Great tits do not compensate over time for a radio-tag-induced reduction in escape-flight performance.

ABSTRACT: The use of biologging and tracking devices is widespread in avian behavioral and ecological studies. Carrying these devices rarely has major behavioral or fitness effects in the wild, yet it may still impact animals in more subtle ways, such as during high power demanding escape maneuvers. Here, we tested whether or not great tits (Parus major) carrying a backpack radio-tag changed their body mass or flight behavior over time to compensate for the detrimental effect of carrying a tag. We tested 18 great tits, randomly assigned to a control (untagged) or one of two different types of a radio-tag as used in previous studies in the wild (0.9 g or 1.2 g; ~5% or ~6-7% of body mass, respectively), and determined their upward escape-flight performance 1, 7, 14, and 28 days after tagging. I

SUBMITTER: Tomotani BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8668726 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature