Researchers Say Endangered , Birds May Hold the Secret to , Surviving Climate Change.
'Newsweek' reports that an endangered species of seabird is changing its migratory pattern to reach more hospitable climates, offering researchers new insights.
On January 29, researchers at Oxford University's Biology Department and the University of Liverpool released the results of a 14-year study.
The team's findings were published in the 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.'.
The long-running study examined the migratory habits of the Balearic shearwater, the most endangered bird in Europe.
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The study looked at how behavioral flexibility can influence a shift in migratory patterns.
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Researchers observed that the birds were migrating farther and farther north in the summer, moving from the Atlantic coasts of Spain and France to the United Kingdom.
We found that the best predictor of this change in migratory behavior was the average sea surface temperature in the summering-grounds, suggesting that the birds may well be following changes in underlying marine resources, Joe Wynn, study author, via 'Newsweek'.
The fact that individuals can be this flexible in the face of rapid climate change is encouraging, Joe Wynn, study author, via 'Newsweek'.
'Newsweek' reports that the migratory change means the birds have a longer return trip to the Mediterranean every winter, the long-term impacts of which remain unclear.
We don't know, for instance, how the delayed return to the breeding grounds is affecting their recovery from migration and courtship behaviors, which might have knock-on effects on their breeding success or survival.
, Patrick Lewin, study co-author, via 'Newsweek'.
In a species that's already critically endangered, we really need answers to those questions.
, Patrick Lewin, study co-author, via 'Newsweek'
