Open AccessClimate change affects breeding of reed warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Author(s) -
Halupka Lucyna,
Dyrcz Andrzej,
Borowiec Marta
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of avian biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.022
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1600-048X
pISSN - 0908-8857
DOI - 10.1111/j.0908-8857.2008.04047.x
Subject(s) - acrocephalus , biology , nest (protein structural motif) , seasonal breeder , ecology , population , climate change , zoology , demography , biochemistry , sociology
Between 1970 and 2006 reed warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus started breeding progressively earlier; both the initiation of breeding (the earliest first egg dates) and peak of breeding (median first egg dates) advanced. Median first egg dates correlated significantly with increasing May–July mean temperatures. However, in contrast to other studies showing the advancement in laying dates, the end of the season did not shift. As a result, the breeding season is now longer increasing re‐nesting opportunities. Individuals are able to re‐nest 4–5 times, which might have important implications for the species. It was also found that in warmer seasons the population suffered fewer nest losses. Both factors, higher re‐nesting potential and a trend toward fewer losses, should lead to increased fitness of individuals in the studied population.