Impacts of climate disruption on avian species in the southern Rocky Mountains: a retroanalysis of the Gothic breeding bird survey and pilot point count surveys at Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory weather stations
Abstract
Changes in species distributions across elevations can be responses to anthropogenic climate disruption. Movement of species to higher elevations can result in local extirpations and colonization that could escalate and critically endanger native species. Studying systems that have experienced historical and ongoing elevation range changes is vital for understanding species responses to climate disruption. This study examines avian species abundance over time and elevation ranges to investigate response to climate disruption in the Southern Rocky Mountains. Data collected over a thirteen-year period by the Gothic Breeding Bird Survey are used to assess trends in species abundance over time. Point count surveys along an elevation gradient (8,100-11,224ft) are used to determine approximate elevation ranges for comparison with historical ranges. Long-term data from the Breeding Bird Survey suggest that species are responding not through simple upward elevation shifts or general declines, but instead through other interactions with unconsidered factors that may or may not be related to climate disruption. However, point count survey observations indicate that species may be expanding their ranges upwards. This contradiction is likely because surveying along an elevation gradient holds more power for change detection in contrast with a single general area. Regardless, this study concludes that climate disruption is causing complex interactions leading to unforeseen responses.
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