Journal of Avian Biology
Volume 47, Issue 2, 2016, Pages 197-207

Multi-decadal trends in spring arrival of avian migrants to the central Arctic coast of Alaska: Effects of environmental and ecological factors (Article)

Ward D.H.* , Helmericks J. , Hupp J.W. , Mcmanus L. , Budde M. , Douglas D.C. , Tape K.D.
  • a U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508, United States
  • b PO Box 340109, Prudhoe Bay, AK 99734, United States
  • c U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508, United States
  • d Western Ecosystems Technology, 415 W 17th St. Suite 200, Cheyenne, WY 82001, United States
  • e U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, 47914 252nd St., Sioux Falls, SD 57198-0001, United States
  • f U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 250 Egan Dr., Juneau, AK 99801, United States
  • g Alaska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Inst. of Arctic Biology, Univ. of Alaska Fairbanks, 216 Irving 1 Building, Fairbanks, AK 99775, United States

Abstract

Warming in the Arctic has caused the transition from winter to summer to occur weeks earlier over the last half century, yet little is known about whether avian migrants have altered their timing of arrival on breeding areas to match this earlier seasonal transition. Over a 50-yr period, we examined trends in the timing of the first arrival for 16 avian migrant species at the terminus of their northward migration along the central Arctic coast of Alaska and compared these trends to factors potentially influencing migration phenology. Date of first arrival occurred an average of 0.12 d yr-1 or 6 d (range = 3-10 d) earlier across all species and did not differ significantly among species between 1964 and 2013. Local climatic variables, particularly temperature, had a greater effect on a species first arrival date than did large-scale climatic predictors. First arrival date was 1.03 d earlier for every 1°C annual change in temperature, but there was nearly a 2-fold difference in the range of responses across species (0.69-1.33 d °C-1), implying that some species did better than others at timing their arrival with changing temperature. There was weak support for an influence of foraging strategy, migration distance, and flight path on timing of first arrival. Our findings, like others from temperate latitudes, indicate that avian migrants are responsive to changing environmental conditions, though some species appear to be more adaptive than others. Journal of Avian Biology © 2016 Nordic Society Oikos.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

seasonality flight immigrant Alaska Aves breeding site Arctic spring (season) United States environmental factor environmental effect summer decadal variation climate conditions migration coast ecological impact temperature effect foraging behavior arrival date Global Warming
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84961209964&doi=10.1111%2fjav.00774&partnerID=40&md5=519ea012a4a0e14b12e70df365095af5
DOI: 10.1111/jav.00774
ISSN: 09088857
Cited by: 20
Original Language: English