Obese super athletes: fat-fueled migration in birds and bats
Migratory birds are physiologically specialized to accumulate massive fat stores (up to 50–
60% of body mass), and to transport and oxidize fatty acids at very high rates to sustain flight …
60% of body mass), and to transport and oxidize fatty acids at very high rates to sustain flight …
[PDF][PDF] Metabolic flexibility: hibernation, torpor, and estivation
Many environmental conditions can constrain the ability of animals to obtain sufficient food
energy, or transform that food energy into useful chemical forms. To survive extended …
energy, or transform that food energy into useful chemical forms. To survive extended …
A neonicotinoid insecticide reduces fueling and delays migration in songbirds
Neonicotinoids are neurotoxic insecticides widely used as seed treatments, but little is
known of their effects on migrating birds that forage in agricultural areas. We tracked the …
known of their effects on migrating birds that forage in agricultural areas. We tracked the …
Higher fat stores contribute to persistence of little brown bat populations with white‐nose syndrome
The persistence of populations declining from novel stressors depends, in part, on their
ability to respond by trait change via evolution or plasticity. White‐nose syndrome (WNS) …
ability to respond by trait change via evolution or plasticity. White‐nose syndrome (WNS) …
Long-duration wind tunnel flights reveal exponential declines in protein catabolism over time in short-and long-distance migratory warblers
During migration, long-distance migratory songbirds may fly nonstop for days, whereas
shorter-distance migrants complete flights of 6 to 10 h. Fat is the primary fuel source, but …
shorter-distance migrants complete flights of 6 to 10 h. Fat is the primary fuel source, but …
Migratory stopover in the long‐distance migrant silver‐haired bat, Lasionycteris noctivagans
Some bat species make long‐distance latitudinal migrations between summer and winter
grounds, but because of their elusive nature, few aspects of their biology are well …
grounds, but because of their elusive nature, few aspects of their biology are well …
Migratory songbirds exhibit seasonal modulation of the oxygen cascade
Migratory flight requires birds to maintain intensive aerobic exercise for many hours or days.
Maintaining O2 supply to flight muscles is therefore important during migration, especially …
Maintaining O2 supply to flight muscles is therefore important during migration, especially …
Flight at low ambient humidity increases protein catabolism in migratory birds
Although fat is the primary fuel for migratory flight in birds, protein is also used. Catabolism of
tissue protein yields five times as much water per kilojoule as fat, and so one proposed …
tissue protein yields five times as much water per kilojoule as fat, and so one proposed …
How do energy stores and changes in these affect departure decisions by migratory birds? A critical view on stopover ecology studies and some future perspectives
In birds, accumulating energy is far slower than spending energy during flight. During
migration, birds spend, therefore, most of the time at stopover refueling energy used during …
migration, birds spend, therefore, most of the time at stopover refueling energy used during …
Common condition indices are no more effective than body mass for estimating fat stores in insectivorous bats
Researchers often use simple body condition indices (BCI) to estimate the relative size of fat
stores in bats. Animals determined to be in better condition are assumed to be more …
stores in bats. Animals determined to be in better condition are assumed to be more …