Table 1: 1Seabird Tracking Database
http://www.seabirdtracking.org/
Our overarching prediction is that seabirds will use both atmospheric
infrasound (flying birds) and hydro infrasound (penguins) to navigate
and this will be evident by changes in trajectories in response to
infrasound. The breadth and quantity of data available will also allow
us to finer scale relationships between birds and infrasound, which may
be linked to the detection of weather or oceanographic conditions
through infrasound detection. One of the strengths of the pre-existing
data is that a range of species have been tracked, showing natural
variation in life history (Table 2). By comparing species which travel
short and long distances, migrant and non-migrants, and different
phylogenetic groups with physiological differences, we will be able to
test the following hypotheses:
-
Birds use infrasound to navigate
-
Birds reach areas of optimal weather conditions by detecting
infrasound
-
Birds that travel further distances will be more responsive to
infrasound
-
As infrasound travels further in water, penguins will show stronger
use of infrasound than aerial navigators
-
In geographical areas where weather conditions are highly dynamic, use
of infrasound will be beneficial to predict conditions and therefore
more common
-
Species which rely on wind for flight will be more sensitive to
infrasound as they can use it to detect optimal wind locations
-
The apparatus to detect infrasound will be more developed in species
which show greater use of infrasound (WP3)