Slettenhaar, Annabel (2021) Can migratory birds keep up with climate change by shifting their wintering- and breeding ranges? Master's Thesis / Essay, Ecology and Evolution.
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Abstract
The past decades, climate change has forced species to adapt to warming temperatures. An earlier onset of breeding is required to avoid a mismatch with the hatching of offspring and the peak of food availability. In 2002, Coppack & Both suggested four hypotheses about how migratory birds can achieve earlier arrival at the breeding grounds. Two of these are related to dispersal: 1) individuals can shift their wintering grounds northward, or 2) individuals can shift their breeding grounds northward. In this essay, I aim to review the recent literature for support of northward range shifts of the breeding- and wintering areas, and to see if the link has been made with advanced breeding. From the literature search I conclude that the dominant shift in both the breeding- and wintering ranges was northward, and the mean velocity of the shift of the breeding grounds was slower, often resulting in reduced migration distances.However, there was still substantial variation between species, which may be explained by factors in the local environment. Research about the fitness consequences of these range shifts is scarce, so I was unable to draw conclusions about whether these shifts had positive or negative effects on the breeding timing of species or individuals. I suggest that future research should focus on the dispersal of individuals, and link this to their breeding phenology and fitness. This could help us understand the mechanisms migratory birds use to cope with climate change.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master's Thesis / Essay) |
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| Supervisor name: | Both, C. |
| Degree programme: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Thesis type: | Master's Thesis / Essay |
| Language: | English |
| Date Deposited: | 13 Apr 2021 09:40 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Apr 2021 09:40 |
| URI: | https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/24238 |
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