Selective disappearance based on navigational efficiency in a long-lived seabird.

ABSTRACT: Whilst efficient movement through space is thought to increase the fitness of long-distance migrants, evidence that selection acts upon such traits remains elusive. Here, using 228 migratory tracks collected from 102 adult breeding common terns (Sterna hirundo) aged 3-22 years, we find evidence that older terns navigate more efficiently than younger terns and that efficient navigation leads to a reduced migration duration and earlier arrival at the breeding and wintering grounds. We additionally find that the age-specificity of navigational efficiency in adult breeding birds cannot be explained by within-individual change with age (i.e. learning), suggesting the selective disappearance of less navigationally efficient individuals. This suggests that, at least in common terns, learning of n

SUBMITTER: Wynn J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11962229 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature