Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
U.S. Geological Survey, Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Conserv Biol. 2024 Feb;38(1):e14143. doi: 10.1111/cobi.14143. Epub 2023 Nov 3.
Grassland birds in North America have declined sharply over the last 60 years, driven by the widespread loss and degradation of grassland habitats. Climate change is occurring more rapidly in grasslands relative to some other ecosystems, and exposure to extreme and novel climate conditions may affect grassland bird ecology and demographics. To determine the potential effects of weather and climate variability on grassland birds, we conducted a systematic review of relationships between temperature and precipitation and demographic responses in grassland bird species of North America. Based on 124 independent studies, we used a vote-counting approach to quantify the frequency and direction of significant effects of weather and climate variability on grassland birds. Grassland birds tended to experience positive and negative effects of higher temperatures and altered precipitation. Moderate, sustained increases in mean temperature and precipitation benefitted some species, but extreme heat, drought, and heavy rainfall often reduced abundance and nest success. These patterns varied among climate regions, temporal scales of temperature and precipitation (<1 or ≥1 month), and taxa. The sensitivity of grassland bird populations to extreme weather and altered climate variability will likely be mediated by regional climates, interaction with other stressors, life-history strategies of various species, and species' tolerances for novel climate conditions.
在过去的 60 年中，由于草原生境的广泛丧失和退化，北美草原鸟类的数量急剧下降。与其他一些生态系统相比，气候变化在草原上发生得更快，暴露在极端和新颖的气候条件下可能会影响草原鸟类的生态学和人口统计学。为了确定天气和气候变率对草原鸟类的潜在影响，我们对北美草原鸟类物种的温度和降水与种群动态响应之间的关系进行了系统评价。基于 124 项独立研究，我们使用投票计数方法来量化天气和气候变率对草原鸟类的显著影响的频率和方向。草原鸟类往往会受到较高温度和降水变化的积极和消极影响。平均温度和降水适度持续增加有利于一些物种，但极端高温、干旱和强降雨通常会减少数量和巢成功率。这些模式在气候区域、温度和降水的时间尺度（<1 个月或≥1 个月）以及分类群之间存在差异。草原鸟类种群对极端天气和气候变化变率的敏感性可能受到区域气候、与其他胁迫因素的相互作用、各种物种的生活史策略以及物种对新气候条件的耐受性的调节。
