Vries, Stefan de (2026) Initiation of fattening up before moulting in ruddy turnstones Arenaria interpres upon arrival at the Wadden sea. Bachelor's Research Project (period 2b), Biology.
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Abstract
Due to climate change, arctic-breeding shorebirds are under pressure. These birds are forced to arrive earlier at their breeding grounds to meet food requirements. Stopping over to refuel is an important phase in this process of spring migration. Therefore is research about this part of migration and changing phenology of these birds relevant. In this research, it is assessed how body mass gain and moult progresses in ruddy turnstones (Arenaria interpres) during spring migration on the island of Schiermonnikoog. Moult and body mass were scored from video recordings from March to May to assess what event is initiated first and if there is a change in progress between adults and non-breeding juveniles. T-tests between consecutive weeks and a generalized linear model were used to analyse the data. It was found that body mass gain was initiated before moult and that adults showed a larger increase in both body mass gain and moult. This was expected since birds arrive at the Wadden sea with low fuel reserves and moult is energetically costly. Also, the non-breeding juveniles usually do not migrate along with the adults, explaining the lower increase in both events.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor's Research Project (period 2b)) |
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| Supervisor name: | Lameris, T.K. and Buesink, S.P. |
| Degree programme: | Biology |
| Thesis type: | Bachelor's Research Project (period 2b) |
| Language: | English |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Jun 2026 12:08 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Jun 2026 12:08 |
| URI: | https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/37320 |
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