemmed Influence of natural tail streamer asymmetry and tail length on annual apparent survival of adult Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)
title_short Influence of natural tail streamer asymmetry and tail length on annual apparent survival of adult Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)
title_sort influence of natural tail streamer asymmetry and tail length on annual apparent survival of adult magnificent frigatebird fregata magnificens
topic Aerodynamic cost
External rectrices
Seabird
Survival modelling
url https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/2626
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