Increasing phenological asynchrony between spring green-up and arrival of migratory birds.

ABSTRACT: Consistent with a warming climate, birds are shifting the timing of their migrations, but it remains unclear to what extent these shifts have kept pace with the changing environment. Because bird migration is primarily cued by annually consistent physiological responses to photoperiod, but conditions at their breeding grounds depend on annually variable climate, bird arrival and climate-driven spring events would diverge. We combined satellite and citizen science data to estimate rates of change in phenological interval between spring green-up and migratory arrival for 48 breeding passerine species across North America. Both arrival and green-up changed over time, usually in the same direction (earlier or later). Although birds adjusted their arrival dates, 9 of 48 species did not keep pac

SUBMITTER: Mayor SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5432526 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature