New research highlights a new way to protect birds at risk from climate change. By better understanding what specific conditions different species need, conservation efforts can be more focused and effective.
Led by the University of East Anglia (UEA), the study explored how the climate conditions that birds can tolerate affect their survival as the planet warms. This concept, called "climatic niche breadth," looks at the range of conditions a species can live in. Birds that can thrive in a wider variety of climates tend to be more resilient and less likely to see declines in their populations.
According to the study, birds sharing similar habitats that can tolerate diverse climate conditions stand a better chance of survival. The findings, published in the Journal of Biogeography, suggest that understanding these climatic niches can help predict which bird species are most vulnerable to climate change.
Lead researcher Karolina Zalewska explains, “Identifying which species are at greater risk isn’t simple. Species might decline for various reasons.” In fact, both rare species and those with wide distributions, like house sparrows and common starlings, can face threats. The study suggests that species with narrow climatic preferences may struggle more with the fast changes brought by climate change.
“Understanding how much climate variability species face is critical when evaluating their vulnerability,” Zalewska adds.
Climate change is increasingly recognized as a significant threat to global biodiversity. A 2022 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stresses that the impacts of climate change on biodiversity are uneven. Different species respond differently based on their life histories and the environmental changes they encounter. For example, while some widespread species might be expected to be more resilient, recent declines suggest that other factors, such as their climatic niche breadth, also play a role.
Co-author Professor Aldina Franco emphasizes the urgency of assessing species vulnerability. “As climate change accelerates, we need to prioritize the species that are most vulnerable due to their specific environmental needs,” she says.
The researchers analyzed data from 159 European bird species over 40 years, collected from the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme. They matched trends in bird populations with the climate conditions those species experience. By employing 30 years of climate data, they created a new measure that reflects both the climatic niche and the species’ distribution area.
Just 58 species in the study showed declining populations, while 33 were on the rise. The findings also confirmed trends from previous studies that farmland birds, like the corn bunting and skylark, often face declines, whereas species adaptable to human-modified environments, like blackbirds and blue tits, are more likely to be stable or increasing.
This research gives valuable insights into how climate impacts bird populations. Understanding the relationship between climatic niches and population trends could guide conservation efforts, ensuring that the most vulnerable species receive the protection they need in a rapidly changing world.
For more information on the impacts of climate change on biodiversity, visit the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
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