MIGRATING birds are arriving at their breeding grounds earlier as global temperatures rise, a study has found.
Birds have reached their summer breeding grounds on average about one day earlier per degree of increasing global temperatures, according to the research, which looked at hundreds of species across five continents. It is hoped the University of Edinburgh study will help scientists better predict how different species may respond to current and future environmental change.
Reaching their summer breeding grounds at the wrong time may cause birds to miss out on maximum availability of vital resources such as food.
Late arrival to breeding grounds may, in turn, affect the timing of offspring hatching and their chances of survival.
Long-distance migrants, which are shown to be less responsive to rising temperatures, may suffer most as other birds gain advantage by arriving at breeding grounds ahead of them.
Takuji Usui, of the University of Edinburgh’s school of biological sciences, said: “Many plant and animal species are altering the timing of activities associated with the start of spring, such as flowering and breeding. Now we have detailed insights into how the timing of migration is changing and how this change varies across species. These insights may help us predict how well migratory birds keep up with changing conditions on their breeding grounds.”
The study examined how various species, which take flight in response to cues such food availability, have altered their behaviour over time and with increasing temperatures.
The study, published in Journal of Animal Ecology, was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council.
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