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Reproductive success is strongly related to local and regional climate in the Arctic snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)

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Abstract

Global climate change is regarded as one of the major threats to biodiversity. Both local and regional climate parameters can have strong effects on ecological processes affecting the survival and reproduction of plants and animals. High Arctic ecosystems are characterized by low species diversity and the local species have often evolved specific adaptations to the harsh Arctic environment. Here, we investigate the effect of local and regional climate parameters on snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) reproductive success in the Arctic using a long-term dataset of 15 years. We found strong relationships between both local weather and the Arctic oscillation (AO), a regional climate index, with several breeding parameters. Onset of breeding was earlier in years with high spring temperatures and later in years with high AO index the preceding winter. Importantly, high AO winter index also increased the number of successful fledglings the following summer, possibly mediated via spring phenology. Nestling weight was negatively associated with the AO index during the breeding season. The strong effects of local and regional climate suggest that the ongoing global climate change could potentially have a large effect on this Arctic passerine population.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by The Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters (grant to Y.E.), the Norwegian Research Council (student grants) and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU. We would like to thank Jo Anders Auran, Roger Dahl, Gunn Frilund, Tommy Haugan, Eva Hofstad, Steffen Håkonsen, John Ivar Iversen, Tore K.S. Leren, Marie Lier, Mari Murtomaa, Ida A.C. Nävås, Per H. Olsen, Mari Berger Skjøstad and Tom Roger Østerås for valuable help during the fieldwork, and Ivar Herfindal for advice on statistical methods.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Høgskoleringen 5, 7491, Trondheim, Norway

    Frode Fossøy, Bård G. Stokke, Tone Kjersti Kåsi, Kristian Dyrset, Yngve Espmark & Arne Moksnes

  2. Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland

    Katrine S. Hoset

  3. Norwegian Environment Agency, 7485, Trondheim, Norway

    Morten Ingebrigtsen Wedege

Authors
  1. Frode Fossøy
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  2. Bård G. Stokke
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  3. Tone Kjersti Kåsi
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  4. Kristian Dyrset
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  5. Yngve Espmark
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  6. Katrine S. Hoset
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  7. Morten Ingebrigtsen Wedege
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  8. Arne Moksnes
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Correspondence to Frode Fossøy.

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Fossøy, F., Stokke, B.G., Kåsi, T.K. et al. Reproductive success is strongly related to local and regional climate in the Arctic snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis). Polar Biol 38, 393–400 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-014-1595-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-014-1595-6

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