The pied flycatcher initially had difficulty adjusting to changing climate. But it appears the species is changing its reproductive habits
great concerns that ornithologists have is that climate change will throw the nesting activities of birds out of sync with the availability of food for the raising of chicks. For one species, the pied flycatcher, a new study shows that some of its clan are proving to be remarkably adaptable.
Upon returning to Europe from their African wintering grounds, the flycatchers time their egg-laying to the short period when juicy caterpillars are most abundant. During the past three decades this caterpillar peak has advanced by three weeks. Pied flycatchers initially had difficulty adjusting, but over time have started laying their eggs earlier to grab the caterpillars.
The team studied pied-flycatcher populations in the Netherlands and Switzerland that were known to be among the earliest nesting members of the species. In total, they tracked the egg-laying times and hatchling-rearing success of 8,848 breeding pairs in the Netherlands and 1,372 in Switzerland between 1980 and 2018. They found that since 2006, 11 cases of second broods were observed, all of them among the earliest breeders in both populations.
Further studies ruled out that the birds were making up for a failed first attempt at raising chicks or that the second group of nestlings suffered. With no obvious downside to laying a double clutch, Drs Both and Ravussin conclude that the birds are attempting to double their annual reproductive output. While this behaviour is still rare, they argue that if the tendency is driven by heritable genes then a succession of early springs could make the strategy much more common.section of the print edition under the headline
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
Finland's election topics: Climate change, welfare, agingGet breaking national and world news, broadcast video coverage, and exclusive interviews. Find the top news online at ABC news.
Consulte Mais informação »
Coachella Valley smog has gotten worse, and climate change could be to blameAir quality officials will miss a 2019 federal deadline to clean smog in the Coachella Valley, saying the challenges of “hotter summer weather and the threat of climate change” are hampering efforts to slash health-damaging ozone.
Consulte Mais informação »
'Climate before cash': How young Norwegians are driving change in the country’s oil industryThe country’s oil and gas sector employs 170,000 people and is the top moneymaker, producing 17 percent of Norway’s GDP.
Consulte Mais informação »
Thousands of Amazon employees call on CEO Jeff Bezos to tackle climate change'We believe this is a historic opportunity': Thousands of Amazon employees call on CEO Jeff Bezos to tackle climate change.
Consulte Mais informação »
Climate change is making allergy season worseYou're sneezing your head off, and your eyes sting. The air around you is yellow -- along with your house, your car, your pets. Yes, of course, you already know that allergy season has arrived. Now for more bad news: Climate change makes it much worse.
Consulte Mais informação »
The 'Trump effect' is slowing climate change progress, but investors are fighting back and winningPresident Donald Trump may believe climate science is junk science, but forward-thinking impact investors love portfolios of companies and funds pursuing climate solutions, which can have stronger returns.
Consulte Mais informação »
Climate change will crush real estate values for investors who don't prepare, new report says'Risks such as sea-level rise and heat stress will increasingly highlight the vulnerability not only of individual assets and locations, but of entire metropolitan areas,' a new report from the Urban Land Institute said.
Consulte Mais informação »