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Temperature synchronizes temporal variation in laying dates across European hole-nesting passerines
Stefan J G Vriend1,2, Vidar Grøtan1, Marlène Gamelon1,3
1Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Ecology
|October 31, 2022
Summary
Synchronous environmental conditions, particularly temperature, can drive spatial synchrony in bird laying dates. This synchrony in fitness traits may increase extinction risks for populations and species.
Area of Science:
- Ecology and evolutionary biology
- Population dynamics
- Climate change impacts
Background:
- Understanding environmental drivers of fitness traits is key in ecology.
- Synchronous environmental changes occur over large spatial scales.
- The link between synchronous environments and spatial trait synchrony is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if synchronous environmental conditions create spatial synchrony in bird fitness traits.
- To assess the influence of local climate on spatial synchrony in laying date, clutch size, and fledgling numbers.
- To determine how temperature and precipitation affect trait synchrony in resident vs. migratory bird species.
Main Methods:
- Utilized long-term monitoring data from 31 blue tit, 35 great tit, and 20 pied flycatcher populations across Europe.
- Analyzed the impact of local mean temperature and precipitation (February-May) on spatial synchrony.
- Compared trait synchrony patterns between resident (blue and great tits) and migratory (pied flycatchers) species.
Main Results:
- High spatial synchrony was observed in laying dates across populations for all species.
- Clutch size and fledgling number showed lower degrees of spatial synchrony.
- Temperature significantly influenced laying date synchrony in resident species (blue and great tits) but not in migratory pied flycatchers.
Conclusions:
- Synchronous environmental conditions, especially temperature, can lead to spatial synchrony in bird laying dates.
- Spatial synchrony in fitness-related traits may synchronize population vital rates, potentially increasing extinction risk.
- Understanding spatiotemporal trait variation is crucial for predicting environmental impacts on populations.
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