Abstract
Capsule Very low and anomalous temperatures in early spring of 2010 were followed by the only massive reproductive failure event recorded in 24 years in a population of Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca breeding at 1200 m altitude in central Spain.Aim To estimate the effects of an extreme climatic event on reproductive success in a montane population of a long-distance migratory bird.Methods We compared nestling growth and mortality in nests of different brood sizes in the context of a brood manipulation experiment.Results Total failure affected 36% of the broods and only 2.5 nestlings on average were raised to fledging age. Most mortality affected broods in the second week of nestling life. Fledglings attained very low values for mass and wing length compared with long-term averages. Subsequent local recruitment was the lowest for any cohort in 24 years. The typical date-dependent decrease in breeding success in the population was inverted.Conclusion Breeding success was markedly affected by a weather event happening one month before hatching and lasting only a few days. An increased frequency of extreme weather events as predicted by some climate change scenarios may dramatically affect insectivorous avian populations in the future.
Highlights
Total failure affected 36% of the broods and only 2.5 nestlings on average were raised to fledging age
Fledglings attained very low values for mass and wing length compared with long-term averages
Breeding success was markedly affected by a weather event happening one month before hatching and lasting only a few days
Summary
To compare nestling growth and mortality in nests of different brood sizes in the context of a brood manipulation experiment. Since 1991 we have studied a population of Iberian pied flycatchers breeding in nestboxes in a montane oak (Quercus pyrenaica) forest at 1200 m.asl in Valsaín, Segovia, central Spain (40o 54 ́N, 04o 01 ́W) (see Sanz et al 2003 for a description of the study area and population). All nest-boxes (approximately 300) are repeatedly inspected each spring and occupation by pied flycatchers recorded (50-125 are occupied by Iberian pied flycatchers). We have collected breeding data from all pied flycatcher nests between 1991 and 2014 by visiting the nest-boxes every 2-3 days from early May (birds arrive during the second half of April) to end of June. Hatching date is obtained through daily inspections when full clutches have been incubated for 12 days (duration of incubation is 13-15 days)
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