Intra- and interspecific variation in trace element concentrations in feathers of north European trans-African migrants

The knowledge of migratory connectivity is important for understanding the potential drivers of populations and it is thus important for conservation implications. Migratory connectivity of species can be studied using exogenous, such as rings and transmitters, or endogenous markers, such as stable isotopes and trace elements. The use of trace elements has been much less frequently studied compared to stable isotopes. Trace elements can be studied from the feathers of birds and this does not necessarily require trapping of individuals. Here we studied the variation of 18 different trace elements in feathers of two long-distance trans-African migrants, willow warblers Phylloscopus trochilus and barn swallows Hirundo rustica, using body feathers of museum specimens of birds from Finnish breeding grounds. The trace elements were measured using laser-ablation inductively-coupled-plasma mass-spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). We show that trace element concentrations were relatively stable along the rachis within the same feather except in Ni and S, which showed a quadratic pattern. In general, variation within feathers of the same individuals was smaller than in feathers between individuals for most elements. Furthermore, concentrations of 11 trace elements showed significantly higher concentrations in willow warbler feathers collected in spring than in autumn, moulted in African wintering grounds and European breeding grounds, respectively. Last, concentrations of seven trace elements were significantly higher in the spring feathers of willow warblers compared to barn swallows. This suggests that trace elements could be used to separate moulting grounds of the birds on the larger scale within the same species, but also sampling design should be carefully considered.

Automated summary

By studying the variation of trace element concentrations in feathers of two migratory bird species, their migratory connectivity can be understood. It was found that 11 trace elements had significantly higher concentrations in spring feathers of willow warblers compared to autumn feathers, and 7 trace elements had significantly higher concentrations in spring feathers of willow warblers compared to barn swallows. Therefore, trace elements can be used to differentiate molting grounds within the same species, but sampling design should be carefully considered.