Environment, behavior and physiology: do birds use barometric pressure to predict storms?

Area of Science:

• Animal Behavior
• Physiology
• Ecology

Background:

• Severe storms challenge temperature and energy balance in small endotherms.
• Animals may use cues like barometric pressure to anticipate and mitigate storm risks.
• White-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) are small endotherms potentially vulnerable to storms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between barometric pressure, storms, and stress physiology in free-living white-crowned sparrows.
• To determine the effects of manipulated barometric pressure on the activity, food intake, metabolic rate, and stress physiology of white-crowned sparrows.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of field data linking barometric pressure, storms, and stress indicators in wild sparrows.
• Laboratory experiments manipulating barometric pressure to measure changes in sparrow behavior and physiology.

Main Results:

• Declining barometric pressure was observed 12-24 hours before snowstorms in field data.
• No correlation was found between barometric pressure and stress physiology in free-living sparrows.
• Experimental declining barometric pressure increased food intake but did not affect metabolic rate or stress physiology in laboratory settings.

Conclusions:

• White-crowned sparrows can detect and respond to changes in barometric pressure.
• The observed increase in food intake suggests a behavioral adaptation to prepare for storms.
• The ability to sense barometric pressure may be a widespread survival mechanism in small wild vertebrates facing hazardous weather.