‘Turbocharged’ Mitochondria Power Birds’ Epic Migratory Journeys
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Summary
Scientists have long been fascinated by the physiological changes that enable birds to travel vast distances during migration without stopping to eat or rest.
Two recent studies have advanced the idea that an organism can change significantly without modifying its genetic makeup in response to its environment and seasons (phenotypic flexibility).
They explored the role of mitochondria, sometimes known as the powerhouses of the cell, in migratory birds’ long-distance flight.
One study traveled with a mobile lab to study the yellow-rumped warbler, a songbird that migrates between Canada and the United States, and the white-crowned sparrow, finding that migratory birds’ flight muscles had more numerous and efficient mitochondria and that the oxygen consumption by mitochondria was highest during migration but ramped up before the journey.
Another study, which captured white-crowned sparrows of different migratory subspecies, found that migratory sparrows had more numerous and efficient mitochondria in flight muscles and that mitochondria in nonmigratory birds were less dynamic.
Understanding how mitochondria can provide birds with more energy without producing harmful molecules may be a critical area for future research.
Related research has shown that migratory birds eat fruits rich in antioxidants, which counteract harmful molecules.
