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Responses of global waterbird populations to climate change vary with latitude

Author

Listed:
  • Tatsuya Amano

    (University of Queensland
    University of Queensland
    University of Cambridge
    University of Cambridge)

  • Tamás Székely

    (University of Bath
    University of Debrecen)

  • Hannah S. Wauchope

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Brody Sandel

    (Santa Clara University)

  • Szabolcs Nagy

    (Wetlands International Global Office)

  • Taej Mundkur

    (Wetlands International Global Office)

  • Tom Langendoen

    (Wetlands International Global Office)

  • Daniel Blanco

    (Wetlands International Argentina)

  • Nicole L. Michel

    (National Audubon Society)

  • William J. Sutherland

    (University of Cambridge
    St Catharine’s College)

Abstract

Most research on climate change impacts on global biodiversity lacks the resolution to detect changes in species abundance and is limited to temperate ecosystems. This limits our understanding of global responses in species abundance—a determinant of extinction risk and ecosystem function and services—to climate change, including in the highly biodiverse tropics. We address this knowledge gap by quantifying the abundance response of waterbirds, an indicator taxon of wetland biodiversity, to climate change at 6,822 sites between 55° S and 64° N. Using 1,303,651 count records of 390 species, we show that with temperature increase, the abundance of species and populations decreased at lower latitudes, particularly in the tropics, but increased at higher latitudes. These contrasting latitudinal responses indicate potential global-scale poleward shifts of species abundance under climate change. The negative responses to temperature increase in tropical species are of conservation concern, as they are often also threatened by other anthropogenic factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Tatsuya Amano & Tamás Székely & Hannah S. Wauchope & Brody Sandel & Szabolcs Nagy & Taej Mundkur & Tom Langendoen & Daniel Blanco & Nicole L. Michel & William J. Sutherland, 2020. "Responses of global waterbird populations to climate change vary with latitude," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(10), pages 959-964, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:10:y:2020:i:10:d:10.1038_s41558-020-0872-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0872-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Chunming Li & Jianshe Chen & Xiaolin Liao & Aaron P. Ramus & Christine Angelini & Lingli Liu & Brian R. Silliman & Mark D. Bertness & Qiang He, 2023. "Shorebirds-driven trophic cascade helps restore coastal wetland multifunctionality," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Lei Xu & Le Yang & Cai Lu & Qing Zeng & Shengling Zhou & Yongbing Yang & Shansi Liu & Zhaxijie Li & Yifei Jia & Guangchun Lei, 2023. "Impacts of Environmental Factors on Over-Wintering Aquatic Bird Communities in Yamzho Yumco Lake, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Sheng Chen & Yong Zhang & Amaël Borzée & Tao Liang & Manyu Zhang & Hui Shi & Bin Chen & Wenbin Xu & Yunwei Song & Lingfeng Mao, 2021. "Landscape Attributes Best Explain the Population Trend of Wintering Greater White-Fronted Goose ( Anser albifrons ) in the Yangtze River Floodplain," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-14, August.
    4. Yang Cao & Siyu Wang & Guohang Tian & Nalin Dong & Yakai Lei, 2023. "Coupling Biodiversity and Human Pressures to Indicate Conservation Priorities for Threatened Waterfowl Species: A Case in the Henan Yellow River Wetland National Nature Reserve," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-20, June.

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