Conformity to Bergmann's rule in birds depends on nest design and migration.

ABSTRACT: Ecogeographical rules attempt to explain large-scale spatial patterns in biological traits. One of the most enduring examples is Bergmann's rule, which states that species should be larger in colder climates due to the thermoregulatory advantages of larger body size. Support for Bergmann's rule, however, is not consistent across taxonomic groups, raising questions about what factors may moderate its effect. Behavior may play a crucial, yet so far underexplored, role in mediating the extent to which species are subject to environmental selection pressures in colder climates. Here, we tested the hypothesis that nest design and migration influence conformity to Bergmann's rule in a phylogenetic comparative analysis of the birds of the Western Palearctic, a group encompassing dramatic variatio

SUBMITTER: Mainwaring MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8495809 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature