Abstract
Phenological advancement allows individuals to adapt to climate change by timing life‐history events to the availability of key resources so that individual fitness is maximized. However, different trophic levels may respond to changes in their environment at different rates, potentially leading to a phenological mismatch. This may be especially apparent in the highly seasonal arctic environment that is experiencing the effects of climate change more so than any other region. During a 14‐year study near Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska, we estimated phenological advancement in egg laying in relation to snowmelt for eight arctic‐breeding shorebirds and investigated potential linkages to species‐specific life‐history characteristics. We found that snowmelt advanced 0.8 days/year—six times faster than the prior 60‐year period. During this same time, six of the eight species exhibited phenological advancement in laying dates (varying among species from 0.1 to 0.9 days earlier per year), although no species appeared capable of keeping pace with advancing snowmelt. Phenological changes were likely the result of high phenotypic plasticity, as all species investigated in this study showed high interannual variability in lay dates. Commonality among species with similar response rates to timing of snowmelt suggests that nesting later and having an opportunistic settlement strategy may increase the adaptability of some species to changing climate conditions. Other life‐history characteristics, such as migration strategy, previous site experience, and mate fidelity did not influence the ability of individuals to advance laying dates. As a failure to advance egg laying is likely to result in greater phenological mismatch, our study provides an initial assessment of the relative risk of species to long‐term climatic changes.
Highlights
Phenological advancement in response to climate change has been well documented in a wide variety of taxa (Crick, Dudley, Glue, & Thomson, 1997; Forchhammer, Post, & Stenseth, 1998; Parmesan& Yohe, 2003; Post, Forchhammer, Stenseth, & Callaghan, 2001; Stenseth et al, 2002; Walther et al, 2002)
As optimal breeding periods can vary based on annual environmental fluctuations, individuals may adjust their annual phenology through phenotypic plasticity with individuals responding to environmental conditions in the same year, via learning, or via maternal effects on their offspring (Visser, 2008)
We found that six of the eight shorebird species exhibited phenological advancement in laying dates (Figure 2), no species appeared fully capable of advancing egg laying to keep pace with advancing snowmelt
Summary
Phenological advancement in response to climate change has been well documented in a wide variety of taxa With earlier and warmer summers, decoupling of this synchronization may occur if (1) shorebirds fail to advance arrival dates, arriving after snow has already melted, or (2) the time between snowmelt and insect emergence shortens (due to warmer temperatures), but shorebird incubation periods remain the same (Saalfeld et al unpublished data) Such a decoupling has the potential to greatly impact shorebird populations, as prey availability directly influences juvenile growth and survival rates (McKinnon, Nol, & Juillet, 2013; McKinnon, Picotin, Bolduc, Juillet, & Bêty, 2012; Pearce-Higgins & Yalden, 2004; Reneerkens et al, 2016; Schekkerman, Tulp, Piersma, & Visser, 2003; Senner, Stager, & Sandercock, 2016). (Soikkeli, 1967; Jehl, 1973; Miller, 1983; Jönsson, 1987; but see Sandercock, Lank, & Cooke, 1999)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
