Advances and Environmental Conditions of Spring Migration Phenology of American White Pelicans.

ABSTRACT: Spring migration phenology of birds has advanced under warming climate. Migration timing of short-distance migrants is believed to be responsive to environmental changes primarily under exogenous control. However, understanding the ecological causes of the advancement in avian spring migration phenology is still a challenge due to the lack of long-term precise location data. We used 11 years of Global Positioning System relocation data to determine four different migration dates of the annual migration cycle of the American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), a short-distance migrant. We also tested the hypothesis that increases in winter temperature and precipitation on the wintering grounds would advance pelican spring migration. Pelican spring departures and arrivals advanced ste

SUBMITTER: King DT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5238423 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature