Spatial structure and dynamics of breeding bird populations at a distribution margin, southern California

Hargrove, Lori; Rotenberry, John T.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2699.2011.02525.x

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…The variable that had the single strongest effect in explaining koala presence or absence was average annual rainfall during a prolonged and severe drought (a landscape scale variable), with a threshold value of 346 mm. The combination of aridity and temperature extremes increase physiological stress and reduce habitat quality for wildlife species (Welbergen et al, 2008;Albright et al, 2010;Hargrove & Rotenberry, 2011). This supports predictions that wildlife populations at the trailing edge of their range will be strongly influenced by extreme climate events and environmental fluctuations Kawecki, 2008;Pigot et al, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

“…In this study, we aimed to address the research question: what determines the koala's range boundaryhabitat quality, long-term climate averages or extreme climate events? The combination of aridity and temperature extremes increase physiological stress and reduce habitat quality for wildlife species (Welbergen et al, 2008;Albright et al, 2010;Hargrove & Rotenberry, 2011). In our study, the majority of important environmental variables explaining koala presence related to habitat quality: tree species, tree structure and condition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…The relative importance of the factors which limit the distribution of a species varies across different sections of the range boundary (Gross & Price, 2000;Arntzen & Themudo, 2008). In semi-arid regions towards continental interiors or at lower latitudes or elevations, precipitation as well as temperature can play an important role in limiting species' ranges or habitat occupancy (Root, 1988;Hargrove & Rotenberry, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Determining range edges: habitat quality, climate or climate extremes?

Seabrook

McAlpine

Rhodes

et al. 2013

Diversity and Distributions

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Aim Climate change is predicted to adversely affect wildlife populations at the trailing edge of their range, with extreme weather events acting as a catalyst for local extinctions and range contractions. We assessed the relative importance of long-term climate averages, short-term drought and habitat in predicting species occupancy and range edge, using the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) as a case study.Location Queensland, Australia.Methods We used mixed effects models to quantify the influence of habitat quality and climate on koala distribution at the trailing edge of their range, at three spatial scales. We used piecewise logistic regression to estimate thresholds in the relationship between the range edge and key environmental variables.Results Both climatic and habitat variables explained koala presence. At the site scale, the quality of habitat was important within landscapes that had experienced higher levels of rainfall during a decade-long drought. The spatial pattern of the koala's present-day western range limit reflects closely a breakpoint of~350 mm in summer rainfall during the drought years, supporting both theoretical predictions and empirical research on the influence of climate extremes on contracting edge populations.Main conclusions The distribution of fauna at their range margin in semi-arid regions reflects extreme climate events, such as drought. Within suitable climate conditions, habitat quality is important in determining site occupancy. The identification and protection of habitat refugia, where local microclimates and habitat characteristics can mitigate the impacts of extreme events on fauna species at the contracting edge of the range, may allow species to persist for longer under changing climate conditions.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Determining range edges: habitat quality, climate or climate extremes?

Seabrook

McAlpine

Rhodes

et al. 2013

Diversity and Distributions

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“…Tree species diversity is thought to promote food availability, particularly for frugivores [144,145], and has been found to predict species richness in Cameroon [146], Papua New Guinea [143], and Peru [135]. Though the majority of these studies have investigated gradients in bird diversity rather than distributional limits, it seems likely that both structural diversity and plant composition would play a role in determining elevational range limits [147], as well as species' ability to adapt to change [148]. Indeed, habitat has been linked to elevational shifts in temperate regions [32,35,37,40], while in the tropics, lagged shifts in birds indicate a slow, incremental response to shifts in habitat [17,67,149].…”

Section: Plos Climatementioning

confidence: 99%

Building a mechanistic understanding of climate-driven elevational shifts in birds

Neate‐Clegg

Tingley²

2023

PLOS Clim

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Mountains hold much of the world’s taxonomic diversity, but global climate change threatens this diversity by altering the distributions of montane species. While numerous studies have documented upslope shifts in elevational ranges, these patterns are highly variable across geographic regions and taxa. This variation in how species’ range shifts are manifesting along elevational gradients likely reflects the diversity of mechanisms that determines elevational ranges and modulates movements, and stands in contrast to latitudinal gradients, where range shifts show less variability and appear more predictable. Here, we review observed elevational range shifts in a single taxonomic group–birds–a group that has received substantial research attention and thus provides a useful context for exploring variability in range shifts while controlling for the mechanisms that drive range shifts across broader taxonomic groups. We then explore the abiotic and biotic factors that are known to define elevational ranges, as well as the constraints that may prevent birds from shifting. Across the literature, temperature is generally invoked as the prime driver of range shifts while the role of precipitation is more neglected. However, temperature is less likely to act directly on elevational ranges, instead mediating biotic factors such as habitat and food availability, predator activity, and parasite prevalence, which could in turn modulate range shifts. Dispersal ability places an intrinsic constraint on elevational range shifts, exacerbated by habitat fragmentation. While current research provides strong evidence for the importance of various drivers of elevational ranges and shifts, testing the relative importance of these factors and achieving a more holistic view of elevational gradients will require integration of expanding datasets, novel technologies, and innovative techniques.

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“…Even though desert-edge species use semi-open habitat, many of their responses were negative (Greater Roadrunner, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Cactus Wren, Blackthroated Sparrow, Scott's Oriole). Thus the role of fire in eliminating key habitat components such as mature cactus or yucca highlights the greater importance of floristic variables in limiting desertedge species (Hargrove and Rotenberry 2011b).…”

Section: Fire Sensitivementioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of birds to large-scale wildfires in southern California

Hargrove¹,

Unitt²

2017

Trends and Traditions: Avifaunal Change in Western North America

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In 2002 and 2003, ~4000 km2 of southern California burned in the region’s largest fires in over a century. Within 1–2 years post-fire, we established 81 bird-survey routes (totaling over 200 km) within the perimeters of the Pines, Cedar, and Coyote fires, and in nearby unburned habitat to serve as controls. We surveyed these routes repeatedly during both spring/ summer and winter for 5 years, with the objective of comparing species by pattern of response and identifying the species most strongly affected. Sampled habitat was primarily chaparral with isolated stands of oak woodland and coniferous forest. To quantify species’ responses, we used data from the San Diego County Bird Atlas (1997–2002) as a pre-fire baseline, and used mixed-effects regression models to assess overall response to fire and post-fire trends. Responses and trends were diverse: in spring/summer, 24 species responded positively, 14 were neutral, and 43 responded negatively. In winter, 8 were positive, 18 neutral, and 34 negative. Some positive species (e.g., Lazuli Bunting, Passerina amoena) were strong “fire-followers,” exploiting recently burned habitat, while others (e.g., Black-chinned Sparrow, Spizella atrogularis) increased mostly at higher elevations where forest was converted to chaparral. Neutral or “fire-resilient” species were either indifferent to fire (e.g., Ash-throated Flycatcher, Myiarchus cinerascens) or increased sharply after an initially negative response (e.g., Spotted Towhee, Pipilo maculatus). Among the negative or “fire-sensitive” species, recovery was often slow (e.g., California Thrasher, Toxostoma redivivum), and some continued to decline over time (e.g., Pygmy Nuthatch, Sitta pygmaea). By comparison with the pre-fire distribution as recorded in the atlas, the Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) was the strongest post-fire colonizer, while the Hutton’s Vireo (Vireo huttoni) was the species most reduced. Small isolated breeding populations of the Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber), Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis), Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus), Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca), and Goldencrowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) were eliminated from the Cuyamaca Mountains for at least the first 5 years after the fire. Annual rainfall during the study varied widely, slowing recovery in dry years. Variation in numbers of many species, especially granivorous winter visitors, paralleled variation in annual rainfall. If the area of southern California that burns annually increases as predicted, fire-followers should benefit, while species that are rare, patchily distributed, and dependent on later stages of succession will be most at risk. If the fires are a symptom of a shift toward a drier climate, they may cause a long-term or permanent reduction in numbers and ranges of fire-sensitive species.

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Spatial structure and dynamics of breeding bird populations at a distribution margin, southern California

Cited by 5 publications

References 33 publications

Determining range edges: habitat quality, climate or climate extremes?

Determining range edges: habitat quality, climate or climate extremes?

Building a mechanistic understanding of climate-driven elevational shifts in birds

Responses of birds to large-scale wildfires in southern California

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