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Wintering bird communities are tracking climate change faster than breeding communities
Author(s) -
Lehikoinen Aleksi,
Lindström Åke,
Santangeli Andrea,
Sirkiä Päivi M.,
Brotons Lluís,
Devictor Vincent,
Elts Jaanus,
Foppen Ruud P. B.,
Heldbjerg Henning,
Herrando Sergi,
Herremans Marc,
Hudson MarieAnne R.,
Jiguet Frédéric,
Johnston Alison,
Lorrilliere Romain,
Marjakangas EmmaLiina,
Michel Nicole L.,
Moshøj Charlotte M.,
Nellis Renno,
Paquet JeanYves,
Smith Adam C.,
Szép Tibor,
Turnhout Chris
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of animal ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.134
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1365-2656
pISSN - 0021-8790
DOI - 10.1111/1365-2656.13433
Subject(s) - climate change , growing season , geography , annual cycle , ecology , seasonal breeder , environmental science , biology
Global climate change is driving species' distributions towards the poles and mountain tops during both non‐breeding and breeding seasons, leading to changes in the composition of natural communities. However, the degree of season differences in climate‐driven community shifts has not been thoroughly investigated at large spatial scales. We compared the rates of change in the community composition during both winter (non‐breeding season) and summer (breeding) and their relation to temperature changes. Based on continental‐scale data from Europe and North America, we examined changes in bird community composition using the community temperature index (CTI) approach and compared the changes with observed regional temperature changes during 1980–2016. CTI increased faster in winter than in summer. This seasonal discrepancy is probably because individuals are less site‐faithful in winter, and can more readily shift their wintering sites in response to weather in comparison to the breeding season. Regional long‐term changes in community composition were positively associated with regional temperature changes during both seasons, but the pattern was only significant during summer due to high annual variability in winter communities. Annual changes in community composition were positively associated with the annual temperature changes during both seasons. Our results were broadly consistent across continents, suggesting some climate‐driven restructuring in both European and North American avian communities. Because community composition has changed much faster during the winter than during the breeding season, it is important to increase our knowledge about climate‐driven impacts during the less‐studied non‐breeding season.