The Complex Relationship Between High Temperatures and Avian Breeding Success: Insights From a Global Review

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Climate Change Biology
• Ornithology

Background:

• Climate change is a significant driver of biodiversity loss.
• Understanding species' responses to rising temperatures is crucial for assessing population viability.
• Wild birds are valuable indicators due to their global distribution and extensive monitoring data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the association between high temperatures and the breeding success of wild birds.
• To synthesize current knowledge on how avian species cope with thermal stress.
• To identify research gaps and future directions for studying climate change impacts on birds.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a systematic literature review in the Web of Science database.
• Selected 229 studies based on predefined eligibility criteria.
• Qualitatively assessed studies investigating high temperature effects on breeding success, considering thermoregulation and local climate types.

Main Results:

• The relationship between high temperatures and avian breeding success is complex, involving direct (thermoregulation) and indirect (phenology, food availability) effects.
• Studies were more prevalent in temperate and continental climates, with a focus on arid environments regarding hot events.
• Local climate type and species' thermoregulation strategies influence the impact of high temperatures.

Conclusions:

• High temperatures present multifaceted challenges to wild bird breeding success.
• Future research should focus on species' sensitivity to heat and the interplay of direct and indirect effects across diverse climatic conditions.
• Further investigation is needed to fully understand avian adaptive capacity in a warming world.