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Phenology of nocturnal avian migration has shifted at the continental scale

Author

Listed:
  • Kyle G. Horton

    (Colorado State University)

  • Frank A. La Sorte

    (Cornell University)

  • Daniel Sheldon

    (University of Massachusetts
    Mount Holyoke College)

  • Tsung-Yu Lin

    (University of Massachusetts)

  • Kevin Winner

    (University of Massachusetts)

  • Garrett Bernstein

    (University of Massachusetts)

  • Subhransu Maji

    (University of Massachusetts)

  • Wesley M. Hochachka

    (Cornell University)

  • Andrew Farnsworth

    (Cornell University)

Abstract

Climate change induced phenological shifts in primary productivity result in trophic mismatches for many organisms1–4, with broad implications for ecosystem structure and function. For birds that have a synchronized timing of migration with resource availability, the likelihood that trophic mismatches may generate a phenological response in migration timing increases with climate change5. Despite the importance of a holistic understanding of such systems at large spatial and temporal scales, particularly given a rapidly changing climate, analyses are few, primarily because of limitations in the access to appropriate data. Here we use 24 years of remotely sensed data collected by weather surveillance radar to quantify the response of a nocturnal avian migration system within the contiguous United States to changes in temperature. The average peak migration timing advanced in spring and autumn, and these changes were generally more rapid at higher latitudes. During spring and autumn, warmer seasons were predictive of earlier peak migration dates. Decadal changes in surface temperatures predicted spring changes in migratory timing, with greater warming related to earlier arrivals. This study represents one of the first system-wide examinations during two seasons and comprises measures from hundreds of species that describe migratory timing across a continent. Our findings provide evidence of spatially dynamic phenological shifts that result from climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Kyle G. Horton & Frank A. La Sorte & Daniel Sheldon & Tsung-Yu Lin & Kevin Winner & Garrett Bernstein & Subhransu Maji & Wesley M. Hochachka & Andrew Farnsworth, 2020. "Phenology of nocturnal avian migration has shifted at the continental scale," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 63-68, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:10:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41558-019-0648-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-019-0648-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Ivan Maggini & Massimiliano Cardinale & Jonas Hentati Sundberg & Fernando Spina & Leonida Fusani, 2020. "Recent phenological shifts of migratory birds at a Mediterranean spring stopover site: Species wintering in the Sahel advance passage more than tropical winterers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(9), pages 1-15, September.
    2. Xiaodan Wang & Marius Somveille & Adriaan M. Dokter & Wenhua Cao & Chuyu Cheng & Jiajia Liu & Zhijun Ma, 2024. "Macro-scale relationship between body mass and timing of bird migration," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Conor C. Taff & J. Ryan. Shipley, 2023. "Inconsistent shifts in warming and temperature variability are linked to reduced avian fitness," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.

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