The indirect effects of climate variability on the reproductive dynamics and productivity of an avian predator in the arid Southwest.
Oecologia
; 180(1): 279-91, 2016 Jan.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26412213
ABSTRACT
The deserts of the southwestern US are experiencing rapid warming, and climate models predict declining winter precipitation. The combined effects of higher air temperatures and drought are a reduction in productivity, which may importantly impact reproduction in consumers. Here, we investigate the effects of warming and drought on the reproductive timing and output in loggerhead shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus) in central New Mexico from 2007 to 2012. We found increases in air temperature of 3 °C during the breeding season (March-July) and highly variable winter and annual precipitation. With increasing spring temperatures, shrikes advanced nesting phenology by 20 days over 6 years, a much higher rate than is reported for any other bird species. During this period, the number of breeding pairs also increased from 25 to 37, and clutch size and the number offspring produced per successful nest did not vary. Nest success, however, was often very low and ranged from 11 to 46%. Although our models indicated that low nest success was driven by precipitation and temperature, it was mediated indirectly through increased predation rates during the hot and dry periods.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Comportamento Predatório
/
Chuva
/
Reprodução
/
Clima
/
Passeriformes
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Temperatura Alta
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Comportamento de Nidação
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
País como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2016
Tipo de documento:
Article