Abstract
The Thrush-like Wren (Campylorhynchus turdinus) is a polytypic, non-migratory, cooperatively breeding species of bird widely distributed in central South America. In recent decades it has expanded its range by approximately 24%, based on a published map of its distribution in the mid-1980s and recent reports submitted to eBird up through March 2017. The northwestern subspecies, C. t. hypostictus, dramatically expanded its elevation range upward from approximately 1200 m to 4200 m a.s.l. in the Peruvian Andes. During 1977–2015 the southwestern subspecies, C. t. unicolor, dramatically expanded the southern border of its range from central Brazil and northern Paraguay (approximately 22°06’S) southward into northeastern Argentina and throughout Paraguay to 29°40’S in southeastern Brazil, extending its range east-southeast approximately 934 km at a rate of 24.6 km/yr, and latitudinally southward 838 km at a rate of 22.1 km/yr. It also expanded its range westward into the relatively dry Chaco of western Paraguay and north-central Argentina. Midwinter records near the southern border of its range in northeastern Argentina suggest it is non-migratory. Because of its affinity for disturbed habitats, its range expansion has been attributed to deforestation, but its range expansion is also consistent with the prediction that organisms are extending their geographic distribution toward higher latitudes and elevations as a consequence of climate change.
Highlights
Because birds are abundant and conspicuous organisms that can be monitored, they represent ideal bellwethers for the impacts of anthropogenic habitat change and climate change on biodiversity (Morrison 1986, Hutto 1998)
Because of its affinity for disturbed habitats, its range expansion has been attributed to deforestation, but its range expansion is consistent with the prediction that organisms are extending their geographic distribution toward higher latitudes and elevations as a consequence of climate change
Short-term changes in the distributional ranges of birds are usually caused by stochastic population fluctuations or habitat change, but may be attributed to climate change (Parmesan & Yohe 2003, Root et al 2003, Hickling et al 2006, Parmesan 2006, Chen et al 2011)
Summary
Because birds are abundant and conspicuous organisms that can be monitored, they represent ideal bellwethers for the impacts of anthropogenic habitat change and climate change on biodiversity (Morrison 1986, Hutto 1998). Short-term changes in the distributional ranges of birds are usually caused by stochastic population fluctuations or habitat change, but may be attributed to climate change (Parmesan & Yohe 2003, Root et al 2003, Hickling et al 2006, Parmesan 2006, Chen et al 2011). 2012, Solano-Ugalde & Real-Jibaja 2010, Gibbons et al 2011, Avendaño et al 2013) The driver of such rapid changes in bird distribution in South America is usually attributed to habitat change, even though such changes are predicted by a warming climate (Parmesan & Yohe 2003, Root et al 2003, Hickling et al 2006, Parmesan 2006, Jetz et al 2007, Chen et al 2011). Google Earth was used to measure the rate of range expansion as a straight line between two points and in a southward line between degrees of latitude
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