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The Effects of a Warming Climate on the Migratory Strategies of a Putatively Non-Migratory Bird, the Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis)

Greenlee, Erin Symonds
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1338485900

Abstract Details

2012, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology.
There is mounting evidence indicating that changes in temperature and weather patterns have affected many ecological processes including the distribution, abundance, and survival of many organisms. In the last century we have experienced unprecedented changes in temperatures and precipitation patterns. It is clear that the changes in climate have had and will continue to have substantial impacts on biological systems thus placing research focused on these impacts of climate change on biological systems of utmost importance. Because these changes have the potential for large-scale impacts in the future, it is vital that we know how climate influences avian behavior. Currently, the effect of climate on avian behavior is not clearly understood although we know climate influences behaviors such as the phenology of migration. The main objective of this dissertation research is to develop an understanding of the relationship between climate and the winter irruptive migration strategies of gray jays and to evaluate the potential impact of climate change on the distribution of boreal bird species, including the gray jay. I used an integrative and collaborative approach including methods of time series analysis, spatial analysis, comparative analysis, dynamic programming, and software development to address general, yet important, questions about the role of climate on boreal bird behavior and more specifically the impact of climatic warming on gray jays. This research produced a number of key findings about the distributions of breeding birds in Ontario, Canada and the irruptive behavior of gray jays. Overall the majority of breeding species’ distributions has shifted over a period of 20 years. There exist species-specific differences in migratory strategies and breeding habitats with respect to distribution shifting patterns with short-distance migrants and woodland species showing the most movement in Ontario. Gray jay irruptions appear to be primarily driven by unusually warm autumns presumably in response to a degradation (i.e., hoard-rot) of their hoard. Irruptive strategies of gray jays are adaptive when the frequency of unusually warm conditions is low; however, as the frequency of unusually warm conditions increases an irruptive strategy is no longer an appropriate response. When the frequency of irruptions remains high the lifetime reproductive success of gray jays is significantly diminished. The results of this study highlight the potential risks gray jays will face as climate conditions in the boreal forest become unsuitable for hoard preservation. The use of the distribution shift estimating software developed here has significant potential to track species’ responses to climatic warming, human-induced land use changes, and or the introduction to invasive species. The results from this study provide important information for further population and behavioral ecology research as well as conservation efforts.
Ian Hamilton, M (Advisor)
Elizabeth Marschall (Committee Member)
Peter Craigmile (Committee Member)
174 p.
Biology; Ecology; Environmental Science; Organismal Biology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Greenlee, E. S. (2012). The Effects of a Warming Climate on the Migratory Strategies of a Putatively Non-Migratory Bird, the Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1338485900

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Greenlee, Erin. The Effects of a Warming Climate on the Migratory Strategies of a Putatively Non-Migratory Bird, the Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis). 2012. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1338485900.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Greenlee, Erin. "The Effects of a Warming Climate on the Migratory Strategies of a Putatively Non-Migratory Bird, the Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis)." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1338485900

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2012, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.