Temporal and spatial variability of breeding in Australian birds and the potential implications of climate change
Heather M. Gibbs A C D , Lynda E. Chambers B and Andrew F. Bennett A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia.
B Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, Bureau of Meteorology, GPO Box 1289, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia.
C Present address: PO Box 2110, Lygon Street North, East Brunswick, VIC 3057, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: hgi@deakin.edu.au
Emu 111(4) 283-291 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU10083
Submitted: 2 August 2010 Accepted: 5 April 2011 Published: 16 September 2011
Abstract
Climate change has profound implications for biodiversity worldwide. To understand its effects on Australia’s avifauna, we need to evaluate the effects of annual climatic variability and geographical climate gradients. Here, we use national datasets to examine variation in breeding of 16 species of common and widespread Australian landbirds, in relation to four variables: altitude, latitude, year and the Southern Oscillation Index. Analysis of >30 years of nesting records confirmed that breeding was generally later in colder altitudes and latitudes (geographic variation), but was not consistently related to year or the Southern Oscillation Index (temporal variation). However, power to detect expected temporal effects was low. The timing of breeding became significantly earlier with year only in south-eastern Australia. In contrast, an index of breeding activity (the proportion of atlas records for a species for which breeding was reported) increased with increasing winter values of the Southern Oscillation Index (generally wetter conditions) for all 16 species across Australia. This suggests that annual fluctuations in rainfall can have dramatic and immediate effects on breeding, even for largely sedentary, seasonally breeding species. If, as expected, climate change creates drier conditions over much of Australia, we predict a marked negative effect on bird breeding.
Additional keywords: avian ecology, breeding participation, ENSO, temperature.
References
Baker, J. B. (1939). The breeding seasons of birds, with special reference to the need for further data from Australia. Emu 39, 33–38.| The breeding seasons of birds, with special reference to the need for further data from Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barrett, G., Silcocks, A., Barry, S., Cunningham, R., and Poulter, R. (2003). ‘The New Atlas of Australian Birds.’ (Birds Australia: Melbourne.)
Blakers, M., Davies, S. J. J. F., and Reilly, P. N. (1984). ‘The Atlas of Australian Birds.’ (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne.)
Both, C., and Marvelde, L. T. (2007). Climate change and timing of avian breeding and migration throughout Europe. Climate Research 35, 93–105.
| Climate change and timing of avian breeding and migration throughout Europe.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Browne, S. J., Aebischer, N. J., and Crick, H. P. (2005). Breeding ecology of Turtle Doves Streptopelia turtur in Britain during the period 1941–2000: an analysis of BTO nest record cards. Bird Study 52, 1–9.
| Breeding ecology of Turtle Doves Streptopelia turtur in Britain during the period 1941–2000: an analysis of BTO nest record cards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Carey, C. (2009). The impacts of climate change on the annual cycles of birds. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. Series B. Biological Sciences 364, 3321–3330.
| The impacts of climate change on the annual cycles of birds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chambers, L. E. (2008). Trends in timing of migration of south-western Australian birds and their relationship to climate. Emu 108, 1–14.
| Trends in timing of migration of south-western Australian birds and their relationship to climate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chambers, L. E., and Loyn, R. H. (2006). The influence of climate variability on numbers of three waterbird species in Western Port, Victoria, 1973–2002. International Journal of Biometeorology 50, 292–304.
| The influence of climate variability on numbers of three waterbird species in Western Port, Victoria, 1973–2002.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chambers, L. E., Hughes, L., and Weston, M. A. (2005). Climate change and its impact on Australia’s avifauna. Emu 105, 1–20.
| Climate change and its impact on Australia’s avifauna.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chambers, L. E., Gibbs, H., Weston, M. A., and Ehmke, G. C. (2008). Spatial and temporal variation in the breeding of Masked Lapwings (Vanellus miles) in Australia. Emu 108, 115–124.
| Spatial and temporal variation in the breeding of Masked Lapwings (Vanellus miles) in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Channing, A. (1988). Opportunistic seasonal breeding by frogs in Namaqualand. Journal of the Herpetological Association of Africa 35, 19–24.
Christidis, L., and Boles, W. E. (2008). ‘Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Crick, H. Q. P., and Sparks, T. H. (1999). Climate change related to egg-laying trends. Nature 399, 423–424.
| Climate change related to egg-laying trends.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXjvVyqsrs%3D&md5=35436f38d44f8c7106b84803f154c758CAS |
Crick, H. Q. P., Dudley, C., Glue, D. E., and Thomson, D. L. (1997). UK birds are laying eggs earlier. Nature 388, 526.
| UK birds are laying eggs earlier.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXlt1arsbs%3D&md5=a827b15d2cf8ed4ee3c8d00823c2dda4CAS |
Dunn, P. (2004). Breeding dates and reproductive performance. Advances in Ecological Research 35, 69–87.
| Breeding dates and reproductive performance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dunn, A. M., and Weston, M. A. (2008). A review of terrestrial bird atlases of the world and their application. Emu 108, 42–67.
| A review of terrestrial bird atlases of the world and their application.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dunn, P. O., and Winkler, D. W. (1999). Climate change has affected the breeding date of Tree Swallows throughout North America. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B. Biological Sciences 266, 2487–2490.
| Climate change has affected the breeding date of Tree Swallows throughout North America.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Frith, H. J. (1984). ‘Birds in the Australian High Country.’ (Angus and Robertson: Sydney.)
Furness, R. W., and Greenwood, J. J. D. (1993). ‘Birds as Monitors of Environmental Change.’ (Chapman and Hall: London.)
Galloway, R. W. (1988). The potential impact of climate change on Australian ski-fields. In ‘Greenhouse: Planning for Climate Change’. (Ed. G.I. Pearman) pp. 428–437. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Gibbs, H. (2007). Climatic variation and breeding in the Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen): a case study using existing data. Emu 107, 284–293.
| Climatic variation and breeding in the Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen): a case study using existing data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Griffioen, P. (2001). Temporal changes in the distribution of bird species in eastern Australia. Ph.D. Thesis, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria.
Heinsohn, R. (2009). White-winged Choughs: the social consequences of boom and bust. In ‘Boom and Bust: Bird Stories for a Dry Country’. (Eds L. Robin, R. Heinsohn and L. Joseph.) pp. 223–239. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Higgins, P. J. (Ed.) (1999). ‘Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 4: Parrots to Dollarbird.’ (Oxford University Press: Melbourne.)
Higgins, P. J., and Davies, S. J. J. F. (Eds) (1996). ‘Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Vol. 3: Snipe to Pigeons.’ (Oxford University Press: Melbourne.)
Higgins, P. J., and Peter, J. M. (Eds) (2002). ‘Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Vol. 6: Pardalotes to Shrike-thrushes.’ (Oxford University Press: Melbourne.)
Higgins, P. J., Peter, J. M., and Steele, W. K. (Eds) (2001). ‘Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Vol. 5: Tyrant-flycatchers to Chats.’ (Oxford University Press: Melbourne.)
Higgins, P. J., Peter, J. M., and Cowling, S. J. (Eds) (2006). ‘Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Vol. 7: Boatbill to Starlings.’ (Oxford University Press: Melbourne.)
Hughes, L. (2003). Climate change and Australia: trends, projections and impacts. Austral Ecology 28, 423–443.
| Climate change and Australia: trends, projections and impacts.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
IPCC (2007). ‘Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.’ (Eds S. Solomon, D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K. B. Averyt, M. Tignor and H. L. Miller.) (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK, and New York.)
Jones, D. A., and Trewin, B. C. (2000). On the relationships between the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and Australian land surface temperature. International Journal of Climatology 20, 697–719.
| On the relationships between the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and Australian land surface temperature.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Majer, J., and Koch, L. (1982). Seasonal activity of hexapods in woodland and forest leaf litter in the south-west of Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 65, 37–45.
Marchant, S. (1974). Analysis of nest-records of the Willie Wagtail. Emu 74, 149–160.
| Analysis of nest-records of the Willie Wagtail.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Marchant, S., and Fullagar, P. J. (1983). Nest records of the Welcome Swallow. Emu 83, 66–74.
| Nest records of the Welcome Swallow.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McKelvey, K., Noon, B. R., and Lamberson, R. H. (1993). Conservation planning for species occupying fragmented landscapes: the case of the Northern Spotted Owl. In ‘Biotic Interactions and Global Change’. (Eds P. M. Kareiva, J. G. Kingsolver and R. B. Huey.) pp. 424–450. (Sinauer Assoc. Inc.: Sunderland, MA.)
Meijer, T., Nienaber, U., Langer, U., and Trillmich, F. (1999). Temperature and timing of egg-laying of European Starlings. Condor 101, 124–132.
| Temperature and timing of egg-laying of European Starlings.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moran, M. D. (2003). Arguments for rejecting the sequential Bonferroni in ecological studies. Oikos 100, 403–405.
| Arguments for rejecting the sequential Bonferroni in ecological studies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nix, H. A. (1976). Environmental control of breeding, post-breeding dispersal and migration of birds in the Australian region. In ‘Proceedings of the XVI International Ornithological Conference’, 12-17 August 1974, Canberra. (Eds H. J. Frith and J. H. Calaby) pp. 272–305. (Australian Academy of Sciences: Canberra.)
Norment, C. J., and Green, K. (2004). Breeding ecology of Richard’s Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae) in the Snowy Mountains, Australia. Emu 104, 327–336.
| Breeding ecology of Richard’s Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae) in the Snowy Mountains, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ojanen, M., Orell, M., and Hirvelä, J. (1979). The breeding biology of the Starling Sturnus vulgaris in northern Finland. Ecography 2, 81–87.
| The breeding biology of the Starling Sturnus vulgaris in northern Finland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Parmesan, C., and Yohe, G. (2003). A globally coherent fingerprint of climate change impacts across natural systems. Nature 421, 37–42.
| A globally coherent fingerprint of climate change impacts across natural systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXoslM%3D&md5=fa5749c9d12c198be61211bf9aea6151CAS |
Pearce, K., Holper, P., Hopkins, M., Bouma, W., Whetton, P., Hennessy, K., and Power, S. (Eds) (2007). ‘Climate Change in Australia.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Pitelka, F. A., Tomich, P. Q., and Treichel, G. W. (1955). Ecological relations of jaegers and owls as lemming predators near Barrow, Alaska. Ecological Monographs 25, 85–117.
| Ecological relations of jaegers and owls as lemming predators near Barrow, Alaska.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pittock, B. (2003). ‘Climate Change: An Australian Guide to the Science and Potential Impacts.’ (Australian Greenhouse Office: Canberra.)
Rice, W. R. (1989). Analyzing tables of statistical tests. Evolution 43, 223–225.
| Analyzing tables of statistical tests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rosenzweig, C., Karoly, D., Vicarelli, M., Neofotis, P., Wu, Q., Casassa, G., Menzel, A., Root, T. L., Estrella, N., Seguin, B., Tryjanowski, P., Liu, C., Rawlins, S., and Imeson, A. (2008). Attributing physical and biological impacts to anthropogenic climate change. Nature 453, 353–357.
| Attributing physical and biological impacts to anthropogenic climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXlvV2qtLc%3D&md5=a6d93ee99876575465fa76a80bb1c2a4CAS |
Steffen, W., Burbidge, A. A., Hughes, L., Kitching, R., Lindenmayer, D., Musgrave, W., Smith, M. S., and Werner, P. A. (2009). ‘Australia’s Biodiversity and Climate Change.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Weston, M., Silcocks, A., Tzaros, C., and Ingwersen, D. (2006). A survey of contributors to an Australian bird atlassing project: demography, skills and motivation. Australian Journal on Volunteering 11, 51–58.
Wright, L. J., Hoblyn, R. A., Green, R. E., Bowden, C. G. R., Mallord, J. W., Sutherland, W. J., and Dolman, P. M. (2009). Importance of climatic and environmental change in the demography of a multi-brooded passerine, the Woodlark Lullula arborea. Journal of Animal Ecology 78, 1191–1202.
| Importance of climatic and environmental change in the demography of a multi-brooded passerine, the Woodlark Lullula arborea.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
