From Svalbard to Siberia: Passerines breeding in the High Arctic also endure the extreme cold of the Western Steppe.

ABSTRACT: Few species are adapted to high latitudes, and many over-winter in milder climates with migrations involving extensive barrier crossings. By escaping extreme conditions for the majority of the year, physiological and behavioural adaptations presumably need to be less pronounced. The snow bunting Plectrophenax nivalis is the most northerly breeding passerine. We tracked the Svalbard population using geolocators to reveal that these individuals not only breed in environmental extremes, but also spend the winters in the severe cold and highly stochastic weather conditions of the Siberian steppe. Migratory strategies appeared to be flexible between individuals and years. However, common wintering grounds in the Asian Western Steppe were identified, where birds could utilise vast crop- and gras

SUBMITTER: Snell KRS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6124700 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature