Warming, taller shrubs may affect birds breeding on tundra
Source: Associated Press
Warming, taller shrubs may affect birds breeding on tundra
By DAN JOLING
Mar. 3, 2017 9:56 PM EST
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — More shrubs moving onto Arctic tundra because of climate change will have minimal effect on many of the bird species that breed there, but birds likely will seek other habitat when the shrubs grow tall, according to a new federal study.
A study by the U.S. Geological Survey concludes that the size of the shrubs was more critical than the density in determining whether birds would continue in the habitat.
"Height came out to be the most indicative of bird habitat selection," said Sarah Thompson, a USGS research wildlife biologist based in Anchorage and the lead author of the study.
Multiple studies have shown that tundra areas are getting more shrubs, Thompson said. Climate warming also is having effects in the form of longer growing seasons, thawing permafrost and more frequent and intense wildfires, the authors said.
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Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/942e9fe5964e4e198f44a5d901df6c08/warming-taller-shrubs-may-affect-birds-breeding-tundra
